News
NESPA Foundation Supports Expanded Access to Water Safety Education in New Jersey

Dominick Mondi, Executive Director of Northeast Spa and Pool Association & NESPA Foundation, Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, and Joe Ohme, founding board member of the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance, joined Assemblyman Sean Kean on the boardwalk in Spring Lake, New Jersey to highlight the importance of water safety education this Memorial Day weekend.

All advocates for water safety initiatives, the group gathered to support Kean’s legislation (A618) which proposes that K-12 school districts be required to provide instruction on water safety. The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the Assembly Education Committee.
“The ocean and pool provide amazing opportunities for exercise, relaxation, fun, and cooling off. However, we must always be careful around water—the ocean, lakes, rivers, as well as pools and hot tubs,” said Asm. Kean. “It is important that water safety is taught in schools as part of health and physical education. I hope that this is just the beginning, that learning in the classroom leads to actual swim lessons in water.”
“The NESPA Foundation is focused on creating more opportunities for children to learn lifesaving water skills and introducing kids to a lifelong love of aquatics,” Mondi said. “Drowning prevention starts with building respect for water and understanding water conditions. This bill helps us bring this critical information to more young people in New Jersey.”
According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children 5-14, following motor vehicle crashes. According to data from the NJ Department of Health, 78 people died in New Jersey due to drowning in 2020.
“Drowning is the number one cause of accidental deaths for children under the age of 4, and we believe these tragedies can be avoided with proper education and awareness. Providing this information through our school system will significantly increase the accessibility of this information to children throughout the state, who otherwise might never receive it,” said Oehme. “We support this legislation and similar efforts to create a broader range of delivering the message of water safety education and awareness to all.”
“The best thing we can do to keep our children safe in the water is to continue talking about the lifesaving skill of learning to swim and increase access to swim education to make water safety a reality for children in need,” shared Gaines, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Vice President of Partnerships and Development for PHTA, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative.
Affirming the NESPA Foundation’s commitment to supporting swim education around our region, the Foundation has committed $25,000 to Step into Swim – an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, and its Foundation committed to safe swim education and drowning prevention. As part of this pledge, the Foundation will match donations made at www.NESPAfoundation.org. The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance will also match this doubled donation, meaning each donation is quadrupled.
Mondi added, “Partnering with Step Into Swim aligns perfectly with our efforts to educate more children and families about water safety.”
For those ages 1 to 4, learning to swim from a qualified instructor drastically reduces the risk of drowning by 88 percent and is critical in keeping children safer in the water. The NESPA Foundation shares in Step Into Swim’s mission to combat drowning prevention with access to free swimming lessons and educational resources that empower our children to be confident in and around water.
“I am grateful to the NESPA Foundation for their continued support of and generosity to Step Into Swim,” said Gaines. “Our donors and sponsors are the driving force behind the success of this program. The NESPA Foundation’s commitment to Step Into Swim allows us to help save lives, promote the benefits of swimming, and serve as an educational resource for water safety in communities where it is needed most.”
About the NESPA Foundation
The NESPA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the public’s pool and spa experience through charitable endeavors. To learn more about The Foundation, visit www.NESPAfoundation.org.
Industry News
Pentair Names Josh Cowley Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Pentair Pool

London, United Kingdom – October 19, 2026 – Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR), a leader in helping the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource, today announced that it has named Josh Cowley as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool, effective November 9, 2026. Mr. Crowley will report to De’Mon Wiggins, Executive Vice President and President, Pentair Flow, Water Solutions and Pool.
“Josh brings deep pool industry knowledge, a strong understanding of our customers and a proven ability to turn strategy into action,” said John L. Stauch, Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer. “His successful commercial and operating track record, coupled with his business acumen and leadership experience, will help build on the strength of our Pool business, enhance customer relationships and position Pentair Pool for long-term growth. We are pleased to welcome him to Pentair.”
Cowley brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and a successful track record of scaling businesses, building teams and strengthening channel partnerships. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of May Manufacturing, a leading hot tub and swim spa manufacturer, where he led the company through a significant phase of growth by establishing a customer centric culture with focused strategic priorities, expanding customer relationships, building a solid leadership team, and improved overall financial performance.
Prior to that, Cowley served as Chief Commercial Officer of Latham Group, the largest designer, manufacturer and marketer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia and New Zealand, where he led global sales, customer service, product and channel management, and brand marketing. Earlier in his career, from 2005 to 2021, he held several senior leadership roles at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., including President and General Manager of North America Retail Sales & Marketing. Cowley earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
About Pentair plc
At Pentair, we help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and commercial water solutions, to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is a core large cap value S&P 500 equity stock focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.
Pentair had revenue in 2025 of approximately $4.2 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 9,000 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com.
PENTAIR CONTACTS:
Jeff Thompson
Investor Relations
Direct: 763-656-5527
Email: [email protected]
Rebecca Osborn
Corporate Communications
Direct: 763-656-5589
Email: [email protected]
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]
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