News

PHTA Reveals The 2022 International Awards Of Excellence Winners

Published

5 months ago

October 13, 2022

(Alexandria, Va.) – The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) is proud to announce this year’s winners of the PHTA Awards of Excellence. PHTA’s International Awards of Excellence program is one of the largest, most well-renowned design competitions in the pool and hot tub industry. These distinguished awards recognize exceptional installations of pools, spas, hot tubs, and water features that showcase the most beautiful, creative, and innovative work in the industry. Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted by builders across the U.S. and the world.

The PHTA Awards of Excellence competition is open to PHTA members who are pool, spa, or hot tub builders as well as installers, designers, retailers, or service companies that receive payment for the submitted project. The judging panel is comprised of industry professionals.

See below for the list of 2022 PHTA International Award of Excellence Winners:

GOLD Category

Atkinson Pools, Charleston, SC Recreation/Leisure Pools

Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TX Technical/Engineering Achievement

Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TX Swim Spas

Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TX Pool Renovations

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Traditional

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Commercial Water Features

Dal Pino Quality Pools, Inc, Auburn, CA Freeform

Goodall Pools & Spas, Camp Hill, PA Fiberglass Pools

J&M Pool Company, Senoia, GA Vinyl-Lined Pools

J.Brownlee Design / Watermark Pools, Franklin, TN Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Keith Zars Pools, San Antonio, TX Traditional

Morris Pools LLC, Mesa, AZ Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Ozzie Kraft Enterprises Inc, Las Vegas, NV Geometric

Ozzie Kraft Enterprises Inc, Las Vegas, NV Pools with Automatic Covers

Radelli Design | Build, Oak Point, TX Geometric

Regal Pool and Design, LLC, Spring, TX Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Screened Enclosed Pools

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, F Traditional

Shasta Pools / Creative Environments, Phoenix, AZ Geometric

Shehan Pools, Florence, KY Spas Built in Conjunction with Swimming Pools

Texas Pools Inc, The Woodlands, TX Freeform

The Green Scene Landscaping and Pools, Chatsworth, CA Residential Water Features

Venture Custom Pools, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX Geometric

SILVER CATEGORY

Backyard Oasis, Inc, Tomball, TX Geometric

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Geometric

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Pool Renovations

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Traditional

Concord Pools & Spas, Latham, NY Vinyl-Lined Pools

Cosgrove Custom Pools, Loomis, CA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Pools with Automatic Covers

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Recreation/Leisure Pools

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Traditional

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Technical/Engineering Achievement

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Residential Water Features

Ike’s Carter Pools, Oakland Park, FL Freeform

Ozzie Kraft Enterprises Inc, Las Vegas, NV Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

Russell Pool Company, Baton Rouge, LA Geometric

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Geometric

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Screened Enclosed Pools

Southernwind Pools, McKinney, TX Geometric

Superior Pools of Southwest Florida, Inc, Spas Built in Conjunction with Swimming Pools

Fort Myers/Port Charlotte, FL

Texas Pools Inc, The Woodlands, TX Traditional

BRONZE CATEGORY

California Pools of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV Geometric

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Geometric

Alpine Pools Cranberry Twp, Cranberry Twp, PA Vinyl-Lined Pools

Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TX Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Traditional

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Pool Renovations

Cody Pools, Inc, San Antonio, TX Traditional

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Recreation/Leisure Pools

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Technical/Engineering Achievement

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Spas Built in Conjunction with Swimming Pools

Elite Luxury Pool & Landscaping, Omaha, NE Pools with Automatic Covers

Elite Luxury Pool & Landscaping, Omaha, NE Freeform

J&M Pool Company, Senoia, GA Geometric

J.Brownlee Design / Watermark Pools, Destin, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Leisure Living Pools, Frisco, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Shehan Pools, Florence, KY Freeform

Superior Pools of Southwest Florida, Inc, Screened Enclosed Pools

Fort Meyers/Port Charlotte, FL

Tipton Spires Design | Build, Houston, TX Geometric

MERIT CATEGORY

A Oasis Pools and Outdoor Living, Midlothian, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Acuarium Piscinas & Spas, San Jose, Costa Rica Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Almar Jackson Pools, Jupiter, FL Freeform

Artisan Pools NC, Kitty Hawk, NC Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Atkinson Pools, Charleston, SC Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Backyard Oasis, Inc, Tomball, TX Geometric

Burton Pools & Spas, Fort Smith, AR Vinyl-Lined Pools

Cajun Pools & Spas, Breaux Bridge, LA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

