Pool Nation Awards 2024
Fourth annual ceremony celebrates trailblazers and innovators
At the 2024 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, Pool Nation hosted its fourth annual awards event. The ceremony celebrated standout professionals and cutting-edge innovations in the pool industry, recognizing excellence across a range of categories.
The award recipients included Makenzi Kinder, repair department coordinator at Payan Pool Service in Santee, California, and Nick LaPointe, co-owner of Golden State Pools in San Diego, California. Kinder and LaPointe were awarded the 2024 PoolPro 30 Under 40 Female and Male of the Year awards. Kinder was chosen among three other 30 Under 40 recipients: Nicole Geissberger, Deborah Martin and Molly Snyder. LaPointe secured his win from a category that featured James Broderick, Aden Dunne and Jake Sperounes.
Other notable wins from the night included Miguel Cabello, a member of PoolPro’s 2024 30 Under 40 class, receiving the Pool Guy of the Year award, Logan’s Pool Service, owned by John Richardson, a 2025 PoolPro panel member, being named Pool Company of the Year and Alicia Stephens of BioLab being inducted into the Pool Nation Hall of Fame.
During her acceptance speech, Kinder thanked her employers for nominating and taking a chance on her and acknowledged the support of her partner and fellow pool pro, Nick Weeks, before expressing her gratitude for the pool industry.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities the industry has shown me,” she says. “I’m enjoying the fast-paced, everchanging poolverse and cannot wait to see what’s next.”
LaPointe paid tribute to his family and mentors while praising the industry’s momentum in the pursuit of new possibilities.
“I’m truly fortunate to be part of a community that thrives on innovation and collaboration,” he says. “I am reminded that success is not about personal accomplishments but about making a positive impact on our community and industry. Let’s keep pushing forward, inspiring one another and making waves together.”
Winners
30 Under 40 Male of the Year
Nick LaPointe
Golden State Pools, San Diego, California
30 Under 40 Female of the Year
Makenzi Kinder
Payan Pool Service, Santee, California
Woman Trailblazer of the Year
Taryn Springsteed
Heritage Pool Supply Group
Pool Guy of the Year
Miguel Cabello
Imperial Pool Services, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Pool Girl of the Year
Maria Castellanos
Ensenada Pool & Spa Services, Los Angeles, California
Retailer of the Year
The Pool Place
West Monroe, Louisiana
Pool Company of the Year
Logan’s Pool Service
Gunter, Texas
Builder of the Year
Gold Medal Pools
Lewisville, Texas
Truck Wrap of the Year
Pool Guardians
Tampa, Florida
Sales Rep of the Year
Daniel Nicholas
Fluidra/Jandy
Sales Rep Group of the Year
The Grit Game
Trainer of the Year
Lauren Broom
Space Coast Pool School
Pool Nation Hall of Fame
Alicia Stephens
BioLab
Distributor of the Year
Heritage Pool Supply Group
Salt System of the Year
Hayward AquaRite S3
Variable-speed Pump of the Year
Pentair Intelloflo3
Pool Cleaner of the Year
Hayward TracVac
Innovative Product of the Year
Poolside Tech The Attendant
Heater of the Year
Raypak Avia
Heat Pump of the Year
Jandy VersaTemp
Residential Filter of the Year
AquaStar Pipeline
Automation of the Year
Jandy AquaLink RS
