April 9, 2024 – Atlanta – Coverings (coverings.com), the premier international tile and stone exhibition and conference in North America, has unveiled the honorees of the annual Rock Star Awards ahead of Coverings 2024, taking place April 22-25, 2024, at the Georgia World Congress Center, in Atlanta, Georgia.

2024 marks the 10^th year of the coveted awards program, underscoring Coverings’ unwavering, decade-long commitment to fostering industry growth by honoring exemplary young leaders in the tile and stone industry.

This year’s Rock Star recipients epitomize the industry’s most resourceful and exceptional young professionals who consistently innovate as forerunners of achievement, setting new standards in performance and excellence to further industry advancement.  

“Over the past decade, the Rock Stars program has become a Coverings cornerstone, commemorating the innovative spirit and remarkable achievements of emerging tile and stone leaders,” said Jenn Heinold, president of Taffy Event Strategies, the show management company for Coverings. “The 2024 Rock Stars represent shining examples of professionals who demonstrate leadership, creativity and commitment to excellence, helping to drive the industry forward in countless positive ways. Coverings is proud to honor these exceptional individuals as part of the program’s 10^th anniversary celebration.”

A panel of tile and stone industry leaders carefully reviewed nominations to determine this year’s 16 Rock Star inductees. The 2024 winners encompass a wide range of industry segments as follows:

Contractor/Installer (7):

Sean Gordy, Owner

Gordy Tile

Atlanta, Ga.

Shanan Hehir, Owner

Shanans Absolute Tile LLC

Manchester, Vt.

Trevor Hook, Owner

Hooked on Tile LLC

Evansville, Wis.

Nathan Merrill, Installer/Owner

Vision Stone and Tile

Mogadore, Ohio

Megan Renk, Owner

Mosaix Tile Installation Company

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Aryk Snowberger, Owner

Snowbee Custom Tile

Canton, Ohio

Gus Tolleson, Project Manager

J&R Tile, Inc.

San Antonio, Texas

Designer (2):

Marie Page, Sales Design Consultant

Architessa

Rockville, Md.

Amala Raj Swenson, Principal Interior Designer

Amala Raj Interiors

San Diego, Calif.

Distributor (4):

Steven Bellew, Operations Manager, Warehouse Coordinator / Co-owner

Bellew Tile & Marble Co / TJB Imports

Hingham, Mass.

John Donaghy, Director of Operations – Commercial Division

Best Tile

Fairhaven, Mass.

Jordan Johnson, Procurement Associate

International Tile & Stone

Daytona Beach, Fla.

Matthew Marchildon, Tool & Accessory Division Manager

Centura Tile

Toronto, Ontario

Manufacturer (2):

Markus Dworowy, National Technical Manager

Blanke Corporation

Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Kali Pharand, Product Standards and Sustainability Coordinator

Schluter Systems

Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Retailer (1):

Dani Williams, CEO and Creative Director

Artesana Tile

Tucson, Ariz.

The 2024 Rock Stars will be celebrated at Coverings 2024 alongside winners from the past nine years, uniting both new and previous award recipients in a grand celebration of industry excellence. A panel with previous Rock Stars about unlocking the key to a successful career will top off the celebration.

Showgoers are invited to participate in the festivities by attending the 2024 Rock Star Awards Ceremony & 10th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held April 22, 4-5 p.m. EDT, in the Outdoor Oasis (Hall C, Booth 7006) at Coverings 2024.

Recognition for this year’s winners also includes Coverings press content, a year-long professional feature on the Coverings website as well as postings on Coverings’ social media channels and blog. 

Coverings 2024 attendees and other industry professionals can learn more about the Coverings 2024 Rock Stars at coverings.com/coverings-rock-stars.

For more information and to register for Coverings 2024 at no cost, visit coverings.com.

A forthcoming feature potentially destined for the Apple Watch, as detailed in a recent patent application, could serve as a lifesaver for swimmers at risk of drowning.

Outlined in the patent is a capability for the Watch to identify “irregular behavior” and automatically trigger a distress call for assistance.

Apple underscores the alarming statistics surrounding drowning, particularly its prevalence among children, as a leading cause of accidental fatalities.

In the United States alone, drowning claims the lives of over 3,500 individuals annually, ranking as the fifth most common form of accidental death. Tragically, a significant portion of these victims are children.

