Wendy Parker Barsell is Leaving FSPA

After 20 years as Executive Director for the Florida Swimming Pool Association, Wendy Parker Barsell has decided to leave the organization and begin a new position with Pool Troopers.

“I was thrilled to celebrate 20 years in February …” said Parker Barsell, “I think that, at this point, it is a great opportunity for me to do something a little different but still continue to always support FSPA.”

Parker Barsell started as business development manager for Pool Troopers on July 6. Her new role will encompass an aggressive effort to acquire service providers and grow their footprint throughout the Sunbelt region.

Parker Barsell began her career at FSPA in the role of Communications Manager, and worked to bring freelance newsletter production in-house. She also worked with the organization on handling tradeshow communication, and developing the group’s website.

Parker Barsell was quickly given the additional job of overseeing the group’s events, which was then known as the Florida Pool and Spa Show. She was moved up to the role of operations manager in 2007 to manage the team as it looked for an executive director. She was promoted to the top position the following year.

FSPA’s structure has dramatically changed during her tenure as Executive Director. In years past it was known as NSPI Region 7 and served as a local branch of the National Spa & Pool Institute (now known as Pool & Hot Tub Alliance). It was renamed the Florida Swimming Pool Association back in 2003. FSPA became fully independent in 2008.

The organization has definitely come a long way since its inception. The FSPA’s personnel grew initially from a few part-time employees to its present roster of eight full-time staff members, including an in-house government relations manager and a digital media specialist, once her tenure as executive director formally began. The organization also strived to improve education in the state of Florida by producing and delivering its own certification course.

The organization’s exhibition was renamed the Everything Under the Sun Expo during her tenure.

An executive search committee has been formed to find a replacement for Parker Barsell. Charis Tyson, a 14-year veteran of the organization who formerly served as senior director of marketing and communications, will take over in the interim until the position is filled.