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BioGuard® Celebrates 60th Anniversary with a big party in Nashville, TN

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BLC Bioguard 60th Birthday Celebration 2023

BioGuard, maker of high-performance pool and spa chemicals, kicked off a year-long celebration of the brand’s 60th anniversary with a festive event in Nashville, TN in January 2023.  The event brought together over 450 attendees representing BioGuard dealers and company representatives that came out to celebrate.  BioGuard is known for creating a three-step system of chemicals to keep water clean and clear. It also pioneered computerized water testing for pools and spas.  Established in 1963, the BioGuard product line has expanded to include a full chemical line for spas (SpaGuard®) with a large independent dealer base in the US, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

BioGuard® Celebrates 60th Anniversary with a big party in Nashville, TN

The 60th anniversary party was a part of the company’s annual dealer conference which took place at the JW Marriott in Nashville.  The conference provided learning opportunities including business and marketing seminars plus training for their established group of retail professionals.  Michael Thill, Retail Division Manager at Caribbean Pool and Spa was particularly pleased with the event saying, “Celebrating 60 years was amazing but also, and maybe more importantly, impressed with the new vibe for the next 60 [years] with new President Ignacio Campos.  He is going to do amazing things not just for BioGuard, but for the pool industry as a whole.” 

Ignacio Campos, President of the company’s pool division, was very pleased with the dealer event both to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary as well as to launch a new vision for the company moving forward.  “Our goal is to continue to be a leader in the development of the highest quality pool and spa chemicals. We strive to provide opportunity for our independent pool and spa dealers while working to be their partner of choice,” noted Campos.  “BioGuard’s success will continue to come from our pursuit of innovation as we support our dealer network to meet the needs of pool and spa owners worldwide, providing unmatched value through our high-performance products.”  

Ted Lawrence, Vice President of Sales, saw firsthand the passion BioGuard dealers have for both their businesses and the brand itself.  “It was an honor to spend quality time with so many from our BioGuard dealer base at the event in Nashville.  I am excited to be leading our sales team through such a milestone year, as we honor the BioGuard brand’s storied history and take it to the next level,” says Lawrence.

The social media outpouring was impressive for Jamie Novak, Director of Pro Brands Marketing for BioLab.  “The thank you notes, photos, videos, and social media posts reinforced the importance of the BioGuard brand to its loyal dealer base,” says Novak.  “Our team is enjoying the opportunity to celebrate such an iconic brand all year long!” 

About BioGuard/ BioLab/ KIK Consumer Products

Based in Lawrenceville, GA., BioLab, Inc, the Pool Division of KIK Consumer Products Company, has been supplying water treatment products for recreational applications on a global basis for over 60 years including their signature lines of BioGuard & SpaGuard pool and spa chemicals.  Additional information about BioGuard can be found at www.bioguard.com.

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Marianne Trusty is a Press Correspondent for the pool & spa industry. A published author and social media influencer reaching over 20 million people around the world each day. Contact Marianne about publishing op-editorials, breaking pool news and press releases at [email protected].

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Clear Blue Water Tech, UAG Team Up on Affinity Pool

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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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Dr. Adam Katchmarchi Joins PHTA as VP of Educational Development

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(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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CCEI Taps Martin Grenier to Head North American Operations

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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. 

Martin can be reached at the company’s offices in Montreal at:  [email protected].

More information about the company’s US operations can be found at:
www.ccei-pool.com/us/
CCEI USA Inc., Inglewood, CA 90301

 

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