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Local Veteran Brings First California Pools Location to Temecula

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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.

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Alise Everton

Alise Everton has been working in the pool industry for the past decade and is an experienced press correspondent and contributor for numerous trade publications and web portals including PoolMagazine.com and PoolContractor.com among others. Contact her for guest posting opportunities, press releases, and pool equipment related news.

Pool Builder

Ownership Group Acquires Shasta Pools, Announces Expansion Plans to Offer Complete Home Services

Dansons Capital Group, Accrual Equity Partners, and Hydro Construction purchased Arizona’s premier pool builder with eye on developing national brand

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Private Equity Group Buys Shasta Pools

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (August 31, 2026) – Dansons Capital Group, in partnership with Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) and Hydro Construction (HydroCon), completed the acquisition of Shasta Pools, Phoenix Metro’s most recognized pool builder, and announced an immediate expansion into the broader home services market with plans to grow the brand into a national powerhouse. Founded in 1966 by brothers Bob and Skip Ast, the third-generation, family-owned pool business has built or renovated more than 150,000 pools across Maricopa County and is among the country’s top premier pool builders. The acquisition, finalized August 6, positions the company with a competitive edge as it enters a new phase of accelerated growth

Building on Shasta’s track record of success, the ownership group will grow the company’s core business divisions, including residential and commercial pool construction and renovation, Shasta Signature Series luxury pool designs, backyard hardscaping solutions, extended warranties, and e-commerce supplies. The deal also directs new capital into Shasta’s high-volume, recurring pool maintenance business, establishing a scalable foundation for an expanded home services portfolio. 

Expanding the Home Services Model

Shasta Pools will also debut Shasta Home Services, the first step in the company’s expansion into a comprehensive home services platform. Shasta enters the space with more than 200,000 customer relationships, route density in Central Arizona, and a 60-year brand homeowners have entrusted with their homes. The company plans to aggressively expand the platform organically and through partnership across the essential services every home depends on.

In addition, work has begun on a new, state-of-the-art design center and headquarters in Scottsdale that will centralize operations and give customers a welcoming, creative atmosphere to reimagine their yards. The campus will also anchor a technology-driven contact center staffed by a world-class team that creates a single point of contact for every Shasta customer, from pool service to the company’s expanding home services platform.

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values

Dansons Capital Group, a family business led by CEO Dan Thiessen, President Jeff Thiessen, and COO Jordan Thiessen, built and grew a portfolio of backyard-focused businesses including Pit Boss Grills, which they scaled into a worldwide brand before selling in June 2023. 

Jeff Thiessen sparked a relationship with the Ast family during the construction of his own backyard pool, a personal experience that gave him firsthand insight into the industry’s potential. Recognizing the Ast family’s shared values and significant opportunity with strategic investment, he partnered with AEP and HydroCon to pursue that growth together.

“Shasta Pools has national industry brand recognition and has been an Arizona legacy for the last 60 years and we’re excited to reinvest in the company and catapult its growth into the next 60 years,” said Jeff Thiessen, President, Dansons Capital Group. “We’ve already met with more than 200 employees to learn what they love about Shasta Pools and hear their ideas of how we can grow the company and continue providing our customers with amazing customer service.”

Dan Thiessen will serve as Chairman and lead the new ownership team to identify and hire top industry talent and grow Shasta’s home services platform to develop it into a national brand.  

Legacy Preserved, Future Secured

“This was the right time to bring in a new ownership team to take Shasta Pools to the next level and the next generation of growth,” said Skip Ast Jr., who served as president at Shasta Pools. “My father and my family built this company on a commitment to quality to every homeowner who trusted us with their backyard, their budget, and their own family. We’re confident that the new leadership team’s commitment to uphold that will never change. Knowing this team shares our values and will invest in our team gives Shasta Pools the foundation to grow stronger than ever.”

Ast helped build Shasta Pools to a dominant force in the industry, with multiple divisions topping $100 million in combined revenue. The company holds membership in the prestigious Master Pools Guild, one of only 110 members globally.

A Different Approach to Private Equity

“Partnering with Shasta Pools represents the future of home services. A trusted, generational brand, Shasta brings 200,000 loyal customer relationships with a genuine commitment to the people who serve them every day,” said Jacob Tilzer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Accrual Equity Partners. “Together with our partners at Dansons Capital Group and Hydro Construction, we all share a belief that enduring businesses are built on trust, earned one customer at a time. We’re proud to build alongside this team as Shasta grows into a nationwide home services brand.”

