Pool Chasers Podcast

Greg and Justin sit down with Dan Waters, Owner and Principal at Creative Environments, which provides pool, spa, landscape design, and construction services in Phoenix.

With over 33 years of design and landscape construction experience, Dan has worked on the design and development of landscaping for model home parks for Toll Brothers, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, Jackson Properties, and Engle Homes.

Dan co-founded and helped to build Creative Environments from $700,000 in revenues to over $50 million. In addition, he has trained and mentored over 100 landscape designers and architects in the workings of quality design, and is a regular Guest Speaker at Arizona State University Construction Management Program.

Listen in as Dan goes down memory lane, from earning $3.35 an hour in fast food as a kid to a one-off construction project for a swimming pool, to his first official landscaping job, to, at just 24 years old, purchasing the business that he would grow from a six to a 200-person operation.

Dan also talks about Creative Environments’ decision to put up their own metal fabrication shop, how they manage to stay within budget, and the astonishing speed at which the company accomplishes its projects.

He discusses the business’s client-facing approach, insisting that his salespeople are themselves designers who could see client desires and considerations from their point of view, offering something that matches their vision as closely as possible over simply getting the sale.

Finally, Dan speaks on how the company is currently navigating a still-turbulent economy and lingering supply chain challenges. He explains why reputation management is something that no business owner should skimp on amid a market where delays and setbacks should be expected.

Brought to you by TS Pool Supply A new retail experience providing customers a one-stop-shop for all their pool care needs. For an added bonus to our listeners use promo code POOLCHASERS10 at checkout for 10% off. Visit https://tspoolsupply.com/

Connect with Dan Waters & Creative Environments:

• Website - https://creativeenvironments.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/creativeenvironments/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CreativeEnviron/
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/CreativeEnvir/
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/creative-environments-pfvwus-pf~1041325936?

Connect with Pool Chasers:

• Website - https://poolchasers20.com/
• Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/poolchasers
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolchasers/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/poolchasers/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIcnqHms_PEu8AAPafxdVA
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/poolchasers
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/poolchaserspodcast/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@poolchasers

Pool Pro Magazine March/April 2023 issue is officially out! Grab a copy or two the next time you stop to pickup supplies from SCP or Superior.

In this episode Megan Kendrick discusses the early feedback of the March/April issue from readers and folks featured in the magazine.

Writing is an essential skill for all businesses. We thought it would be a good idea to ask somebody with a Masters Degree in Journalism a few questions on how to write better. Megan gives some great tips and resources to help with everyday writing.

Get Your Free Copy of Pool Pro Magazine:

• https://poolpromag.com/subscribe/

Connect with Pool Pro Magazine:

• Website - https://poolpromag.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolpromag/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoolProMagazine/

Connect with Pool Chasers:

• Website - https://poolchasers20.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolchasers/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/poolchasers/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIcnqHms_PEu8AAPafxdVA
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/poolchasers
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/poolchaserspodcast/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@poolchasers
• Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/poolchasers

Resources Mentioned:

• 30 under 40 Contest: https://poolpromag.com/30-under-40/
• Monday (Project Management Software): https://monday.com/
• On Writing Well Book: https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
• AP Style Book - https://www.apstylebook.com/
• Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/

Greg and Justin sit down with Rick Chafey, co-owner of Red Rock Contractors. Founded in 1998, Red Rock has quickly grown into one of the nation’s leading custom building, pool, water feature, and landscape design-build contractors.

At the tail-end of his high school years and throughout his college years, Rick worked as an Electrical Superintendent for a commercial/industrial electrical contractor. He worked his way up to a Home Building Superintendent for one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, and upon graduating college was hired as the Director of Construction for a local manufacturing company.

During this time, Rick completed multiple projects in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado ranging from 150,000 sf. manufacturing plants, retail centers, residential subdivision developments, and commercial remodels and tenant improvements.

Listen in as Rick talks about the eclectic range of projects Red Rock has been working on since his last appearance on the podcast.

Asked how the company was able to build such a diverse portfolio over 20 years, Rick explains that he and the leadership team at Red Rock initially tried to find their “lane”. However, they eventually settled on building almost anything under the sun for the right client. This includes things from gun tunnels to go-kart tracks to swimming pools to shark tanks, “as long as it’s something cool and dynamic and different!”

Rick goes on to talk about some of his most memorable and challenging projects: lazy rivers, water walls, flow riders, and even shark tanks. Ultimately, though, his favorite pool designs are those that the homeowner can enjoy every single day, and more often than not such designs come down to emphasizing on the visual aesthetic and simplicity of water.

