In the Northeast there has been a lot of movement towards an industry-specific licensing for pool and spa builders along with service firms. In Massachusetts the bill will go into effect July 1, 2012 while in Connecticut and Nassau County, NY continuous work on a bill of their own.  Penalties for the law in Massachusetts will be fines of up to $3,000, regardless if you are performing the work or hired an unlicensed professional. The man in charge of putting this bill together was Chris Callanan who represents Region 9 on the Associations of Pool & Spa Professional Board of Directors. His belief is to begin professionalizing the industry further. To maintain the license builders must complete at least 6 hours of continuing education. While each law differs in each state overall, the industry is looking towards further improvements and professionalism.  

On Monday January 9^th Pleatco sent out all their crates and materials for the 2012 Atlantic City Pool and Spa show. The Atlantic City Show is January 24^th, 25^th, and 26^th in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although Pleatco has a smaller booth than in the Las Vegas show late last year, Pleatco is still there to impress. With a 20ft x 40ft booth (#1627) Pleatco will be displaying various tank tests displaying our evolutionary switch to Johns Manville media. Along with tank tests, Pleatco will have microscopes where you can take an in depth look at the makeup of our new vs. old material. So make sure to come out to Atlantic City this January and see everything Pleatco has to offer!

Around the pool and spa industry, including here at Pleatco, emails from Chinese companies appear frequently. In the past, pool and spa companies mostly ignored these emails disregarding them due to the origin of the email. Recently, as the emails flood in companies are more aware of these Chinese companies. These companies are displaying themselves in the marketplace even here in the United States. Just last month at the Pool Spa Patio Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, more than 2 dozen Chinese manufacturing companies occupied booth spaces at the show. Now, more and more pool and spa products including toys, chemicals, pumps, and covers are being made for less money in China. While some believe it is not worth the hassle to deal with the “inferior products” or difficulty in communicating with foreigners, others believe in order to be competitive in today’s market you must product overseas. Is China the way of the future? Is it better to buy overseas for less but risk buying an inferior product?

How many other pool and spa companies do you know with their own personal mobile app for their website? In the beginning of November, Pleatco launched their mobile app for the IPAD, I Phone, Android, and Blackberry phones for FREE. The app includes all the tabs and features the website has. While you are out on the job or not near a computer you can now access our website on your phone!

Pleatco is installing webcams, microphones, and Skype on everyone’s computers in the office, further leading the way through innovation in the pool and spa industry. Along with our state of the art research and testing facility, constant streaming of new products, the strongest engineering staff in the industry, and a management team committed to growth and new product development, Pleatco is once again going above and beyond others in the industry. By installing these webcams, microphones, and Skype, Pleatco will be better enabled to speak with customers around the country and world. As the world is becoming more digital and online, so is Pleatco.

Some gals are born with a passion and a gift and Jennifer is one of them. From a little girl assisting her dad, to now owning Gold Coast Swimming Pools, Jennifer is well regarded as an honest, fair, caring, exceedingly appreciative, and known to never take shortcuts Pool Gal. Whenever a customer is in need Jennifer is there, even if it means sawing through a tree in the middle of a road.

She continues to pursue cutting edge technology and is dedicating to furthering her own education in the pool and spa industry. Pleatco is proud to honor her as our 2011 Pleatco Perfect Pool Gal because Jennifer was born to do this job.     

The 2011 Pleatco Pool Guy Was recently announced with the award going to Gil Serrano from Bay Area Pool Service in Florida. Gil began his career in 1997 as a pool service technician and has evolved his career ever since. He is now the pool service manager at Bay Area Pool Service where he is committed to pursuing further knowledge within the industry and continuously works towards being “service master” in Florida State.

Here is was Gil has to say about the whole process, “It is very gratifying to know that there is a quality company like Pleatco that takes the time to recognize the hard work and dedication of pool service professionals across the country.  I am honored to be this year’s winner and to represent my company Bay Area Pool Service and the whole industry.  Pleatco’s contest is a motivator to all the award winners and participants to strive to be the best in our industry bringing quality and perfection to our trade.  This award motivates me to be a better teacher to my teammates, and I would hope that one day in the future they would strive to win this award.”

In the November 11^th issue of Pool and Spa News one of Pleatco’s past Perfect Pool Guy winner’s is featured in an article called Rich Tarricone & Hazeltine Nurseries. Rich’s best friend from High School, Stephen Hazeltin, has built the largest design-build-landscape company in Florida while using an unconventional business model. On part of the company’s property, 90 acres is devoted for employees to practice sports including volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Stephen believes in order to build a more prolific work force implementing employee-friendly policies is key. “The way they treat their staff, you don’t see the level of support at most places,” Tarricone notes.

We are proud of Rich and Stephen for their continuous hard work in the pool and spa industry.