The pool industry is changing fast—and technology is driving much of that change.

In this episode, I sit down with Niki Acosta and Hal Denbar from Skimmer to discuss where the industry is headed and what operators need to do to stay ahead. We cover everything from AI-powered phone systems and workflow automation to industry consolidation, professionalization, and building businesses that can scale without depending on the owner.  

We discuss:

• Why the pool industry is maturing rapidly
• How AI is changing customer service and lead management
• The risks of relying on disconnected software tools
• Building systems that remove owner dependency
• Industry consolidation and private equity trends
• What makes a pool company valuable to buyers
• Why many operators struggle to grow past a certain point
• The future of technology in pool service
• Safety, insurance, and professionalism in a changing industry

If you’re building a pool company for long-term growth, this episode offers a look at what’s coming next.  

Adam Courter didn’t grow up in the pool industry. After a career in banking, he acquired a pool service company and has since grown it from roughly 630 pools to more than 1,100.  

In this conversation, Adam shares the systems, hiring practices, and performance-pay structure that helped fuel that growth while maintaining a strong company culture.

We discuss:

• Transitioning from banking into pool service
• Lessons learned from acquiring an established company
• How to build a hiring process that attracts the right people
• Why culture is created through daily decisions
• Implementing performance-based pay for technicians
• Tracking productivity without sacrificing quality
• Building custom software with AI tools
• Technician onboarding and training systems
• Using technology to improve accountability and efficiency
• Managing growth while keeping your team engaged

Adam also shares why some customers aren’t worth taking on and how protecting your team can be more important than chasing revenue.  

Most pool companies focus on getting more customers. Ronny Barrett focuses on keeping them.

Ronny is the owner of Top Notch Pool Management in the Atlanta area, where he’s built a business around high-touch service, strong client relationships, and a concierge approach that stands apart from the industry’s “splash and dash” model.  

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why customer loyalty matters more than rapid growth
• How to maintain relationships as your company scales
• The systems Ronny uses to deliver a premium customer experience
• Hiring, training, and retaining high-performing technicians
• Performance pay, sales incentives, and upselling opportunities
• The shift to flat-rate pricing and what customers really want
• What concierge pool service looks like in practice
• How to vet customers and know when to say no
• The impact of private equity on the pool industry
• Why Ronny stepped back into the service manager role

Ronny also shares lessons learned from route acquisitions, building a premium brand, creating trust when mistakes happen, and staying focused on your niche as you grow.

Dave Hawes has spent decades building H&H Pools into one of the most respected service companies in Northern California, growing to nearly 1,000 pools while staying intentional about culture, pricing, profitability, and lifestyle design.  

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why most pool companies struggle when they start hiring
• The difference between being a great technician and a great business owner
• How Dave thinks about payroll, margins, and route density
• Why he pays techs hourly instead of commission
• The operational bottlenecks that show up as you scale
• How they structure service tiers and pricing
• Lessons learned from growing too fast geographically
• The role delegation and middle management play in scaling
• Why intentional vacations and lifestyle design matter for entrepreneurs

Dave also shares practical insight on private equity in the pool space, route acquisitions, CRM tools like Skimmer and Pool Brain, and the long-term mindset required to build a sustainable home service business.

Nick Day, GM of Gohlke Pools in Texas, breaks down what it really takes to scale a long-standing pool company from a small local operation into a 90-person business servicing more than 1,250 weekly accounts.  

We cover:

• Why the 2008 recession pushed them to double down on service
• The systems and org structure required to scale route operations
• How they track technician production and compensation
• Their approach to training, onboarding, and retention
• Why they include chemicals in flat-rate pricing
• The operational lessons learned from growing too fast
• How software and technology changed the business
• Their perspective on private equity entering the pool industry

If you’re building a service business and want practical insight on scaling operations, managing techs, and creating long-term stability, this episode is packed with takeaways.

Chantel Dooley shares how Dazzle Pools built a premium pool service company in one of the most competitive markets in the country—without racing to the bottom on price.  

We cover:

• Why answering the phone is still a massive competitive advantage
• How Skimmer helps them deliver a premium customer experience
• Their philosophy of “quality over quantity”
• Why they refuse to discount or compete on cheap pricing
• How they recruit and retain great technicians in Arizona heat
• The systems and culture that keep their team engaged long term

If you want to build a high-quality service company with strong culture and loyal customers, this episode is full of practical takeaways.

Pool Butler services 550–600 pools in Atlanta with 30 employees, but their real growth came from systems, training, and higher-value services—not just adding more pools.  

We cover:

• Why they prioritize attitude over experience when hiring
• How weekly training drives consistency at scale
• Their strategy for “weeding the garden” and firing bad-fit customers
• How technicians generate high-margin upsells in the field
• Why Google Ads + reviews outperform postcards
• How they’re using AI and automation to scale operations

If you want to build a more profitable pool company without chasing endless route volume, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Most pool businesses don’t deal with this problem: your entire season is 5–6 months.

Jay Broyer has built a multi-location company in the Northeast despite that constraint.

We cover:

• Why staffing—not demand—is the biggest bottleneck
• How they recruit and train large seasonal teams
• Lessons from multiple acquisitions (including one that went wrong)
• Why they centralized operations across locations
• How seasonality changes pricing, operations, and growth strategy

If you’re in a seasonal market—or thinking about acquisitions—this one gives you a different lens on the business.

This is a rare behind-the-scenes look at a real acquisition—from both the seller and buyer.

Karl Toth sold his 500-account company. Garrett Welch (Nevergreen) was on the buying side.

We break down:

• The real reasons owners decide to sell
• What buyers are actually looking for (and what kills deals)
• How relationships drive deals more than brokers
• What the LOI and due diligence process really looks like
• How employees and customers are handled after the sale

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, this gives you a realistic view of how deals actually happen.

Tim Ryan built and sold multiple pool companies—and added 300 pools in just 5 months.

His approach is aggressive, unconventional, and it works.

We cover:

• How he dominated lead flow using Angie and speed-to-lead
• The exact tactics that helped him win 90% of leads
• Why most companies are too slow (and lose deals because of it)
• His “hire fast, fire fast” approach to building teams
• Why branding matters less than you think early on

If you want to grow fast, this episode will challenge how you think about marketing and hiring.