Emphasizing the critical importance of swift intervention during water emergencies, Apple highlights the dire consequences of prolonged submersion without resuscitation, which can result in brain damage and ultimately, drowning.

A Growing Need For Cost-Effective Wearable Solutions

While acknowledging existing underwater camera systems in some swimming pools aimed at detecting distressed swimmers and alerting lifeguards, Apple notes their costliness and unreliability.

Consequently, there’s a pressing need for a simpler, more cost-effective drowning prevention solution suitable for all types of water bodies, including public and private pools, as well as natural settings like lakes and ponds where installing underwater cameras is impractical.

The patent proposes leveraging wearable devices such as the Apple Watch for broader applicability, increased reliability, and the ability to detect various types of emergencies.

Alerting When Swimmers Are In Distress

For instance, if the Watch detects a wearer who is not proficient in swimming entering deeper water, it can promptly dispatch an alert instead of waiting for signs of distress.

These alerts can be transmitted to nearby devices, including those of friends and family, and seamlessly integrate with existing drowning detection and alarm systems to ensure lifeguards are promptly notified.

Apple Watches already boast capabilities to detect and respond to falls, vehicle accidents, and cardiac irregularities. Heartwarming testimonials featured in Apple’s “Dear Apple” video series show individuals whose lives were saved by these functionalities.

As with many patents from Apple, it’s important to note that not all concepts may materialize into actual products. Nonetheless, this innovation stands as a promising addition for potential integration into future watchOS updates.

70-Year-Old Custom Residential Pool Construction Franchise Signs Deal to Bring Services to Temecula

TEMECULA, Calif. (April 1, 2024) – California Pools, the industry leader in custom residential swimming pool construction, is breaking ground with a franchise deal to bring its services to the Temecula market. This is the 16th California Pools location in California, with this location set to debut by April 2024.

Acquaintances turned business partners, the new location will be owned and operated by Ron Marquez and Laron Daffin. Marquez served in the U.S. Marine Corps for over two decades before he became a Project Manager for a different California Pools franchise while he earned a degree in manufacturing and engineering. Daffin has been in the construction industry since he was 17, working on a wide range of projects before focusing mainly on pools for the last 20 years.

When the two crossed paths by chance in 2022, Daffin quickly became a mentor for Marquez. The duo clicked immediately and the next move was simple, by combining Marquez’s leadership and project management experience with Daffin’s network, pool and construction industry knowledge, they decided to venture into business together. Knowing the history and quality of the California Pools franchise system, it didn’t take long for them to know it was time to bring one to their hometown.

“We are excited to give people their dream and be a part of making memories for them,” said Marquez. “California Pools provides great service and quality to its customers, and to be able to continue to provide that to our community is something we pride ourselves on.”

Since 1952, California Pools has guided countless homeowners through the process of creating their dream backyard retreat. The franchise has a trusted process for delivering a customer’s dream by offering a turnkey solution for custom pools, spas, waterscapes, landscapes, and much more. By working directly with the customers and trusted local sub-contractors, California Pools streamlines what can be a difficult and costly headache into a dream-made-real.

“We’re looking forward to adding Ron and Laron to the California Pools family as we expand our services into the Temecula market,” said Steve Terry, President of California Pools. “Our goal has always been to turn peoples’ backyard dreams into a reality. With Ron and Laron’s help, we’re going to help bring paradise right into the backyards of the Temecula community.”

Now, Temecula homeowners will receive a hands-on experience with a partner that will provide custom design and quality construction. Their expert designers provide guidance from initial consultation through final walkthrough as a customer’s dream is brought to life in a positive and engaging process.

To learn more about California Pools and its franchising opportunities, please visit www.franchisecp.com.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA POOLS

California Pools began its dream building in 1952 when founder Wayne Steimle wanted to build a swimming pool in his own backyard. Using what he had around him, Steimle built his pool and inspired his neighbors to want Steimle-built pools of their own. Since then, California Pools’ services began to spread nationwide and by 2018, the brand created a franchising model to support the goal of serving and guiding the dreams of homeowners across the nation. California Pools Franchise now has many franchise locations in California and other states. With its extensive experience building pools in California over the decades, the leadership has goals to continue the expansion throughout the nation and beyond. To learn more about California Pools and its franchising opportunities, please visit www.californiapools.com.