News
GEHA and the Hunt Family Foundation Support Delaney 37 Foundation
Funds will honor Joe Delaney, who tragically died while trying to save three children from drowning, and will address inequities in aquatic safety by providing swim lessons to students in Haughton, Louisiana.

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. – GEHA (Government Employees Health Association, Inc., pronounced G.E.H.A.) and The Hunt Family Foundation today announced they will jointly fund swimming lessons for children in the hometown of legendary Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney.
GEHA and The Hunt Family Foundation are each giving $5,000 to the Delaney 37 Foundation. Organized by Delaney’s widow and daughters, the foundation provides children in the community around Haughton, Louisiana, with mentorship and education, including programs for water safety, financial literacy and leadership. The $10,000 from GEHA and The Hunt Family Foundation will be used to provide a series of weekly and monthly swimming lessons and aquatic safety programs to the community. To provide an equitable experience from start to finish, the funds will also be used for transportation to neighboring Bossier City, Louisiana, which is the closest swimming pool/facility to Haughton, Louisiana.
“If my dad saw a need, he was going to step in and help,” said Joanna Noel, youngest daughter of Joe Delaney and Delaney 37 Foundation leader. “My father would be proud of the work that is being done in his name by GEHA and The Hunt Family Foundation to make swimming safer for many families.”
On June 29, 1983, Joe Delaney lost his life while attempting to rescue three children from drowning in a pond in Monroe, Louisiana. Despite not being able to swim, he immediately entered the water to help – an effort that resulted in one child being saved.
“As we expand our efforts with The Hunt Family Foundation and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City to ensure that children are safe through the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program, presented by GEHA, it is fitting that we extend our efforts to Delaney’s hometown and the programs of the Delaney 37 Foundation that honor his memory,” said Art Nizza, DSW, GEHA President and CEO. “With swimming and aquatics water safety programs, we have an opportunity to conquer an unacceptable threat to underrepresented youth today and to address an injustice of the past.”
According to a 2017 USA Swimming Foundation study, 64% of Black children in the U.S. cannot swim and are six times more likely to drown than White children. This inequity became a reality for Kansas City, Kansas residents following the heartbreaking death of 13-year-old Emmanuel Solomon in July 2021.
GEHA and partners, YMCA of Greater Kansas City, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, KS Public Schools, felt the impact of this tragedy and worked to address the disparities in aquatic education by providing 200 students with swim lessons the following summer at Parkwood Pool, the only public pool in Kansas City, KS and site of the tragedy. In addition, GEHA employees provided necessary equipment including a swimsuit, towel and goggles, for each participating child in need.
Notably, all children significantly improved their swimming and safety abilities despite only 38% having ever been fully submerged in the water and only 8% having previously received lessons.
Inspired by that success, in October 2022, GEHA and The Hunt Family Foundation collaborated to provide an additional $50,000 in order to expand the program to more neighborhoods in the Kansas City area with similar aquatic safety risks.
Because of this support, 650 additional students will now receive swimming lessons and swimming equipment at five Kansas City metro locations, including the North Kansas City YMCA, the Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter, Sr. Community Center, the Cleaver Family YMCA, the Kirk Family YMCA and the Parkwood Pool. This expanded program is now recognized as the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program, Presented by GEHA, where each student receives a swim towel bearing the Delaney tribute decal worn by the Kansas City Chiefs during the 1983 season.
“The work that the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program, presented by GEHA, has done in our community to address water safety and access is truly inspiring,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “To be able to work alongside our partners at GEHA, as well as Joe’s family, to launch the program with the Delaney 37 Foundation in his hometown and the surrounding areas speaks to the commitment of GEHA and the Hunt Family Foundation and further honors Joe’s heroic actions.”
ABOUT GEHA
GEHA is a nonprofit member association that provides medical and dental benefits to more than 2 million federal employees and retirees, military retirees and their families. Offering one of the largest medical and dental benefit provider networks available to federal employees in the United States, GEHA empowers health and wellness by meeting its members where they are, when they need care. Headquartered in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, with approximately 1,600 employees, GEHA is committed to its members and their communities.
GEHA and its partners received an Outstanding Aquatic Branch Program Award from the Kansas Recreational and Parks Association. The award recognizes the impact of the 2022 Parkwood Pool Learn to Swim Program, a collaborative effort to provide children in one of the nation’s poorest ZIP codes with swimming lessons and equipment. In addition, GEHA has gained distinctive civic recognition by being named one of the top 100 Healthiest Workplaces in America, recognized by Newsweek Magazine as one of the 2023 Most Trustworthy Companies in America, ranked #55 on the Forbes 2023 America’s Best Midsize Employers list, 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year for the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the 2022 Nonprofit Champion of Diversity for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and, in 2022, GEHA signed the CEO Action Pledge, furthering its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Since 2021, GEHA has held exclusive naming rights to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home to the Kansas City Chiefs.
To learn more, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and visit www.geha.com.
ABOUT THE DELANEY 37 FOUNDATION
The Delaney 37 Foundation was created in the legacy of Joe Alton Delaney. The mission of the Delaney 37 Foundation is to serve the youth, striving to mentor, educate, promote leadership development, teach financial literacy and promote water safety. The Delaney 37 Foundation creates opportunities that will build strong moral character as the youth transform into contributing citizens in the community.
ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS/HUNT FAMILY FOUNDATION
Founded as the Dallas Texans in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) by sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the franchise moved to Kansas City in 1963 and became known as the Kansas City Chiefs. The team currently competes in the West Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Under the guidance of the Hunt Family and the leadership of Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, the mission of the Kansas City Chiefs is to Win with Character, Unite our Community, Inspire our Fans and Honor Tradition. The Hunt Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation committed to making a positive impact in the communities where the Chiefs live and work through philanthropy, programming and volunteerism. In order to maximize financial support, the Hunt Family Foundation gives priority to organizations that demonstrate a major programmatic focus and commitment to the service of children’s health and wellness, children and families in crisis, civic responsibility and the legacy of the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League.
Manufacturer
Soake Pools Bolsters National Growth With Four Key Hires

