Aquatics industry veteran Natalie Hood has launched Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC, bringing more than 25 years of hands-on, operational and leadership experience together in a new consulting company designed to help organizations turn industry ideas into programs, education, events and initiatives that move from concept to implementation.

Hood launched Natalie Hood & Associates after seeing the same challenge throughout her career: organizations often have a strong idea or an industry need but bringing it to life can require expertise across several areas. A new education program, certification, event or industry initiative can involve everything from curriculum and instructor development to regulatory approvals, communications and implementation. Natalie Hood & Associates was created to help organizations connect those pieces and move projects from ideas to execution.

“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on so many different sides of this industry, and I’ve seen how connected all of these pieces really are,” Hood said. “I wanted to create something that allows me to bring that experience together and help organizations take an idea, figure out what it needs to become and actually get it across the finish line.”

Hood’s career in aquatics began long before her corporate leadership roles, working hands-on as a lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor and swim coach. She later spent eight years with the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF), advancing through management and leadership roles across operations, education, instructor development, events and industry programs. In 2019, NSPF and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) merged to form the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). Hood continued with the newly formed organization, ultimately serving as Director of Certification and Instructor Relations. At PHTA, Hood managed certification programs and relationships with more than 700 instructors across 127 countries, expanded service program approvals into more than 30 jurisdictions, developed educational and instructor programs, and led government affairs efforts involving pool and spa safety legislation and regulatory issues.

Most recently, Hood served as Director of Education and Events for The Grit Game, where she built the organization’s education department from the ground up and led instructional design for 12 new courses, including storyboards, examinations, training videos and LMS implementation.

Organizations can work with Hood to build or strengthen certification programs, develop curriculum and assessments, pursue state and regulatory approvals, create instructor and train- the-trainer programs, plan educational events and professional development, and support government affairs and industry initiatives. Her work also includes instructional design, industry communications, podcasting and media.

Podcasting and media also remain an active part of Hood’s work through Natalie Hood & Associates. Hood continues to own and host Myth Busting Wednesdays on the Talking PoolsPodcast, where her weekly episodes focus on education, current industry issues and challenging common misconceptions within the pool and spa profession.

The launch also includes nataliehoodassociates.com, where organizations can learn more about Hood’s experience, services and current work.

About Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC

Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC provides consulting and professional services across the aquatics and pool and spa industry, specializing in education and certification, curriculum and instructional development, government and regulatory affairs, events and professional development, industry engagement, podcasting and media.

Media Contact

Natalie Hood

Founder & Principal Consultant

Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC

[email protected]

nataliehoodassociates.com

Industry-Leading Company Adds Over 150 Years of Combined Aquatics Experience to Its Growing Roster

Automatic Pool Covers, Inc., a trusted leader in pool safety and innovation, is pleased to announce the expansion of its national sales team — a strategic move designed to deliver deeper support and expertise to pool professionals and customers across the country.

The newly assembled team is led by Scott Cummings, the company’s Director of National Sales, and brings together some of the most respected names in the aquatics industry, with a combined 150+ years of hands-on experience. The group joins Mike Shadoan, Vice President of Business Development, who has been a cornerstone of the company for over 30 years.

“Leading this sales team at such a well-respected company is an honor,” said Cummings. “We have a tremendous opportunity to bring the highest quality automatic pool covers and service to pool professionals in this rapidly-growing sector of the industry.”

The expanded team includes:

• Scott Cummings, Director of National Sales — bringing 39+ years of industry expertise to lead the team’s national strategy

• David Williams, Southeast Regional Sales Manager — contributing 39+ years of knowledge to one of the country’s fastest-growing pool markets

• Mark Gramza, Sales Manager, Upper Midwest — with over 37 years of experience serving the Midwest region

• Matt Huntley, East Coast Sales Manager (including Florida) — with over 28 years of industry experience covering the critical Eastern seaboard

• Rick Larson, Regional Sales Manager, Western Region — a seasoned professional with deep roots in the western aquatics market

Every member of the new team brings a minimum of 25 years of aquatics industry experience, ensuring that Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. customers receive guidance from true professionals who understand the complexities of modern pool projects.

“We are thrilled to welcome this powerhouse group to our team,” said Shadoan. “Each member brings decades of real-world knowledge that allows us to support pool professionals at every stage of a project — from initial design through final installation.”

This expansion reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to best-in-class service and lasting partnerships with pool professionals nationwide. To contact a sales team member, visit https://automaticpoolcovers.com/sales-team/.

Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. (APC)
Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. (APC) is a leading U.S. manufacturer of automatic pool cover systems for gunite, vinyl, fiberglass, existing pools, and spas. Headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, APC partners with pool professionals nationwide to deliver high-quality auto-covers designed for safety, durability, and ease of use.

www.automaticpoolcovers.com

Acquisition led by BVC CEO Chris Barton is rooted in the loss of his daughter, Alexis Christine Barton, and his commitment to preventing drowning across every type of water environment

DALLAS, Sept. 16, 2026 – Barton Venture Capital (“BVC”) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Wave Systems Inc. (“WAVE”) in a strategic purchase led by BVC CEO Chris Barton. The acquisition brings WAVE under Barton’s direct leadership and sets the company on a new path: building a comprehensive, AI-powered drowning prevention platform that combines wearable and camera-based technology to protect swimmers across clear and dark water — from commercial pools and public waterfronts to residential backyards. WAVE’s Board of Directors and ninety shareholders have approved the transaction which is scheduled to close in the next several weeks.

For Barton, the acquisition is personal.

“Every public pool, camp, lake, waterfront and home pool deserves modern tools to protect swimmers.” said Chris Barton, CEO of Barton Venture Capital. “That’s the platform we have built and will expand globally.”

“In 2003, I lost my daughter Alexis in a lakefront drowning accident. That day is what eventually led me to WAVE, and it’s what drives this acquisition today,” said Chris Barton, CEO of BVC. “As a technology entrepreneur for more than 35 years, my goal is to rapidly expand WAVE with powerful AI tools that give every public pool, camp, lake, waterfront and home pool the tools to prevent the kind of tragedy my family experienced — so other families don’t have to carry what we carry.”

Barton first became involved with WAVE in 2024 as a board member and BVC investor and was named CEO in 2025. He led the company’s transition to an affordable, subscription-based, hardware-as-a-service model — GUARDian℠ — built around wearable IoT devices worn by swimmers and lifeguards. Today, WAVE is the largest digital assistive lifeguard technology provider in North America, with systems deployed across 40 U.S. states and Canada.

A Platform for Every Body of Water

Barton’s vision is to grow WAVE into a comprehensive, AI-driven assistive lifeguard platform for every type of water environment. Building on WAVE’s existing wearable IoT technology, the company is now adding AI-powered, camera-based systems for commercial pool operators and residential pools. The goal is a single, one-stop platform that brings modern drowning detection technology to any body of water — whether professionally staffed or largely unsupervised.

New AI Camera-Based Safety Solution

As part of this expanded mission, WAVE has introduced WAVE Vision℠, an AI camera-based solution that supports lifeguards and monitor swimmers in real time. Paired with Wade, WAVE’s AI-powered prompting assistant, pool operators can use voice or typed commands to query recorded video for lifeguard and swimmer performance, safety compliance, and other activity on and around the pool deck.

DROWNING STATISTICS

Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental injury-related death for children under the age of five. It is the #2 cause for ages 1-14. The CDC says in swimming pools, Black children ages 10-14 years drown at rates 7.6 times higher than White children.

Drowning Facts | Drowning Prevention | CDC.

About Barton Venture Capital

Barton Venture Capital is led by Chris Barton, a technology entrepreneur and investor whose career spans building and backing companies across some of today’s most consequential sectors, including SaaS, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, water technology, quantum computing, healthcare, and telecommunications. Barton brings an operator’s perspective to every investment, having built and sold technology businesses himself before turning to investing and helping other founders scale theirs. Through BVC, he continues to identify and grow technology companies solving significant, real-world problems — most recently with the acquisition of Wave Systems Inc. to build a comprehensive, AI-powered platform to end preventable drowning.

About Wave Systems Inc.

Wave Systems Inc. (“WAVE”) is the largest digital assistive lifeguard technology provider in North America, with systems deployed across 40 U.S. states and Canada. WAVE’s products protect swimmers in both clear and dark water using wireless IoT wearables and AI-powered, camera-based solutions. Under new ownership, WAVE is expanding into a full-scale drowning detection platform serving commercial and residential pool applications nationwide, with plans for continued international expansion.

Media Contact
Chris Barton, Managing Partner
Barton Venture Capital
210 S. Galena St. Ste 25
Aspen, CO 81611
1-970-742-2000
[email protected]