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Pentair Expands Step Into Swim Partnership

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At Pentair Pool, safety isn’t a box we check. It’s a pillar of who we are and how we show up for the communities we serve. 

Water brings people together. It fuels connection, wellness, and unforgettable moments with family and friends. But those moments can only happen when safety comes first. That belief is what continues to drive our partnership with Step Into Swim, and why, for the third year in a row, Pentair Pool is proud to invest in expanding access to lifesaving swim education. 

Safety Starts With Education In and Out of the Water

Learning to swim is more than a skill; it’s a foundation for confidence, independence, and long-term safety. Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), focuses on removing barriers to swim education, helping children build essential water safety skills early. For Pentair Pool, this partnership aligns directly with our broader mission to help people safely and sustainably enjoy water. We believe that the safest pool experience doesn’t start with equipment alone… It starts with education, awareness, and access.

“Everyone’s journey should start with a safe introduction to the water,” says Greg Claffey, President of Pentair Pool, who serves on the PHTA Board of Directors. “This partnership lets us give back to our communities in a meaningful way — by supporting local families through helping future swimmers learn the skills that keep them safe in and around the water.”

Turning Commitment Into Action

This year, Pentair Pool committed $100,000 as a Diamond Level  sponsor to further support Step Into Swim’s mission. That investment helps fund swim lessons for thousands of children, expanding access to programs that teach foundational water safety skills — especially in communities where opportunities to learn to swim may otherwise be limited. 

Our involvement with Step Into Swim is one part of a much larger, long-standing commitment. For more than a decade, Pentair Pool has supported National Water Safety Month, using our platform to elevate awareness around drowning prevention and safe pool practices. 

Together, these efforts reinforce a simple truth: awareness saves lives, but education sustains them.

Why Training Matters at Every Level

Advancing water safety doesn’t stop with swim lessons. It also depends on knowledgeable, well-trained pool professionals who design, install, and maintain aquatic environments every day. That’s why Pentair Pool invests heavily in professional education and training, equipping pool pros with the expertise they need to help create safer pool experiences for homeowners, facilities, and communities. Through our robust professional support resources like Pentair Pool University and on-demand webinars, Pentair provides ongoing education, technical guidance, and hands-on learning to reinforce best practices across the industry. 

Our goal is to ensure that safety knowledge evolves alongside technology, standards, and real-world application. When pool professionals are confident and informed, everyone benefits.

Building a Safer Future Together

Partnerships like Step Into Swim matter because they reflect a shared responsibility. Manufacturers, pool professionals, parents, educators, and community leaders all play a role in improving water safety outcomes.

By investing in swim education, supporting professional training, and consistently advocating for safety awareness, Pentair Pool is helping to create a future where water is something everyone can safely and sustainably enjoy.

We’re proud to stand alongside Step Into Swim and the broader pool and spa industry in advancing safety education one lesson, one professional, and one community at a time.

About Pentair Pool 

At Pentair, we help the world safely and sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and business solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.     

As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair Pool is driven to help people sustainably enjoy water. Our solutions include industry-leading pumps, automation, lighting, heating, and filtration technology that help our customers enjoy a smarter and more sustainable pool. Customer success is at the heart of our vision for bringing family and friends together in the pool and on the deck to build social connections, create lifelong memories, and help promote fitness and enjoyment. For more information, visit www.pentairpool.com.   

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Susie Cuebas

Susie Cuebas is a freelance content marketer and writer for Pool Magazine, where she brings her deep industry knowledge and creative storytelling to life. With over a decade of experience in the pool and spa industry — including past work with brands like Jandy®, CMP®, and Grand Effects® — Susie specializes in crafting engaging editorial that connects with pros, builders, and designers alike.

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Nidec Names New Pool/Spa Motors National Account Manager

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Atticus Edge, Nidec's new National Account Manager for pool and spa motors, pictured alongside the Nidec logo and a Neptune pool pump motor.

ST. LOUIS, MO – October 21, 2026 – Nidec, a manufacturer of electric motors and drives, has announced the promotion of Atticus Edge to National Account Manager for the pool and spa industry.
 
In his new role, Edge is responsible for the Pool/Aftermarket Motor business, managing Nidec’s U.S. MOTORS® network of sales representatives and supporting key national pool supplier accounts. He works closely with customers and sales partners to drive growth and deliver strong support across the pool aftermarket channel. 
 
Edge joined Nidec two years ago, serving in various engineering roles. Most recently, he supported the Variable speed and Neptune® motor platforms as a mechanical engineer, where he developed strong technical expertise and product knowledge. 
 
“As pool pumps and motors become more complex, pool service professionals often need expert guidance in selecting and programming pump motors,” said Steve O’Brien, National Sales Director at Nidec. “Atticus is already proving himself in this role as he applies his education and knowledge to benefit pool service professionals and distributors.”
 
Variable speed motors are now required by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for most pool applications, including replacement motors. Nidec’s Neptune line of pool pump motors offers energy savings plus the ability to replace only the failed motor, rather than the entire pump. 
 
With these technical advantages, Edge said the Neptune line has become a popular replacement motor for the pool industry. “We’re pleased to be able to offer service reps, and in turn their pool customers, these high-efficiency motors that meet or exceed DOE regulations.” 
 
Prior to joining Nidec, Edge worked for Spec-Tech Industrial Electric as an assembly and testing tech. He also completed an internship at Neff Power. Edge holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Saint Louis University. 
 
About Nidec 
 
Nidec Corporation is the world’s No.1 comprehensive motor manufacturer. Based in Kyoto, Japan, Nidec Corporation offers motors ranging from micro-size to super large, as well as application products and services in IT, automation, home appliances, automobiles, commercial and industrial systems, environmental, energy, and many other businesses. Nidec is comprised of approximately 340 companies employing more than 110,000 people all over the world. Nidec.com
 
The U.S. MOTORS® brand of Nidec Motor Corporation encompasses a complete line of general and special purpose commercial and industrial motors from 1/3 horsepower through 4000 horsepower for a wide variety of applications. Since 1908, the U.S. MOTORS brand has stood for exceptional product reliability and performance. It is one of the oldest and most trusted brands in the motor industry and is recognized worldwide as the mark of leadership and technological innovation. USMotors.com

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Soake Pools Bolsters National Growth With Four Key Hires

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Soake Pools team announcement featuring four new hires surrounding the company's logo.

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.

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CCEI Taps Benoit Masse for Sales

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Benoit Masse, CCEI Sales Director for Canada

CCEI is pleased to announce Benoit Masse as the company’s new Sales Director for Canada. Masse has over 35 years of experience in the pool industry, including 20 years at Hayward, which has given him the opportunity to develop true expertise in everything from technical service, commercial pool construction, as well as a deep understanding of distribution. 

“Benoit brings CCEI in-depth industry knowledge which will be tremendously important as he supports our customers and partners across Canada,” says Martin Grenier, VP of CCEI’s North American operations. Benoit can be reached at [email protected].

www.ccei-pool.com/us/
424-800-2191

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