Brought to you by TS Pool Supply A new retail experience providing customers a one-stop-shop for all their pool care needs. For an added bonus to our listeners use promo code POOLCHASERS10 at checkout for 10% off. Visit https://tspoolsupply.com/

Connect with Rick Chaffey & Red Rock Contractors:

• Website - https://www.buildredrock.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickchafey/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/watershape_master/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/buildredrock
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/rtchafey/__public

Connect with Pool Chasers:

• Website - https://poolchasers20.com/
• Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/poolchasers
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIcnqHms_PEu8AAPafxdVA
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolchasers/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/poolchasers/
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/poolchaserspodcast/
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/poolchasers
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pool-chasers-podcast/

Drinks:

• Greg - Seven Brothers Easy IPA: https://www.sevenbro7hers.com/product/easy-ipa/
• Justin - Seven Brothers Hoppy Ale: 

We had the honor of chatting with Mike Rynne. This is an incredible human being that has given all his time and effort to every company he has ever worked for including JMax. 

Mike has been involved in the pool industry since 1994, with roles in retail, service, remodeling, and new pool construction. Before taking on a leadership role at JMax alongside Justin, he built a career at Paddock Pools for over 15 years.

Listen in as Mike goes down memory lane, reflecting on the ups and downs in both his personal life and his journey in the pool business. Greg, and Justin break down the series of mishaps that led to Paddock’s steady decline as a company, and what Mike would have done differently were he to experience his time there again.

Mike then moves onto how he met Justin and got involved with JMax. He discusses customer service best practices and the importance of keeping up with innovation. Finally, he talks about his industry mentors, and his most interesting pools and favorite pool products through the years.

Brought to you by TS Pool Supply: A new retail experience providing customers a one-stop-shop for all their pool care needs. For an added bonus to our listeners use promo code POOLCHASERS10 at checkout for 10% off. Visit https://tspoolsupply.com/

Topics Discussed:

• [05:45] Mike’s story
• [28:39] Mike’s battle with lupus
• [34:05] Crazy adventures in Vegas
• [43:27] What Justin and Mike look for in new hires
• [50:55] Paddock’s downfall
• [58:37] What Mike would have done differently on Paddock’s leadership team
• [1:03:53] Moving on to JMax
• [1:13:36] Dealing with a confrontation
• [1:17:39] How does customer service best at JMax?
• [1:20:02] The importance of keeping up with innovation
• [1:22:26] Mike’s mentors in the pool business
• [1:16:17] The craziest pools Mike has ever seen
• [1:33:55] Mike’s favorite pool products over the years
• [1:41:18] Mike’s favorite pool of all time

Connect with Guest:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mike.rynne/
• JMax Website - https://jmaxplumbing.com/

Connect with Pool Chasers:

• Website - https://poolchasers20.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolchasers/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/poolchasers/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIcnqHms_PEu8AAPafxdVA
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/poolchasers
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/poolchaserspodcast/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@poolchasers
• Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/poolchasers

Key Quotes by Mike Rynne:

• Unfortunately, the bar is getting lower in the industry. The most important thing that we shouldn’t let go of is being dependable: being somebody who isn’t just there to collect a check, and always wondering what they can do to be better. ~Justin
• You have to keep up with innovation or you eventually won’t know what you’re doing. ~Mike

Greg sits down with Megan Kendrick to talk about the March/April 2023 issue of PoolPro Magazine!

Megan looks back at the recently concluded 2023 Pool and Spa Show in Atlantic City and talks about the cold tubs featured for the first time at the event.

Megan then explains why she decided to shake things up in the March/April issue of PoolPro magazine with a feature on the economics of the chlorine shortage of the past couple of years.

The latest issue also includes a big article on the ins-and-outs of PoolPro as an organization. It offers valuable lessons to companies of any size about how to run a successful pool business.

Get Your Free Copy of Pool Pro Magazine: 

• https://poolpromag.com/subscribe/ 

Topics Discussed: 

• [00:56] Megan’s takeaways from the 2023 Pool and Spa Show in Atlantic City
• [04:11] Cold tubs at the Pool and Spa Show
• [08:22] Why Megan is nervous about the release of the March/April issue
• [09:37] How this issue breaks down the chlorine shortage
• [13:12] Inside NPP
• [15:39] What Megan wants readers to get out of PoolPro Magazine
• [19:50] What the chlorine article will teach pool professionals

Connect with Pool Pro Magazine:

• Website - https://poolpromag.com/ 
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolpromag/ 
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoolProMagazine/ 

Connect with Pool Chasers:

• Website - https://poolchasers20.com/ 
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolchasers/ 
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/poolchasers/ 
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIcnqHms_PEu8AAPafxdVA 
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/poolchasers 
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/poolchaserspodcast/ 
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@poolchasers 
• Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/poolchasers 

Key Quotes by Megan:

• The chlorine shortage was a huge topic in our industry. I wanted to dive into the supply chain showing how chlorine gets to swimming pools to help explain why what happened, happened. Having an understanding of the bigger picture of something so integral to our industry is really interesting.
• When you sit down with a company of huge size and scale with operational issues most service companies don’t, their solutions can show you how to run any company.
• The more I can learn about the industry, the better I can do my job.

