Pool Chasers Podcast

Episode Summary: 

In this episode, we recap all the full-length episodes that came out in 2022. We have had another amazing year on the Pool Chasers Podcast, got past most pandemic-related challenges, and reached over 400,000 downloads!  

To our awesome guests, thank you for sharing your valuable time to record with us and sharing your knowledge with the industry. To our sponsors and Patreon supporters, we thank you for supporting us, without your financial support, we could not produce the show. To all of our incredible listeners, thank you for joining us on each and every episode, you are the reason we do this, and interacting with you is still our favorite part!  

We wish you a Happy Holidays and a great 2023! 

Sponsors: 

• Leslie’s 
• Primate 
• Poolside Tech 

Connect with Pool Chasers: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 

Episode Summary: 

Today’s special episode is the December edition of our “News & Notes” series, in partnership with PoolPro Magazine. 

After touching on the most interesting pool-related news of the month, Megan goes over this year’s PHTA awardees before updating us on the latest product releases and upcoming trade shows! 

Finally, we talk about PoolPro’s latest article on creating a succession plan for your business, “Moving On”, written by Seraine Page. 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 01:56 - Pool News Stories 
• 08:40 - Pool Industry News and Notes 
• 16:17 - Movers and Shakers 
• 17:00 - Trade Shows 
• 18:14 - Pool Pro Story, “Moving On” 

Connect with Guest: 

• Website 
• Instagram

Episode Summary: 

Today we share a LIVE panel discussion from the 2022 International Pool, Spa, and Patio Expo with the BIG 3 consolidation experts in the industry. 

In this conversation, Megan Kendrick of Pool Pro Magazine moderates a panel consisting of Augusto Titarelli (CEO at National Pool Partners) Gary Crayton (Executive Chairman at Pool Troopers) Fraser Ramseyer (Founder & CEO at SPS PoolCare) Hal Denbar (President at National Pool Partners) Wendy Parker (Business Development at Pool Troopers) and Mike Cohen (Head of Partnerships at SPS PoolCare) as they discuss the current trend of consolidation in the industry and what it means for the service sector. 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 00:59 - Introduction to the Panel 
• 05:01 - What selling your business looks like 
• 15:46 - Options for the seller to stay on or exit 
• 28:49 - Why consolidation is a good thing for the industry 

Sponsors: 

• Leslie’s 
• Raypak 
• Poolside Tech

Episode Summary: 

Today we share a LIVE panel discussion from the 2022 International Pool, Spa, and Patio Expo with our friends at NPP. National Pool Partners. Officially launched in January 2021, the multi-regional pool service company has changed the game by partnering with local businesses to provide them with the scale and resources of a national enterprise to better serve their customers, teammates, and partners. 

In this conversation, Tyler moderates a panel of experienced owners of companies with over 1000 pools on route as they discuss their experiences hiring, managing, and leading in the pool service industry in a panel-style Q&A 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 01:18 - Introduction to speakers 
• 04:36 - Sourcing and retaining talent 
• 11:17 - Systems put in place to manage the team 
• 18:21 - How to get buy-in from the team 
• 27:47 - Managing employee accountability 
• 33:47 - Key Performance Indicators (KPI) that you can track 
• 39:02 - Managing team meetings 

Episode Summary: 

Today’s special episode is the November edition of our “News & Notes” series, in partnership with PoolPro Magazine. 

After touching on the most interesting pool-related news of the month, Megan goes over a few major local industry announcements as well as notable pool industry awardees, including three individuals highlighted in PoolPro’s very own 30 Under 40. 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 02:47 - Pool News Stories 
• 08:14 - Pool Industry News and Notes 
• 13:50 - Movers and Shakers 
• 14:11 - Pool Pro Stories, “Three 30 Under 40 Winners” 

Connect with Guest: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 

Episode Summary: 

Today, we sit down with Carl Spinnler, the former owner of BluTex, a West Houston-based residential swimming pool maintenance and repair company based in West Houston established in 2012. 

Carl got his “start” in the industry when he got his first job as a lifeguard at the age of 15, after which he began doing winter maintenance for local commercial pools. A friend eventually reached out to Carl to clean his pool. A decade later, that friend remained a customer of Carl’s—along with the many others he has built up over the years as the head of BluTex. 

