News

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Reveals The 2023 International Awards Of Excellence Winners

Published

3 years ago

October 11, 2023

PHTA 2023 INTERNATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS

(Alexandria, Va.) – The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, is proud to announce this year’s winners of the PHTA International Awards of Excellence, sponsored by AQUA Magazine. PHTA’s International Awards of Excellence program is one of the largest, most well-renowned design competitions in the pool and hot tub industry. These distinguished awards recognize exceptional installations of pools, spas, hot tubs, and water features that showcase the most beautiful, creative, and innovative work in the industry. Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted by builders across the U.S. and the world.

The PHTA Awards of Excellence competition is open to PHTA members who are pool, spa, or hot tub builders as well as installers, designers, retailers, or service companies that receive payment for the submitted project. The judging panel is comprised of industry professionals across building, design, service, and retail.

See below for the list of 2023 PHTA International Award of Excellence Winners:

GOLD Category

Aqua Technics Pools, Perth, Western Australia Fiberglass Pools

AquaTerra Outdoors, Carrollton, TX Pool Renovations

Aquavisions, INC., Carlisle, PA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Backyard Paradise Luxury Pools, Montgomery, TX Freeform

Backyard Paradise Luxury Pools, Montgomery, TX Geometric

Backyard Paradise Luxury Pools, Montgomery, TX Traditional

Baldree Pools, LLC, Orlando, FL Exterior/Interior Portable Hot Tubs

Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TX Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Pools with Automatic Covers

Custom Pool Systems, Coral Cables, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Commercial Water Features

High-Tech Pools Inc, Cleveland, OH Recreation/Leisure Pools

High-Tech Pools Inc, Cleveland, OH Technical/Engineering Achievement

Ike’s Carter Pools, Fort Lauderdale, FL Geometric

Ike’s Carter Pools, Fort Lauderdale, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Ozzie Kraft Enterprises Inc., Las Vegas, NV Standalone Spas

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Screened Enclosed Pools

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Spas Built in Conjunction with Swimming
Pools

Swimming Pool Services, Waukesha, WI Vinyl-Lined Pools

Texas Pools Inc, The Woodlands, TX Traditional

The Green Scene Landscaping & Swimming Pools,

Chatsworth, CA Residential Water Features

WATER WORLD WINDOW LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine Competition Pools

SILVER CATEGORY

Aqua Technics Pools, Perth, Western Australia Fiberglass Pools

Aquavisions, INC., Carlisle, PA Geometric

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Geometric

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Pool Renovations

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Cody Pools, Round Rock, TX Geometric

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Spas Built in Conjunction with Swimming Pools

Double B Design, Austin, TX Freeform

Harold Leidner Landscape Architects,

Carrollton, TX Pool Renovations

Harold Leidner Landscape Architects,

Carrollton, TX Residential Water Features

High-Tech Pools Inc, Cleveland, OH Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

High-Tech Pools Inc, Cleveland, OH Recreation/Leisure Pools

Ike’s Carter Pools, Fort Lauderdale, FL Geometric

J&M Pool Company, Senoia, GA Vinyl-Lined Pools

La Jolla Pools, San Diego, CA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Technical/Engineering Achievement

Southernwind Pools Inc, McKinney, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Superior Pools of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, FL Screened Enclosed Pools

T2 Outdoors, LLC, Lewisville, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

T2 Outdoors, LLC, Lewisville, TX Pools with Automatic Covers

T2 Outdoors, LLC, Lewisville, TX Traditional (2)

Texas Outdoor Oasis, Wylie, TX Geometric

The Green Scene Landscaping & Swimming Pools,

Chatsworth, CA Standalone Spas

BRONZE CATEGORY

Aqua Technics Pools, Perth, Western Australia Fiberglass Pools

AquaTerra Outdoors, Carrollton, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge (2)

Backyard Paradise Luxury Pools, Montgomery, TX Geometric (2)

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Technical/Engineering Achievement

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Traditional (2)

Cody Pools, Round Rock, TX Geometric

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Elevated Pool and/or Spa Structure

Ike’s Carter Pools, Fort Lauderdale, FL Geometric

JAS Aquatics LLC, Huntington Station, NY Vinyl-Lined Pools

La Jolla Pools, San Diego, CA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Living Water Custom Pools, Dallas, TX Pool Renovations

Morris Pools, Mesa, AZ Pools with Automatic Covers

Platinum Pools – A Cody Pools Company,

Houston, TX Freeform

Riverbend Sandler Pools, Plano, TX Freeform

Riverbend Sandler Pools, Plano, TX Geometric (2)

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Geometric

Ryan Hughes Design Build, Tampa, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Southernwind Pools Inc, McKinney, TX Freeform

Sunset Fiberglass Pools, La Grange, KY Fiberglass Pools

T2 Outdoors, LLC, Lewisville, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

T2 Outdoors, LLC, Lewisville, TX Traditional

Texas Pools Inc, The Woodlands, TX Geometric

WATER WORLD WINDOW LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine Recreation/Leisure Pools