The new ownership group brings more than 150 years of combined expertise in building, scaling, and optimizing service industry brands. Each company shares a faith-based approach to business grounded in stewardship, integrity, and care for the communities they serve. Shasta Pools’ brand will continue its community programs, including swim lessons, support for foster care, and initiatives serving first responders. 

ABOUT DANSONS CAPITAL GROUP:

Dansons Capital Group, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a family-owned and family-managed investment firm built on shared values, integrity and long-term vision. The firm was established by the founders of Dansons, Inc., the company that launched and sold Pit Boss Grills. The company takes a hands-on approach, actively seeking opportunities across global markets and multiple asset classes. Its growing portfolio includes strategic real estate development holdings across multiple countries, oil drilling technologies, and limited partnership investments. Guided by a deep commitment to quality and the communities they serve, the Thiessen family leads with gratefulness for the blessings God has given them and in turn supports those less fortunate. Dansons Capital Group continues to identify and cultivate opportunities that reflect their family’s values and generational vision.

ABOUT ACCRUAL EQUITY PARTNERS:

Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) is a founder-led, privately funded private equity group built on the belief that every person, every percentage, and every product matters. This commitment, known as the “Power of One,” drives AEP’s mission to empower businesses and secure legacies across fragmented, service-based industries. AEP partners with founder-led and family-owned businesses to overcome barriers and unlock their full potential through strategic investment, operational performance enhancement, and advisory services. For more information, visit accrualequitypartners.com/

ABOUT SHASTA POOLS:

Shasta Pools is Arizona’s trusted name in custom pool building, proudly serving the Valley since 1966. For 60 years, Shasta has transformed backyards into beautiful, functional spaces where families relax, entertain and enjoy life. The company specializes in new pool construction, remodeling, pool service and landscape design with plans for expansion into the home services market to provide customers with complete home care solutions. Learn more at ShastaPools.com.

ABOUT HYDRO CONSTRUCTION:

Hydro Construction, LLC (HydroCon) was founded in 1986 to serve Arizona’s commercial pool construction and renovation market. Under the leadership of Curt Lonsdale, the company’s commercial pool construction division now manages some of the largest and most complex projects in the country.

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Manufacturer

JED Pool Tools Unveils 2027 Catalog

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JED Pool Tools 2027 Products Catalog

JED Pool Tools, manufacturer of swimming pool maintenance equipment and accessories, is pleased to announce the availability of its new, comprehensive 2027 catalog of products. This newly printed catalog offers 40 pages of color photography showing all of JED’s maintenance equipment products and accessories—from its award-winning hoses to its innovative, patented products like the FLAS ladder anchor saver! The catalog even highlights its many “Made in the USA” products including those manufactured at the JED facility in Pennsylvania. 

“We are pleased to offer the pool industry this printed catalog which can also be accessed online, 24/7 and showcases the many products we make at our facility or are made within the US,” says Rob Heyen, Account Executive at JED Pool Tools.

Those interested in downloading or ordering the catalog, should visit:
www.JEDPoolTools.com
570-344-4137

About JED Pool Tools
JED Pool Tools has been making high-quality pool tools and pool accessories in the USA for over 30 years. JED Pool Tools sells over 400 different products including residential and commercial skimmers, leaf rakes, poles, wall brushes and vacuum heads as well as hoses and through-wall skimmer parts. JED is a family-run company with 3-generations of Heyen family working for the company and is committed to creating and providing jobs for residents of Scranton, PA. JED is proud of and committed to manufacturing in the USA, many it its own facility in Scranton, PA. To learn more about the company and its products visit www.JEDPoolTools.com.

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Manufacturer

CCEI Introduces New Color for pH & ORP Controllers

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CCEI Oxeo ORP and Phileo pH controllers in a new white design for automated pool water chemistry monitoring and dosing.

CCEI introduces new color for its pH & ORP monitoring and dosing controllers in a sleek new, modern, white color design that blends into any pump room! CCEI’s pH & ORP controllers automatically manage pool water chemistry using the free Vigipool app. The Phileo pH and Oxeo ORP controllers are simple to set up and easy to use. They monitor and dose pool water and alert pool owners and service professionals when pool water falls out of balance. The dosing pump lights up in various colors to alert you of your pool’s pH and ORP levels. Designed to help pool professionals profits by upgrading clients with the Phileo pH & Oxeo ORP measuring and dosing chemical controllers!

www.ccei-pool.com/en-us
424-800-2191
CCEI USA Inc.
808 Hindry Ave, Suite G
Inglewood, CA 90301
https://www.instagram.com/cceipool_na/

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