Listen in as Carl looks back on his journey from pool cleaner to owner of his own LLC, all the way to his decision to let go of the company in order to begin the next phase of his career. He speaks in particular on his hiring strategy as BluTex began to see considerable growth, and how he was able to successfully exit the business. 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 01:36 - How Carl got in touch with Pool Chasers 
• 06:07 - Carl’s journey in the pool industry 
• 14:27 - Why Carl decided to start his own business 
• 18:31 - Making his first hire at 45 pools 
• 22:27 - The story behind the BluTex name and logo 
• 28:17 - Building the business infrastructure 
• 37:52 - Why and how Carl exited his business

Episode Summary: 

Today, we sit down with Justin Reyes and Gavin Chaze of Raypak Pool & Spa, the world’s leading manufacturer of copper finned boilers and heaters and, since 1953, the industry standard for pool heating technology. Justin is the company’s Associate Marketing Manager while Gavin serves as Regional Sales Manager for California. 

Raypak’s state-of- the-art Oxnard facility prepares the company to meet ever-increasing demands as the company continues to grow. They seek not just to provide innovative and intuitive products, but also to serve as an educational resource to pool professionals and even homeowners. 

Listen in as Justin and Gavin dive deep into the multifaceted products and services offered by Raypak. They speak of the company’s early beginnings since its founding in 1947 as purely a manufacturer of boilers and space heaters, before penetrating the pool industry six years later. 

They also discuss how Raypak is leading the industry via its collaboration with innovation insiders on the best way to design products that improve the quality of life of both pool owners and servicers. 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 01:19 - Justin and Gavin’s journey in the pool industry 
• 10:53 - How Raypak got started 
• 18:32 - Discussion on boilers and space heaters 
• 30:26 - Raypak moves into the swimming pool space 
• 32:58 - The AVIA 
• 43:04

Episode Summary: 

Today, we sit down with Brandon Stephenson, Co-Founder and Program Director at DIY Pools and Spas, a family-run company founded over four decades ago by Brandon’s father Mike Stephenson. 

DIY was created to give families a better and more affordable alternative to hiring a pool company. They offer 3D design, plans, step-by-step coaching, and all the resources you need for “Do It Yourself” pool construction. 

Brandon has studied online business development with a focus in the E-Learning industry. His experience in course development, alongside his marketing expertise, have been instrumental in creating the DIY Homeowner Builder Program. 

Listen in as Brandon shares how DIY has revolutionized the pool industry, both for homeowners and subcontractors, through the company’s ability to set appointments remotely. He explains how potential clients should prepare to work with DIY, including the benefits of having a plot map or site survey ready to present, and setting realistic expectations when settling on a preliminary yard design. 

Finally, Brandon gives his marketing and project management tips to take your business to the next level, whether you are a pool salesman or a subcontractor. 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 02:04 - The story behind DIY Pools and Spas 
• 05:04 - What clients can expect from working with DIY 
• 12:00 - What DIY does not do 
• 14:17 - How DIY designs and consults remotely 
• 19:28 - How subcontractors can wor

Episode Summary: 

Today, we sit down with Eric Knight, a sales and marketing leader for Orenda, a company which offers a line of eco-friendly water treatments. Orenda also provides free industry-leading tools to pool professionals such as The Orenda Calculator™, and educational resources like Orenda Academy™ and the Rule Your Pool Podcast. 

Listen in as Eric discusses what he has learned from hosting the “Rule Your Pool’ podcast and the importance of approaching water treatment from water’s point of view. In other words, the practitioner will always get more insight by asking, “What does water want?” rather than mindlessly dumping your run-of-the mill chemicals just because that is the unfortunate norm in the industry. 

He also talks about what separates “good” pool companies from “great” ones. It’s not about skill nor intelligence. Rather, truly great companies have a culture which respects and obeys physics instead of trying to fight it—by accepting that they can’t defeat water. This is a company which embraces the reality of problem pools being the norm, and encourages its technicians to speak up about them, all so as to be able to standardize their approach to pool chemistry. 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

• 04:50 - About the Rule Your Pool Podcast 
• 11:36 - Using Orenda’s learning resources 
• 17:01 - How Orenda looks at water differently 
• 23:04 - Why to view LSI first, range chemistry second 
• 28:28 - What separates “good” from “great” 
• 33:03 - Getting the

Episode Summary: 

Today’s special episode is the October edition of our “News & Notes” series, in partnership with Pool Pro Magazine. 

After touching on the most interesting pool-related news of the month, Megan talks about a local merger followed by a list of new product releases by various pool companies. She then highlights this month’s industry movers and shakers. 

Finally, Megan shares Pool Pro Mag’s eye-opening article “Cleaning Versus Disinfecting - Knowing the Difference is Key”, written by Katie Crysdale. 

Topics Discussed: 

• 02:48 - Telehandler forklift falls 
• 04:07 - Chemical spill at Cape Cod 
• 05:20 - Tourists in Iceland avoid taking a showers 
• 09:28 - The 20 best pools in Las Vegas 
• 12:29 - Riverbend Sandler acquires Backyard Paradise 
• 13:09 - New product releases 
• 15:13 - Industry movers and shakers