California Pools of Austin, Austin, TX Geometric

Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Geometric

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Freeform

Cody Pools, Inc, San Antonio, TX Geometric

Dal Pino Quality Pools, Inc, Auburn, CA Geometric

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Geometric

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Recreation/Leisure Pools

Easton Pool & Spa, Inc, Easton, MA Pools with Automatic Covers

Elite Luxury Pool & Landscaping, Omaha, NE Geometric

Flowing Wells Landscape & Pools, Chandler, AZ Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Green O’Aces Pools & Landscape, Las Vegas, NV Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Harold Leidner Company, Dallas, TX Geometric

Heritage Pools, LLC, North Charleston, SC Geometric

Ike’s Carter Pools, Oakland Park, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

J.Brownlee Design / Watermark Pools, Franklin, TN Pools with a Vanishing Edge

LIQUID EVOLUTION POOLS, Scottsdale, AZ Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Melo’s Pools and Outdoors, Palm Desert, CA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Ozzie Kraft Enterprises Inc, Las Vegas, NV Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Riverbend Sandler Pools, Plano, TX Geometric

Riverbend Sandler Pools, Plano, TX Traditional

Rumo’s Pool and Spa, LLC, Sandy Springs, GA Traditional

Russell Pool Company, Baton Rouge, LA Geometric

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Geometric

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Shasta Pools, Phoenix, AZ Pool Renovations

Silver Fox Contracting LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Southernwind Pools, McKinney, TX Geometric

St. John Pools, Pearland, TX Geometric

Stainless Aquatics, A Division of Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

Island Construction Corporation, Del Mar, CA

Superior Pools of Southwest Florida, Inc, Screened Enclosed Pools

Fort Myers/Port Charlotte, FL

Texas Pools Inc, The Woodlands, TX Geometric

The Green Scene Landscaping and Pools, Chatsworth, CA Geometric

The Green Scene Landscaping and Pools, Chatsworth, CA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Tipton Spires Design | Build, Houston, TX Freeform

“We were absolutely blown away by this year’s Awards of Excellence submissions,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President and CEO of PHTA. “It was tempting to give an award to every entry, but the judging panel did a phenomenal job narrowing down the finalists. This year’s winners are truly the best of the best. We are proud of all of our 2022 winners!”

The winning entries are featured in the October issue of AQUA Magazine and the winning companies will be honored during the Awards of Excellence Reception on November 14 at PSP/Deck Expo in Las Vegas.

A video featuring photos of all the Awards of Excellence winning entries can be found on the PHTA Awards of Excellence webpage.

For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, at [email protected] or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.

###

About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with over 3,600 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.

5/5 - (2 votes)

Industry News

Ken Howard Joins Pool & Spa Apprenticeship & Training Committee

Published

23 hours ago

March 3, 2023

Joe Trusty

Ken Howard Joins Pool & Spa Apprenticeship & Training Committee

The Pool & Spa Apprenticeship and Training Committee is excited to announce another newly appointed Director to the Pool & Spa Apprenticeship and Training Committee (PSATC) – Ken Howard.

Ken started his career in San Diego in the electrical industry when he was sixteen years old. After four years in the electrical industry, there was an opportunity to start his own business in the landscape industry. It was here that he was first introduced to swimming pool construction. Over the next twenty years, Ken designed and built, in North San Diego County, as a full-service outdoor design, project management and construction company.

This design-build experience included new swimming pool & spa construction, renovations, remodeling, demolition, pool equipment repair & replacement, pool & spa chemical automation upgrades, and electrical work. Additionally, concrete work, including driveways, patios, pool decks, and ICF (Insulating Concrete Forms) swimming pool design and construction, were later added to the scope of provided services.

Ken has obtained five CA Contracting License classifications, as well as obtaining a CBP (Certified Building Professional) and PPSO (professional Pool & Spa Operator) designations from the APSP/PHTA. Since 2018 there has been a focus on peer education regarding the proper installation of chemical automation and chemical automation controllers for residential pool/spa combos.

Ken is the current owner of Ultimate-Pool.com full service-swimming pool service and repair business in North County, San Diego, and the President of Ultimate Pool Tools

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News

Master Spas Continues Support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as Charity Partner of Warburton Golf Tournament

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2023

Marianne Trusty

Master Spas continues support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as charity partner of Warburton Golf Tournament

Fort Wayne, IN – Master Spas, a leading manufacturer of premium hot tubs and swim spas, continued its support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a charity sponsor of the 2023 Warburton Golf Tournament.

Master Spas donated an H2X Trainer 15 swim spa to the auction and presented St. Jude with a significant donation, which was made on behalf of Master Spas and its worldwide network of specialty retailers. In addition, Master Spas donated a Michael Phelps Legend Series hot tub for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway raffle.

