News

PHTA Reveals The 2022 International Awards Of Excellence Winners

Published

4 years 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.

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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)

Alise Everton

Alise Everton has been working in the pool industry for the past decade and is an experienced press correspondent and contributor for numerous trade publications and web portals including PoolMagazine.com and PoolContractor.com among others. Contact her for guest posting opportunities, press releases, and pool equipment related news.

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Industry News

Pentair Names Josh Cowley Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Pentair Pool

Published

1 day ago

October 19, 2026

Alise Everton

London, United Kingdom – October 19, 2026 – Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR), a leader in helping the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource, today announced that it has named Josh Cowley as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool, effective November 9, 2026. Mr. Crowley will report to De’Mon Wiggins, Executive Vice President and President, Pentair Flow, Water Solutions and Pool.

“Josh brings deep pool industry knowledge, a strong understanding of our customers and a proven ability to turn strategy into action,” said John L. Stauch, Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer. “His successful commercial and operating track record, coupled with his business acumen and leadership experience, will help build on the strength of our Pool business, enhance customer relationships and position Pentair Pool for long-term growth. We are pleased to welcome him to Pentair.”

Cowley brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and a successful track record of scaling businesses, building teams and strengthening channel partnerships. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of May Manufacturing, a leading hot tub and swim spa manufacturer, where he led the company through a significant phase of growth by establishing a customer centric culture with focused strategic priorities, expanding customer relationships, building a solid leadership team, and improved overall financial performance.

Prior to that, Cowley served as Chief Commercial Officer of Latham Group, the largest designer, manufacturer and marketer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia and New Zealand, where he led global sales, customer service, product and channel management, and brand marketing. Earlier in his career, from 2005 to 2021, he held several senior leadership roles at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., including President and General Manager of North America Retail Sales & Marketing. Cowley earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

About Pentair plc

At Pentair, we help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and commercial water solutions, to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is a core large cap value S&P 500 equity stock focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

Pentair had revenue in 2025 of approximately $4.2 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 9,000 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com.

PENTAIR CONTACTS:

Jeff Thompson
Investor Relations
Direct: 763-656-5527
Email: [email protected]

Rebecca Osborn
Corporate Communications
Direct: 763-656-5589
Email: [email protected]

5/5 - (3 votes)

Manufacturer

Soake Pools Bolsters National Growth With Four Key Hires

Published

2 weeks ago

October 8, 2026

Susie Cuebas

New territory managers, production leadership, and operations support reinforce the plunge pool manufacturer’s white-glove service as demand grows across U.S. markets

Pembroke, N.H. — October 2026 — Soake Pools, the New England manufacturer that pioneered the made-to-order precast concrete plunge pool, has added four team members to support its growth into new regional markets. The hires span sales, production leadership, and operations, positioning the team to scale with rising national demand for its hand-tiled pools, without sacrificing service or quality.

New appointments include:

Kerry Covington, Pacific Northwest Territory Manager—Based in Oregon, Covington is Soake Pools’ first territory manager to live and work in the Pacific Northwest, offering on-the-ground support. With more than a decade of experience in high-end remodeling and landscape design for luxury residential construction, he will help Pacific Northwest homeowners translate plunge pool concepts into thoughtfully planned additions tailored to their homes and landscapes.
Brooke Fine, MA South Shore, Cape Cod & Islands Territory Manager—Also based in territory and a Soake Pools customer herself, Fine brings both local knowledge and firsthand experience with the brand to the role. With a personal understanding of how a Soake Pool can enhance wellness, relaxation and outdoor living, she will provide dedicated in-territory support to homeowners across the Massachusetts South Shore, Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Eric Bailey, General Manager—At the company’s Pembroke production facility, Bailey will oversee manufacturing with 22 years of precast concrete experience. As a born-and-raised New Hampshire resident with a career built on quality and customer service, Bailey embodies the values Soake Pools has built its reputation on.
Katherine Fillon, Accounts Receivable—Lifelong New Englander Fillon rounds out the company’s administrative team, supporting a seamless experience between Soake Pools’ customers, partners and collaborators.

The news follows Soake Pools’ recognition as one of Business NH Magazine’s 2026 Best Companies to Work For in New Hampshire, where the company earned the No. 11 spot after a rigorous evaluation that included employer and team surveys, site visits, and employee focus groups. As it grows its team, the locally owned, family-run company stays anchored to the same standards that earned this honor.

About Soake Pools: Co-founded by Karen and Brian Larson in 2014, Soake® Pools disrupted the industry as the first company to offer hand-tiled precast concrete plunge pools for the home. Today, Soake Pools is the leading prefabricated plunge pool manufacturer in North America, designing luxury, space-saving pools for year-round use and enjoyment. At Soake Pool’s New England facility, its plunge pools are made to order in a controlled environment using proprietary concrete and state-of-the-art tile, continually setting the standard with new dimensions, luxury finishes, and innovations in quality control, safety and usability with impressive turnaround timelines. Fully customizable and delivered ready to install, each Soake Pool is equipped for hot dips in the winter and cooling soaks in the summer, with cold plunge and resistance system offerings that support athletic recovery and enhance at-home wellness routines. The monolithic concrete design offers accessibility in size and pricing, while saltwater filtration, low water usage, and variable speed pumps support sustainability, require less maintenance, and lower costs. Delivering backyard luxury retreats with demonstrated ROI in home value, Soake Pools offer countless physical and mental wellness benefits at a fraction of the footprint and expense of a traditional pool.

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Industry News

Hayward Holdings Names New Chief Accounting Officer

Published

2 weeks ago

October 7, 2026

Alise Everton

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) (“Hayward” or the “Company”), a leading global pool and outdoor living technology company, today announced the appointment of Jared Arrowood as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, effective immediately. As principal accounting officer, Arrowood will oversee the Company’s global financial reporting, tax, operational finance and technical accounting functions.

“Jared’s experience as a financial executive for publicly traded global organizations and his deep understanding of our business make him exceptionally well suited for this role,” said Eifion Jones, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. “I am confident his technical expertise, leadership and business perspective will continue to strengthen our finance organization and support long-term value creation for shareholders.”

Arrowood will continue to report to Jones as part of his financial leadership team.

Arrowood joined Hayward in 2023 as Assistant Corporate Controller and was promoted to Vice President, Corporate Controller in 2024. He has helped strengthen the Company’s financial processes, controls and continuous improvement efforts across the global controllership organization. Prior to Hayward, Arrowood spent 17 years at SPX FLOW, including serving as Vice President of Finance for its Mixing Solutions division.

He holds a Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a certified public accountant.

About Hayward Holdings, Inc.
Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) is a leading global specialty water management company focused on designing and manufacturing pool and outdoor living technology and industrial flow control products. Driven by a mission to transform the experience of water, Hayward offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy‑efficient and sustainable pool equipment—including pumps, heaters, sanitizers, filters, LED lighting, water features, and cleaners—integrated through its intuitive, IoT‑enabled SmartPad™ platform. The Company also provides industrial thermoplastic valves and process control products serving a wide range of applications.

Investor Relations Contact:
Kevin Maczka
[email protected]

Media Relations Contact:
Misty Zelent
[email protected]