Pleatco, LLC, manufacturer of pool and spa filtration products, with longtime co-sponsors GENESIS and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, announced the winners of the 2020 Perfect Pool Guy and Gal Search: Shannon Sellers of Jeff’s Pool and Spa in Brunswick, Georgia, and Jesse Gist of Gallagher Pools and Spas in Westminster, Maryland. The annual Pleatco PoolGuy/Gal Search honors the hardworking men and women of the pool and spa service industry.
“When I first started 10 years ago, I never thought I’d be named Pleatco’s Perfect Pool Gal 2020,” Sellers says. “It feels good to have my hard work and dedication recognized. I’ll remember this year because I won Pleatco Perfect Pool Gal, not because of the pandemic or the election.”
Gist was a runner-up in a previous year and put a great deal of effort into making sure his nomination wound up at the top of the rankings by providing a full video and harnessing social media. “Receiving this award has been the highlight of my career,” Gist says. “It’s a huge honor to be crowned the Pleatco Perfect Pool Guy 2020.”
With over 150 entrants, Pleatco once again expanded the contest and created additional awards. “During our final interviews, we were impressed by the caliber and diversity of so many individuals that we felt it was proper to recognize the outstanding achievements of several other entrants,” says Rick Von Drehle, CEO Pleatco. “In that spirit, we selected contestants for Special Awards based on their contribution to their community and the pool and spa industry.”
“The service industry is extremely important when it comes to helping owners fully enjoy and appreciate their pools,” says GENESIS ambassador and co-founder Brian Van Bower. “We are proud to help honor our hard-working service professionals through the Pleatco contest.”
This year’s Perfect Pool Guy and Perfect Pool Gal will each be awarded a GENESIS course valued at $5,000 and a bevy of other prizes from LaMotte, Mod-Lite, Skimlock and Bungee-plug.
Honorees include:
- Pleatco Perfect PoolGuy 2020 runner-up — Michael Baker, Tucson, Arizona
- Pleatco Perfect PoolGal 2020 runner-up — Trish Mendenhall, Chandler, Arizona
- Pleatco Lifetime Achievement Award — Bob Charlton, Citrus Springs, Florida
- Pleatco Future Leadership Award — Josh Fletcher, Stockbridge, Georgia
- Pleatco Industry Spirit Award — Matthew Boranian, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
- Pleatco Customer Service Award — Ashley Rabbit, Mohegan Lake, New York
- Pleatco Community Service Award — Bryan Zettle, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
- Pleatco Young Achiever Award — Michael Birch, Good Hope, New York
- Pleatco Voters Choice Award — Ken Post, Poway, California
