Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Announces Faculty Chairs for Center of Excellence

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance announced the appointment of four faculty members as chairs for the PHTA Center of Excellence, a new education initiative designed to support workforce development and provide high-quality, practical training for professionals across the pool, spa and hot tub industry.

The inaugural faculty chair team includes Isaac Keselman, Master CBP; Kevin Poe, CBP, CPO-I; Jamie Novak; and Rick Harvey. Together, they bring decades of experience spanning pool and spa construction, service and repair, technical training, marketing, sales, operations, leadership and business development.

“The strength of the Center of Excellence starts with the people behind it,” says Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO. “Our faculty chairs are more than instructors. They are industry leaders helping shape the future of pool and spa education. Their expertise will help ensure the Center of Excellence delivers relevant, real-world training that industry professionals can rely on.”

As faculty chairs, they will help advance the Center of Excellence beyond the classroom. Their responsibilities include shaping the curriculum, recruiting and mentoring faculty, supporting the development of learning pathways and ensuring course content aligns with current industry practices, technologies, standards and workforce needs.

Keselman will serve as the faculty chair for building and engineering. He brings four decades of experience in the pool and spa industry, and his career has included roles from service technician to president of Aqua Doctor and chief operating officer of Azureon. With deep experience in aquatic design, construction, leadership and industry engagement through NESPA and PHTA, Keselman brings an independent, industry-wide perspective to the Center of Excellence.

Poe, a national accounts trainer at Fluidra, will serve as the faculty chair for maintenance and operations. He brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience in pool service, repair and technical training. He has trained professionals nationwide on installation, operation and troubleshooting, helping ensure Center of Excellence content reflects the real-world service challenges professionals face every day.

Novak, director of marketing at POOLCORP, will serve as the faculty chair for business education. She brings over 20 years of experience in marketing leadership, brand strategy and industry engagement. Her work across leading manufacturers and industry brands provides a valuable perspective on customer experience, business growth and how professionals can strengthen their presence in the marketplace.

Harvey, senior director of sales at BioLab’s Pro Pool Division, will serve as the faculty chair for retail education. He brings extensive experience in sales leadership, client relationships, team development and market expansion. His commercial and leadership perspective will help ensure the Center of Excellence education supports business growth, customer success and practical professional development.

The faculty chair team also reflects the strength of PHTA’s broader industry network, including engagement from Strategic Partner organizations and experienced professionals who are committed to advancing education across the field.

“The Center of Excellence is designed to serve the entire industry,” Hickman says. “By bringing together leaders with deep expertise across service, construction, marketing, sales and operations, we are building an educational foundation that supports professionals at every stage of their careers.”

To learn more about the PHTA Center of Excellence, visit phta.org/COE.