The 2023 Warburton Golf Tournament took place February 23-26 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs, California. It is an annual event that brings together celebrities, professional athletes, and top-tier golfers to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which provides life-saving care to children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The event includes a golf tournament, auction, and other activities designed to raise awareness and funds for the hospital.

“We are honored to partner with the Warburton Golf Tournament and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support this important cause,” said Kevin Richards, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Master Spas. “As a company, we are committed to making a positive impact in our community, and we believe that supporting St. Jude’s mission to find cures for childhood diseases is a worthy cause.”

This year’s four-day event raised more than $4.7 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Warburton is the highest grossing tournament for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising more than $26.5 million since it began 13 years ago.

Fueled by the company’s mission and values, Master Spas has established a charitable giving program that supports multiple nonprofit organizations and charities, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Master Spas Care program extends beyond the company and to its global network of retailers.

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Because of events like The Warburton, St. Jude can provide cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.

About Master Spas

Master Spas is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 90 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Operating out of a state-of-the-art, 583,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on a 50-acre manufacturing campus, Master Spas is the largest portable spa, hot tub and swim spa manufacturer in the world with all products built in the U.S.A. The company’s executive team boasts more than 200 years of spa manufacturing success and one of the strongest track records in the industry. For more information, please visit: www.MasterSpas.com.

5/5 - (1 vote)

News

Fluidra Makes Dedicated Shift to More Efficient LED Pool Lighting

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2023

Marianne Trusty

Following new Department of Energy lighting regulations, the company takes energy-savings a step further

SAN DIEGO – March, 1 2023– The swimming pool industry is about to undergo another transformation as a result of new Department of Energy (DOE) lighting regulations that aim to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by prohibiting the sale of some incandescent lights. In response to these changes, Fluidra, a leading global provider of pool equipment and connected solutions in the pool and wellness sector, has announced its commitment to not only meet, but exceed these regulations.

The new regulations, which apply to various pool lights with a lumen range between 310 and 3,300 lumens (roughly 25 to 300 watts for incandescent lamps), build upon the existing Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which set energy efficiency standards for many common household lighting products. Under the new regulations, manufacturers are required to produce lighting products that are even more energy-efficient, which should result in significant cost savings for consumers. According to independent environmental studies requested by the DOE, this new regulation is estimated to result in net consumer benefits of $3 billion over 30 years.

To be compliant, the new regulations stipulate the following:

• Manufacturers can no longer sell non-compliant incandescent lights manufactured or imported on or after the effective date of January 1, 2023

• Distributors & Retailers can no longer re-sell non-compliant incandescent lights without penalties effective March 1, 2023, and with reduced penalties until July 31, 2023

As currently written, these regulations affect Fluidra’s 100W and 300W incandescent lighting products. However, the company, which is focused on reducing its carbon impact both through its business practices and the products it produces is taking a firmer stance and will stop manufacturing incandescent lights completely. Moving forward, the company will only manufacture LED lightswhichhave been shown to provide up to 87% energy savings* for homeowners.

“Pool owners are now looking for much more than just a beautiful pool they can enjoy; they want that pool to include solutions that mitigate environmental impact while also saving them money,” said Fluidra president, Lennie Rhoades. “We’re always looking for ways to make the pool more energy efficient, whether it’s through the use of variable-speed technologies or adding a pool cover, which conserves water, heat and chemicals. In the case of lighting, we are already seeing a natural migration within the industry to LED-based technologies, so these new DOE regulations give us an ideal opportunity to accelerate the transition to this more efficient technology. We are confident that our customers will benefit from the increased efficiency and cost savings these changes will bring.”

*Calculation based on a comparison between a 500W white incandescent light and a 65W white LED light with comparable lumen output.

In place of the previous generation of incandescent lights, Fluidra will continue to build out its robust range of LED lighting options, including the upcoming release of their latest LED offering, the Infinite WaterColors LED Lights, the company is confident that its lighting solutions will cater to the sustainability concerns of pool owners while providing a superior experience and the highest value to pool owners.

For more information about Fluidra’s LED pool and spa lighting solutions, pool professionals are encouraged to contact their local Fluidra representative for information or visit Jandy.com.

About Fluidra

Fluidra is a publicly listed company focused on developing innovative products, services and IoT solutions for the residential and commercial pool markets, globally. The company operates in over 45 countries and owns a portfolio of some of the industry’s most recognized and trusted brands, including Jandy^®, Polaris^®, Zodiac^®, CMP®, Taylor Water Technologies and S.R.Smith. To learn more about Fluidra, visit FluidraUSA.com or call 800-822-7933.

5/5 - (1 vote)

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