News

PHTA Reveals The 2022 International Awards Of Excellence Winners

Published

3 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)

Manufacturer

Clear Blue Water Tech, UAG Team Up on Affinity Pool

Published

1 week ago

July 3, 2025

Susie Cuebas

Syracuse, NY — 07/03/25 — James Melnicoff, President of Clear Blue Water Tech, is pleased to announce a new partnership with United Aqua Group (UAG), one of the most respected buying groups in the pool and spa industry. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, UAG has been transforming how pool and spa professionals purchase products and services since its founding in 1963.

“At United Aqua Group, we’re always looking for vendor partners who share our commitment to quality, innovation, and member success,” said Craig Goodson, President of United Aqua Group. “Clear Blue Water Tech brings a strong reputation and a robust line of products that will enhance the value we deliver to our members. We’re excited to welcome them to the UAG family.”

Through this partnership, Clear Blue Water Tech will offer its Affinity-branded line of pool and specialty chemical products to UAG members across the country. The product line includes liquid pool stabilizer, liquid clarifiers, pod clarifiers, liquid phosphate removers, phosphate remover tablets, flocculants, enzymes, solar treatments, spa products and more—all designed to deliver exceptional value, trusted quality, and fast shipping.

“We are honored to be selected as a vendor to such a well-established and forward-thinking organization,” said Melnicoff. “Our team is committed to providing UAG members with innovative, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for their pool and spa chemical needs.”

For more information about Clear Blue Water Tech or the Affinity product line, visit clearbluewatertech.com or contact us at [email protected].

To learn more about United Aqua Group and the benefits of membership, go to unitedaquagroup.com or email [email protected] for more information.

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Pool News

Dr. Adam Katchmarchi Joins PHTA as VP of Educational Development

Published

2 weeks ago

July 1, 2025

Susie Cuebas

Adam-katchmarchi-phta-vp-educational-development

(Alexandria, Va.) – The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, is pleased to announce that Dr. Adam Katchmarchi (Ph.D.) has joined the organization as Vice President of Educational Development. Dr. Katchmarchi begins his role effective July 1, 2025.

As Vice President of Educational Development, Dr. Katchmarchi will collaborate closely with PHTA staff, partners, and industry professionals to enhance and expand PHTA’s educational programming. His primary responsibilities will include developing innovative courses and trainings, elevating the quality and accessibility of educational content, and fostering strategic partnerships aimed at enriching industry-wide professional development. He will coordinate closely with Jeanne Mendelson, Vice President of Educational Operations & Sales, to lead PHTA educational programs and services.

“I am extremely honored and excited to join the incredible team at the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance in this role,” says Dr. Katchmarchi. “I look forward to leveraging my background in aquatics education and water safety advocacy to support PHTA’s mission. Together, we will deliver high-caliber, impactful educational opportunities that help our members thrive professionally and enhance industry standards.”

Dr. Katchmarchi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new position. Prior to joining PHTA, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), where he successfully implemented national initiatives focused on water safety awareness and drowning prevention. His leadership facilitated transformative partnerships across the public and private sectors, significantly advancing water safety education.

In addition to his executive experience, Dr. Katchmarchi was a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Allied and Public Health at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), a position he held from 2014 to 2025. An accomplished educator and researcher, Dr. Katchmarchi has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and frequently presents at both national and international conferences.

Dr. Katchmarchi earned his Ph.D. in Coaching and Teaching Studies from West Virginia University, with research specializing in water safety education. He also holds a Master of Science in Sport Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Slippery Rock University, both with focuses on aquatics and aquatic safety.

“Dr. Katchmarchi is an exceptional addition to our leadership team,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President & CEO of PHTA. “His distinguished career and dedication to aquatic safety, education, and advocacy make him ideally suited to elevate PHTA’s educational initiatives. We are excited about the impact he will have on our members and the industry as a whole.”

For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Director of Content 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 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding 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.

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Manufacturer

CCEI Taps Martin Grenier to Head North American Operations

Published

2 weeks ago

June 26, 2025

Susie Cuebas

CCEI, is pleased to announce the hiring of Martin Grenier to head their North American operations. Martin has over 10 years of experience in the swimming pool industry having worked for Hayward for over 7 years plus other positions in both retail and distribution. CCEI is a manufacturer of automation and controller systems in the US as well as lighting systems in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Africa with its head office located in France.

Martin is now responsible for operations and sales for both the company’s US and Canadian markets and is also charged with raising brand and product awareness of CCEI’s products throughout the North American pool industry. “As an established supplier in Europe, we are focused on raising awareness of our products and services with pool builders, retailers and distributors, while also working to form strategic partnerships in the US and Canada,” says Grenier. A native of Canada, Martin is also fluent in English and French. “Martin has already made a significant impact in the Canadian swimming pool market and we are confident CCEI will continue to experience exponential growth in sales of our products in both the US and Canadian markets,” says Sébastian Chéreau, Head of CCEI’s Global Marketing. “We are pleased to have Martin join our team and share his expertise with our company as he helps align our marketing strategies and goals across all branches of CCEI around the world,” says Sébastien Chéreau, Marketing Director for CCEI.

Since 1973, CCEI has been designing and manufacturing electrical equipment for private and public pools. Over the years, we have acquired in-depth experience with pools and their specific constraints. Starting as a manufacturer specialized in electrical boxes, CCEI has expanded to different areas, including automatic water treatment and lighting for pools.

CCEI’s technical team has also grown and now has a team with recognized skills in electronics, optics and electrochemistry. With this knowledge, CCEI is now able to provide global, adapted solutions to pool builders and industries and enhance the safety, ergonomics and reliability of pool facilities.