Laci Davis, 39
Co-founder and president
Land O’ Lakes, Florida
For Laci Davis, the pool industry started with words. Her first role was writing manuals, blogs and social media content for one of the largest e-commerce companies in vinyl-liner pool kits. “My first assignment? Writing a full installation guide for DIY homeowners on how to build their own in-ground vinyl-liner pool,” Davis says. That project kicked off five years of translating technical details into approachable, high-impact education. At one point, her content generated the equivalent of more than $500,000 in paid ad traffic.
Today, Davis is the co-founder and president of The Grit Game, a national manufacturer rep agency named Pool Nation’s 2024 Sales Rep Group of the Year. Representing multiple pool, spa and backyard product lines across the U.S. and Canada, The Grit Game supports hundreds of builders, retailers and service pros. Its content-driven outreach and social media presence have become powerful tools for opening doors and building relationships long before the team walks into a customer’s location. Davis also contributes to the industry through trainings for IPSSA and WITI, articles in trade magazines, podcast appearances and advocacy support for Every Child a Swimmer.
One milestone moment came when The Grit Game earned national recognition less than two years after launching. “It was a recognition of the grit, heart and hustle of the people I get to work with every day,” she says. That award capped a whirlwind year in which Davis and her husband were featured on the cover of Agency Sales Magazine, she was named one of Pool Nation’s Next Generation of Female Leaders, honored on SpaRetailer’s inaugural 30 Under 40 list and recognized as a finalist for Pool Nation’s Woman Trailblazer of the Year. “Instead of making us get really comfortable, it lit a fire to lean in harder,” she says.
Rapid growth brought the risk of losing the personal touch that defined the company, while establishing credibility as a female founder in a seasoned industry required persistence. “I showed up, did the work, put in the hours, educated myself, listened more than I talked and let my work speak for itself — and over time, that work got louder,” she says.
Davis hopes to expand The Grit Game’s presence with representatives in every U.S. and Canadian territory while continuing to create opportunities for others. She wants to modernize industry communication and training while keeping fun and connection at the core. “If I leave a mark, I hope that I helped the industry move forward without losing its soul,” she says.
Davis is a lifelong creative. A former professional photographer, she also writes, plans events and shares fitness content with a following of more than half a million people. She loves live theater, time outdoors and learning Spanish through daily practice. At home, she’s happiest with her husband, finding new adventures — or, as she puts it, “plot twists” — to bring into their story.