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.
Industry News
Hayward Holdings Names New Chief Accounting Officer

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]
Press Releases
Daldorado Names Marcia Gyles Director of Sales

Daldorado, a leading innovator in the commercial aquatic industry, announces the appointment of Marcia Gyles as its new Director of Sales. Bringing a distinguished track record of high-impact leadership to the role, Gyles’s comprehensive sales approach will span the entire industry ecosystem, serving distributors, contractors, and facility owners alike as she accelerates revenue growth and scales national operations.
In her new role, Gyles will manage the entire United States, leveraging her deep market expertise to provide unlimited access to Daldorado’s expansive product line. She is tasked with representing the company’s full portfolio of high-performance aquatic solutions—including its signature Rim-Flow systems, Main Drains, and highly anticipated products currently in development.
“We are thrilled to welcome a professional of Marcia’s high caliber to the Daldorado leadership team,” said Rob Lawson, Founder/CEO. “Her unparalleled expertise in channel sales and sophisticated account management makes her the perfect fit to elevate our national footprint as we shift to a distribution sales model. Marcia’s dynamic energy and master strategic vision will play a critical role in setting the tone for our sales pipeline and achieving our aggressive scaling goals.”
As Director of Sales, Gyles will oversee regular sales forecasting, manage cross-functional collaborations with marketing and operations for seasonal inventory planning, and maintain a commanding field presence. Her role involves an extensive travel schedule which includes conducting on-site commercial installation visits and providing master-class training for Daldorado’s extensive distribution and design networks.
About Daldorado
Daldorado is a leading innovator and manufacturer of high-quality commercial aquatic drainage systems and perimeter grating solutions. Committed to safety, durability, and superior engineering, Daldorado serves major commercial aquatic facilities, waterparks, and competitive swimming venues globally.
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