MERIT CATEGORY

A Oasis Pools and Outdoor Living, Midlothian, TX Freeform (2)

A Oasis Pools and Outdoor Living, Midlothian, TX Pool Renovations

Acuarium Piscinas & Spas, San José, Costa Rica Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Alka Pool Construction, Ltd., Burnaby, BC, Canada Pools with a Vanishing Edge

All Island Gunite Pools, Farmingdale, NY Pools with Automatic Covers

All Island Gunite Pools, Farmingdale, NY Vinyl-Lined Pools

Almar Jackson Pools, Inc., Jupiter, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Associated Pool Builders, Inc., Bismarck, ND Recreation/Leisure Pools

Aquarius Pools, Inc., Mandeville, LA Geometric

Backyard Paradise Luxury Pools, Montgomery, TX Freeform

Backyard Paradise Luxury Pools, Montgomery, TX Geometric (3)

Baldree Pools, LLC, Orlando, FL Fiberglass Pools

Baldree Pools, LLC, Orlando, FL Geometric

Baldree Pools, LLC, Orlando, FL Pool Renovations

Bi-State Pools, O’Fallon, MO Fiberglass Pools

Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Chaikin Ultimate Pools, Long Island, NY Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Claffey Pools, Southlake, TX Traditional (2)

Clearwater Pool and Spa, Inc., Livonia, MI Fiberglass Pools

Colley’s Pools & Spas, Hamburg, NY Freeform

Cosgrove Custom Pools Inc., Loomis, CA Traditional

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Freeform

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Pool Renovations

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Pools with a Vanishing Edge

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Pools with Automatic Covers

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Recreation/Leisure Pools

DIFFAZUR PISCINES, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France Technical/Engineering Achievement (3)

Easton Pool & Spa, Inc., Easton, MA Traditional

Green O’Aces Pools & Landscape, Las Vegas, NV Geometric

Green O’Aces Pools & Landscape, Las Vegas, NV Pools with a Vanishing Edge

High-Tech Pools Inc, Cleveland, OH Freeform

Hucks Pool Company, Myrtle Beach, SC Recreation/Leisure Pools

Ike’s Carter Pools, Fort Lauderdale, FL Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Ike’s Carter Pools, Fort Lauderdale, FL Traditional

J&M Pool Company, Senoia, GA Freeform

J Designs Pool and Spa, Inc., Los Angeles, CA Freeform

KrisCo Pools and Spas, Woodinville, WA Geometric (2)

Liquid Evolution Pools, Scottsdale, AZ Geometric

Liquid Evolution Pools, Scottsdale, AZ Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Living Water Custom Pools, Dallas, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Pool Patrol, LTD., Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Pool Rx, Carrollton, GA Geometric

Pulliam Pools, Fort Worth, TX Geometric (2)

Pure Design, Dallas, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Reliant Pools Inc, Austin, TX Traditional

Riverbend Sandler Pools, Plano, TX Geometric

Riverbend Sandler Pools, Plano, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Rumo’s Pool and Spa LLC, Sandy Springs, GA Geometric

Silver Fox Contracting LLC,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Silver Fox Contracting LLC,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Traditional

St. John Pools, Pearland, TX Freeform

Supreme Pools and Spas, Inc., Spring, TX Freeform

Swimming Pool Services, Waukesha, WI Vinyl-Lined Pools

Texas Pools Inc, The Woodlands, TX Pools with a Vanishing Edge

The Green Scene Landscaping & Swimming Pools,

Chatsworth, CA Geometric

The Green Scene Landscaping & Swimming Pools,

Chatsworth, CA Pools with a Vanishing Edge

Venture Custom Pools, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Freeform

“This was an incredible year for the Awards of Excellence,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President and CEO of PHTA. “We received many more entries than the previous year, all of outstanding caliber. The PHTA members who entered the competition this year are working every day to elevate the pool, spa, and hot tub industry. Congratulations to all our 2023 winners on this achievement!”

“I’m always amazed at the advancements in pool construction and design, which you can see in each annual edition of the Awards of Excellence,” says Scott Webb, Executive Editor of AQUA Magazine. “Hundreds of cutting-edge residential and commercial pools all gathered together, they really show where we’re at as an industry. That’s what the annual Awards of Excellence are all about to me, celebrating a new chapter in this unfolding artistic development.”

The winning entries are featured in the October 2023 issue of AQUA Magazine, and the winning companies will be honored during the PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception on November 12 at PSP/Deck Expo in Las Vegas, NV.

A video featuring photos of all the Awards of Excellence winning entries can be found on the PHTA Awards of Excellence webpage.

For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, at [email protected] or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.

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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.

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Manufacturer

Soake Pools Bolsters National Growth With Four Key Hires

Published

1 week ago

October 8, 2026

Susie Cuebas

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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Industry News

Hayward Holdings Names New Chief Accounting Officer

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

Alise Everton

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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Press Releases

Daldorado Names Marcia Gyles Director of Sales

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

Susie Cuebas

Marcia Gyles, newly appointed Director of Sales at Daldorado

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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