PHTA Announces 2025 Greg Garrett Scholarship Award Winners

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance has awarded the 2025 Greg Garrett Scholarship to Chad Bland, owner of Pool Certs, and McKenna Paschell, aquatic facilities designer at Absolute Pool Care, LLC. The winners were honored during an awards ceremony at the 2025 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Las Vegas on Oct. 21.

Given in the memory of Greg Garrett, who dedicated 45 years to the pool and hot tub industry and served in many leadership roles, this $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually by the PHTA Recreational Water & Air Quality Committee to PHTA members in the builder or service sector. The scholarship funds may be used toward PHTA educational or certification fees. Thanks to a matching sponsorship from Periodic Products, Inc., two winners were recognized this year.

Bland, who has been a PHTA member for five years, is a Certified Pool & Spa Operator Instructor and has already trained over 6,000 new professionals entering the industry. This role has led to Bland becoming a trusted leader committed to safety and excellence in aquatics.

Having been personally mentored by Garrett, Bland understands the depth of the aquatics industry and the value of learning directly from those who have shaped it.

With this $5,000 scholarship, Bland plans to earn both his Certified Pool & Spa Service Technician and Certified Builder Professional designations through PHTA. At Absolute Pool Care, Paschell plays a key role in taking clients’ visions and turning them into reality. She understands that the importance of the more technical aspects of the industry, such as hydraulics and construction, is key to client satisfaction and helps create efficient, sustainable and innovative aquatic facilities.

With this $5,000 scholarship, Paschell plans to earn her CBP and further develop her skills in pool construction and design.

For more information, visit phta.org/garrett-award.