We sit down with Adam Beech, President of Pool Brain, an all-in-one online platform designed to streamline your medium-to-large pool company.

Adam got his start in the pool industry in 2007 when he and a friend bought a 60+ pool route, and promptly proceeded to lose all of those pools not long after! Undeterred, they eventually grew their business to roughly 35 trucks by 2013.

At that point, they hit a wall preventing them from scaling further, forcing them to think outside the box regarding how they might be able to stop spinning their wheels and win back the freedom to work on their business rather than in their business.

Eventually, they realized that if there was a way to standardize their process, in an industry where there are thousands of variables at play, the business would take off.

To that end, Adam created Pool Brain, a “unicorn platform” that organizes and makes infinitely more efficient every aspect of a pool business, from creating and managing quotes, to billing and payment processing, to scheduling and dispatch, to technician report cards, to route optimization.

Listen in as Adam breaks down Pool Brain’s most unique features and how the platform can revolutionize your pool business!

Topics Discussed: 

• [03:47] Adam’s early pool career
• [06:04] Creating Pool Brain
• [11:58] What the software can do that pool technicians can’t
• [19:53] How Pool Brain’s makes your workflow smoother
• [23:40] Automatic chemical dosing and built-in customer feedback
• [27:47] Automatic swim wait notices
• [31:59] Sending quotes for ongoing service
• [35:08] Billing and other customer requests
• [42:31] How Pool Brain can revolutionize your business
• [46:04] The Pool Brain learning curve
• [49:53] How technicians are charged on the platform

Connect with Pool Brain: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 

Connect with Pool Chasers:

• Website 
• Patreon 
• YouTube  
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Pinterest 
• Twitter  
• LinkedIn  

Key Quotes by Adam:

• Instead of training the person, which is not practical, we have to train the program. Then, when the person uses the program, it’s just going to tell them what to do and when based on one person knowing a lot about the industry who dialed it into the program.

Greg talks with Megan Kendrick to talk about the January/February 2023 issue of PoolPro Magazine!

Megan shares why the latest issue of the magazine puts a spotlight on the underrepresented topic of pool plaster.

She runs through other notable stories covered in the January/February issue, including the most important industry-related events and seminars like the Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show from January 24-26.

Finally, Megan talks about the not-as-well-known lucrative potential in the hot tub industry, and the types of stories that PoolPro Magazine is looking forward to featuring in upcoming issues!

Connect with Pool Pro Magazine & Megan Kendrick: 

• Website - https://poolpromag.com/ 
• Subscribe to Magazine - https://poolpromag.com/subscribe/ 
• January February 2023 Issue - https://poolpromag.com/january-february-2023/ 
• Booth #3946 at The Pool & Spa Show in Atlantic City 

Topics Discussed:

• [01:23] Why the latest issue has a big focus on pool plaster
• [03:12] How to subscribe to PoolPro
• [04:50] The Pool & Spa Show in Atlantic City 
• [05:48] About the main article, “Tempool Covers the Spread” featuring Jon Temple
• [10:14] How plaster can make or break a pool
• [12:41] Highlighting the most exciting upcoming events and seminars in the pool space
• [15:56] Why hot tubs are underrated in the pool industry
• [20:55] Stories that PoolPro Magazine is looking out for

Key Quotes by Megan:

• Plasters are like service professionals: They’re one of the last to touch a pool build and often get blamed for things that aren’t actually their fault.
• Don’t turn your nose up at the hot tub industry. There is a lot of money rolling around on that side of the business.

Resources Mentioned: 

• Spa Retailer Podcast - https://sparetailer.com/category/podcasts/ 
• NPC (National Plaster Council) - https://www.npconline.org/ 
• The Pool & Spa Show in Atlantic City - https://www.thepoolspashow.com/nespa2023/Public/Enter.aspx 
• Tempool Inc. -   https://www.tempoolinc.com/ 

Today, we sit down with Thurman and Torrence Thomas of Tankproof, a nonprofit that gives free, accessible swimming lessons to youth in under-served communities.

From providing quality swim instruction to feeding hundreds on their neighborhood food routes, Tankproof have had the opportunity to impact multiple cities nationwide since their founding in 2011 in Baton Rouge.

Listen in as the twins reflect on how Tankproof evolved out of an urge to use their (then) small platform as musicians to provide free swimming lessons to minority youths in their local community.

