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Built on Relationships: Pentair Pool’s New Sales Structure and the People Who Make It Work
How a third-generation pool professional embodies the relationship-driven future Pentair is building.
Since the very beginning, the pool industry has always thrived on craftsmanship and connection. From backyard memories to multi-generation family businesses, success in this industry runs deeper than equipment – any pool professional can tell you that it’s all built on trust. Pentair Pool’s newly expanded sales organization reflects that same belief: that supporting partners isn’t just about products. It’s about people, structure, and long-term relationships.
A Stronger Structure for Stronger Partnerships
As part of Pentair Pool’s continued commitment to partner growth, the sales organization has been expanded and clarified to offer a more streamlined, accountable experience for its distributor and dealer partners.
At the national level, Pentair has introduced additional roles, including a team of dedicated National Account Managers for distributors, supported by a team of Zone Account Managers, each laser-focused on strategy and execution across key regions.
To drive that support even closer to the backyard, Pentair has strengthened its regional framework as well. Each of the seven regions is led by a seasoned Regional Sales Manager, backed by more than 20 sales and service professionals per region – over 150 team members nationwide. This team is dedicated to elevating dealer experience and identifying new opportunities across local markets.
At the core of this strategy, Pentair Pool is really building a sales structure that very much mirrors how the industry itself works – through personal connections, regional insight, and the shared goal of helping families create lasting memories in their backyards.
No one understands that better than Scott Bushey, Pentair Pool’s National Account Manager for Inside Sales.
A Legacy Three Generations in the Making
Scott didn’t just grow up around pools… He grew up inside the industry. His grandfather, formerly from a construction background, entered the business in the late 1950s after deciding to build a pool in his Massachusetts backyard. He didn’t know how, but a manufacturer in California did. They flew out, taught him the craft, and built a lifelong relationship that would define a family legacy.
“That’s the thing about our industry,” Scott said. “It’s not a transactional-type relationship. It’s not just selling a pump or filter. We’re helping build memories. And those relationships – those moments of someone showing up for you – are why so many of us never leave.”
From those first backyard lessons, the Busheys became a pool family. His grandfather passed the torch to Scott’s father, who would spend decades in the field. When Scott was considering his next step in 1999, it was his father who convinced him to make the leap and enter the industry. This, however, came with a word of warning.
“Scotty… You know how this industry is. Once you’re in, you can’t get out.” Scott laughed, explaining that it felt like an Al Pacino movie. But it was more of a welcome than a warning, and now, the family boasts three generations of proud pool guys.
“The industry has been good to our family,” Scott said. “It becomes your community. Your friends. In a lot of ways, it becomes your extended family. So many people in this industry have known each other for ages, it’s like a big reunion when we all get together.”
Why Relationships Still Matter More Than Ever
In his 25+ years in the industry, Scott has seen change, but he’s also seen what hasn’t changed.
Competition has sharpened, consolidation has grown, catalogs have ballooned from a handful of pages to hundreds. But beneath all that? The industry still revolves around trust.
Scott has seen the impact firsthand – helping dealers sell their business when health concerns overwhelmed them, attending customers’ weddings, and offering guidance on everything from equipment to succession planning.
“A lot of times, customers don’t just buy a product because of all the features and benefits,” he said. “That’s important, sure, but they buy because of the relationship. They trust you. Because they know you’ll help them solve problems, whether it’s troubleshooting equipment or something bigger. The pool industry is all about the people. Talk to any person in pool sales; they’ve all got a story about attending somebody’s wedding. About helping somebody with their business.”
For him, that’s the heart of the industry. And it’s one reason he’s excited about Pentair’s strengthened sales organization.
“When you have a structure designed to touch more customers, more often, it means more relationships,” he said. “It means we can support dealers in a deeper way and better support the industry.”
What Makes Pentair Pool Special
When asked directly, Scott doesn’t hesitate.
“It’s the people,” he said. “The culture. And our commitment to the homeowner and the dealer. Those things are crucial. Whether you’re talking about creating the best product when it comes to quality, innovation, making sure that the dealer and the homeowner is taken care of… It all goes back to people who make Pentair Pool stand out.”
He also believes the next five to ten years will show just how far that commitment goes.
“We are the industry leader. And you’re going to see a huge difference in how we show up, how we support customers, how we shape the dealer experience, and how we help families make memories. It’s always been about relationships, and I believe we’re taking that concept one step further.”
The Industry Is Growing. Pentair Is Growing With It.
If there’s one theme that defines both Pentair’s new sales organization and Scott Bushey’s three-generation story, it’s that foundations matter.
The foundation of a backyard pool becomes part of a family’s story. The foundation laid by manufacturers and mentors, as demonstrated by Scott’s grandfather, can become a career. And the foundation of strong support teams? That becomes successful dealer partnerships.
Pentair’s expanded sales structure is designed to honor that philosophy, bringing strategy, connection, and hands-on expertise to every level of the field.
And with leaders like Scott championing the human side of the work, the future looks like what the industry has always done best: creating spaces for families to gather, dealers to grow, and relationships to endure.
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
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.
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.
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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