In episode 263 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we break down what to expect at the Pool Nation Conference at the PSP/Deck Expo in Las Vegas (Oct 24–25): a full day of truly hands-on training (pump wiring, automation, heater tear-downs, and variable-speed motor installs) and Day 1 of the Business Track focused on financial mastery (pricing for profit, key metrics, cost of service, cash flow, and exit planning). We also recap the Pool Nation Women’s Summit, shout out the $5K community giveaway, and share key show dates: $10K Pool Pro Challenge qualifiers (Oct 22) and the Pool Nation Awards (Oct 23). Use code POOLNATION for a free Expo Pass. Limited seats per track — don’t wait.

00:00 – Intro + show open

01:00 – Vegas is coming: Conference dates, 3-track format

02:00 – Catching up: glasses, getting older, and feeling human again

07:30 – Community spotlight: the $5,000 Instagram giveaway & vendor support

10:00 – Wild weather, dust storms, and pool cleanups

11:00 – PSP/Deck Expo week overview

Oct 22: $10K Pool Pro Challenge qualifiers (at our booth)

Oct 23: Pool Nation Awards (voting closes Oct 1)

Oct 24–25: Pool Nation Conference (3 tracks)

12:30 – Women’s Summit recap: energy, networking, and top-tier education

16:45 – Announcing Most Influential Women (2025) & Next Gen Leaders

20:00 – What makes our conference different (intimate size, curated tracks)

24:00 – Why service pros deserve a seat at the table

27:30 – Track design philosophy: a true, step-by-step curriculum

37:00 – Hands-On Day (Oct 24): what you’ll actually do

Pump wiring & VS pump installs (Aquastar carts)

Automation install & programming (Pool Attendant)

Heater teardown, troubleshooting & best practices (Raypak)

Variable-speed motor retrofit & programming (Nidec/US Motors Neptune)

45:00 – “Truly hands-on” explained (tools in hand, small groups, do the work)

46:30 – Business Track Day 1 (Oct 24): Financial Mastery

Turn Pools into Profits (profit mindset & setup)

Turn Metrics into Money (what to track, how to use it)

Know Your Cost, Grow Your Profit (real cost of service)

Financial Planning & Exit Strategy

Profit ≠ Cash: Mastering Cash Flow

51:30 – Technical Track Day 1 (Oct 24): Chemistry & Algae

Responsibilities of the modern pool pro

Precision testing & dosing

Choosing the right chemicals for each pool

Proactive vs. reactive care (specialty chems & minerals)

The science of algae: ID, prevention, elimination

55:30 – Why the curriculum is sequenced the way it is

57:30 – Day 2 tease (coming next episode)

58:30 – Seats are limited (target caps per track) — register early

01:05:00 – How to use code POOLNATION for a free Expo Pass

01:07:00 – A direct message to service pros: why this training matters

01:10:00 – Instructors & announcements coming up

01:11:00 – Awards tickets reminder + massive voting turnout

01:12:00 – Wrap & what’s next (IG Live with nominees next week)

Show Notes

Get ready for Vegas! We’re previewing the Pool Nation Conference at the PSP/Deck Expo (Oct 24–25) and breaking down exactly what you’ll learn.

Hands-On Day (Oct 24)

Wire and install VS pumps (Aquastar)

Install and program automation (Pool Attendant)

Tear down and troubleshoot heaters the right way (Raypak)

Retrofit a variable-speed motor and program it (Nidec/US Motors Neptune)

Business Track: Day 1 — Financial Mastery

Build your business to produce profit (from day one)

The metrics that actually drive decisions

Calculate your true cost of service

Plan your finances and exit strategy

Cash flow > profit: how to never run out of cash

Technical Track: Day 1 — Chemistry & Algae

Responsibilities of a modern pool pro

Precision testing, dosing, and targeted care

Choosing the right chemicals for each pool

Proactive vs. reactive care using specialty chems & minerals

The science of algae: identify, prevent, eliminate

Key Dates (PSP/Deck Expo Week)

Oct 22: $10K Pool Pro Challenge qualifiers (at our booth)

Oct 23: Pool Nation Awards (voting closes Oct 1)

Oct 24–25: Pool Nation Conference (3 curated tracks)

🎟️ Register: poolnation.com or poolspapatio.com

We also recap the Pool Nation Women’s Summit, announce Most Influential Women (2025) and our Next Generation Female Leaders, and shout out the $5K community giveaway that lit up the industry.

SPPA 

Nidec / US Motors 

Blu-Ray XL 

AquaStar Pool Products 

Natural Chemistry 

Raypak 

Hayward 

Heritage Pool Supply 

Poolside Tech 

Pool Brain