They tell us why five days is all they need to completely change how you manage in large bodies of water, and why they insist that every new student at Tankproof is given a fun experience around the culture of the organization before they even step into the pool.

Thurman and Thomas do a deep dive into their unique approach to branding the nonprofit and how they spread Tankproof’s initiative around the country. They share how they attract ambassadors for their crucial mission to teach the life-saving skill of swimming to as many children as they can around the country.

Sponsors: 

• Poolside Tech - https://poolside.tech/ 
• RayPak - https://www.raypak.com/ 
• Tankproof - https://www.tankproof.org/  

Topics Discussed: 

• [05:02] The story behind Tankproof
• [09:02] What to expect when going into your first swimming lesson with Tankproof
• [14:25] Why you need only five days to get a great education at Tankproof
• [18:34] How Tankproof builds trust in different communities
• [25:32] Where Tankproof gets financial support
• [31:20] Creating the Tankproof brand
• [40:41] Tankproof’s craziest students
• [43:53] What Tankproof needs to expand to other cities
• [45:31] Where Tankproof conducts lessons

Connect with Tankproof: 

• Tankproof Website - https://www.tankproof.org/ 
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tankproof/ 
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tankproofswim 
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tankproof/ 
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tankproof 
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@tankproofteam746/videos 

Key Quotes by Thurman and Torrence:

• The first thing that you’re going to get is an experience. The first thing that anybody who ever comes in contact with Tankproof will get, before going into the water, is a feel of what the organization is all about.
• Teaching kids this life-saving skill is a humanitarian issue.
• Beautiful spaces can literally heal trauma.

Today, we sit down with Jennifer Kourouglos and Samantha Moore of real estate listing company AZ Luxury Home Group and the brokerage Launch Real Estate. Since partnering eight years prior, their business has grown from solely doing resale for buyers and sellers to representing builders and developers. They have also recently started buying and flipping their own properties together.

Listen in as we discuss the unfortunate misconceptions that so many aspiring realtors pick up in a modern society filled with reality shows and social media influencers that over-glamorize the real estate industry while shying away from the hard and often mundane work that it really takes to succeed.

Jennifer and Samantha remind us that consistent effort, market knowledge, and consistency—the basic fundamentals of any business—are what’s needed to win in the world of real estate.

With the knowledge that Arizona homebuyers put pools (or the possibility of building a pool) at the top of their list of priorities when shopping for a property, we dive deep into how realtors can best prepare a home and pool for the market.

They also explain how pool companies can best work with realtors to create a win-win scenario that nets both parties more business in the long run. Some benefits that come with great partnerships include being able to stay on top of the latest pool trends, including the luxury sector, and being able to get a more holistic perspective on the pool market in general.

Sponsors: 

• Poolside Tech - https://poolside.tech/ 
• RayPak - https://www.raypak.com/nitek/ 

Topics Discussed: 

• [12:16] Problems with many younger realtors today and what it really takes to succeed in the industry
• [17:19] Why pools are often at the top of the list of priorities for AZ homebuyers
• [27:45] The process behind selling a home
• [35:13] Inspecting the pool
• [40:05] What pool companies can do to help realtors
• [46:56] Staying on top of trends in the luxury pool market
• [1:12:43] Over-the-top features in luxury homes
• [1:20:25] How to find and partner with a real estate company
• [1:25:14] Jennifer and Samantha’s favorite social media accounts
• [01:27:30] Options buyers want in a pool
• [1:38:57] What to expect in the hou

Greg kicks off 2023 with an introduction to Pool Chasers’ newest co-host (and popular recurring guest on the show), Justin Bowie, President at JMax Companies!

We start the conversation going down memory lane as Justin recalls his early days in the trades and, later on, getting his start in the pool industry from the very bottom as a plumber. An entrepreneur to the core, he took over his employer’s company six years in, then started his own company sometime after.

Justin says that what separated him from his peers, from the earliest days of his career, was his unquenchable ambition and clarity on what he wants.

He talks about the keys to his success at JMax and in the pool industry in general, from his first few hires to his keen financial acumen to knowing how to set his priorities.

Sponsors:

• Poolside Tech 
• RayPak 
• Primate  

Topics Discussed: 

• [07:20] How Justin got into the trades

• [15:46] Justin’s first experience with the super-competitive pool market

• [20:01] Hiring the new generation

• [23:34] How ambition set Justin apart from everyone else

• [33:18] The first couple of years in Justin’s career

• [46:59] Starting JMax

• [54:49] Factoring in financial losses

• [57:38] Justin’s first hires

• [1:04:13] Networking with other big companies

• [1:09:07] Where JMax is today

• [1:13:52] Adding a personal touch to the JMax brand

• [1:25:13] Setting the right priorities

Connect with Justin Bowie & JMax Plumbing:

• JMax Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook