Plano, TX. (August 10, 2021) – Riverbend Sandler Pools (“Riverbend”), the leading residential pool construction, service, and maintenance provider in the Dallas – Ft. Worth metroplex, and a portfolio company of Concentric Equity Partners (“CEP”), announced the acquisition of Crystal Clear Custom Pools (“Crystal Clear” or the “Company”), a Midlothian, TX-based provider of residential swimming pool service, maintenance, repair, and renovation services. Riverbend has acquired Crystal Clear from longtime owner and leader Tom Sheehy, a multi-decade operator and leader in the pool industry, who will remain with the Company in his current leadership role and join the service and maintenance leadership team at Riverbend.

Crystal Clear is a trusted residential pool service provider serving customers across 19 cities in three counties in the southern DFW metroplex. Founded more than 20 years ago by Tom Sheehy, Crystal Clear emphasizes finding, training, and utilizing the best talent to deliver a top customer experience. All Crystal Clear technicians and employees will continue in their current roles with the Company. Crystal Clear represents an ideal partnership for Riverbend Sandler as a part of the platform’s aggressive organic and acquisition growth goals within the DFW metroplex and throughout the state of Texas.

“I wasn’t looking to sell my company and was admittedly apprehensive at first after hearing about some other founders’ mixed feelings following an exit.” said Tom Sheehy. “However, the entire Riverbend team quickly put my fears to rest and were great to work with throughout the process. I want to see my legacy thrive and have my employees continue to call their jobs home, and this partnership with Riverbend Sandler will provide benefits to my employees that I wouldn’t be able to provide in the near future.”

“Tom Sheehy’s knowledge and experience across the pool industry will be invaluable to the growth of the Riverbend Sandler platform overall and specifically our service and maintenance businesses” said Riverbend Sandler CEO Bruce Mungiguerra. “I’m thrilled to add Tom to our team and believe he will be a big driver of value for our business moving forward”.

“Crystal Clear has a well-known reputation in the Dallas pool market for service, quality, and
commitment to technician training” said Charles Barnes, Founder and Chairman of Riverbend Sandler. “Our businesses will both greatly benefit from shared insights, and our overall platform customer experience and service delivery will further advance”.
Adam Lucas of CEP adds: “Tom Sheehy is a true entrepreneur and leader who has developed an
impressive organic growth engine for Crystal Clear that will be invaluable for our platform moving forward. This represents our first pool service company acquisition and demonstrates our commitment to an aggressive growth strategy through acquisitions”.

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About Crystal Clear Custom Pools:
Headquartered in Midlothian, TX, and serving the southern parts of the DFW Metroplex, Crystal Clear is a leading residential pool service and renovation company. Founded in 2002 by Tom Sheehy Crystal Clear has differentiated itself in the market by its dedication to its customers and focus on providing the most skilled and highly trained technicians in the market.
For more information on Crystal Clear, visit www.cccpools.com

Leland, NC. Bradford Products, a stainless steel pool and spa manufacturer, celebrates 40 years. A leader in the design and fabrication of luxury aquatic stainless steel products, Bradford specializes in the fabrication of stainless steel swimming pools, spas, water features and other custom vessels for both the residential and commercial markets. Their fully welded, world class vessels are featured in homes and commercial facilities across the U.S. and internationally. With over 170 employees and more than 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing space, Bradford has completed more than 10,000 installations worldwide.

Mike Brodeur, President of the company remembers “Bradford started out as an idea from my father, Dale Brodeur, Sr. In the late 70’s he visited a hotel in California that had a wine barrel hot tub and he loved it.” He went back home to Connecticut and attempted to purchase one, but there was nothing similar on the market, so he decided to build one himself. At the time, he owned a metal fabrication company. He sat down with an engineer and designed a stainless-steel tub that he then built in his backyard. “At the time my folks loved to entertain, and they often had many people at the house. Their friends all loved it and asked how they could get one.” Brodeur says. The idea he put into fruition quickly became a lightbulb moment. Dale Sr. made some spas for friends, and it started to gain momentum through word of mouth. “At that point my father knew he had a good idea and so he started Bradford Products.”

Bradford Now

It has been 40 years since the first Bradford spa was built. Since then, the family-owned company has evolved into a major leader in the aquatics industry and are continuously adding to their expansive product line. Bradford’s fully welded, self-supported, prefabricated vessels are the ideal solution for rooftop or elevated aquatics. The leakproof nature of stainless steel combined with the impressive strength-to-weight ratio of Bradford’s vessels make them the safest choice for high-risk environments where pool failure would be detrimental. 

Bradford has a major presence in the commercial aquatics industry with significant projects in Las Vegas, New York, Miami and abroad. Their exponential growth and success in the commercial aquatic industry has also been echoed in the residential market. The MPool, released in late 2021, is Bradford’s first fully welded stainless steel pool designed specifically for in-ground, residential use. Available in five lengths, and two edge styles, the pool features full-width entry stairs and a choice of a full-width sun shelf, bench seat or open end for the opposing side. The Bradford Signature Series Spa collection was also designed with residential clients in mind. Equipped to be installed in ground, partially recessed or on grade, the spas provide flexibility for homeowners to incorporate it into their unique landscape.

Bradford’s Future

Bradford’s presence in the industry is constantly expanding, with new projects around the world and new products launching in various sectors. Their two fabrication facilities total over 200,000sqft in Wilmington, NC and neighboring Leland, NC. They have the capacity to prefabricate multiple, large-scale projects while their highly mobile workforce is simultaneously able to complete onsite installations across the United States and abroad.

About Bradford Since 1982, Bradford has been the leader in the design and fabrication of luxury aquatic stainless steel products. Specializing in swimming pools, spas, water features and other custom vessels for both the residential and commercial markets. From concept to creation, Bradford’s highly skilled work force has designed and completed projects on a global scale. The fully welded world class vessels are featured in homes and commercial facilities across the U.S. and internationally. With decades of experience in conceptual design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation, Bradford Is at the forefront of innovation in the field of stainless-steel aquatic design.

Sacramento – Let’s Pool Together, an initiative from the California Pool and Spa Association (CPSA) and the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), and Save Our Water, a statewide water conservation campaign created by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), have partnered to promote water smart tips for California pool and spa owners.

“Many people don’t realize that pools and hot tubs use less water than lawns in the warm months,” said Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO of PHTA. “A few simple, practical changes help pool and hot tub owners save water while continuing to enjoy their backyard retreats.”

January, February and March 2022 marked the driest first three months of the year on record in California. With much of the state dealing with severe drought conditions – and circumstances looking grim as we enter our hot, dry season – now is the time to make active changes to save water, starting in our homes and yards.

Let’s Pool Together and Save Our Water are encouraging California pool and hot tub owners to make simple water-saving changes amidst the severe drought. Let’s Pool Together has also created a series of informative PSAs to help spread the word on these simple tips:

• Cover up. A properly maintained hot tub or pool cover is the most effective means of reducing evaporative water loss.
• Maintain your pool and pool filtration systems. Use an automatic pool cleaner to maintain pool water. Proper maintenance of pool water reduces the frequency of backwashing. Replace your aging sand or DE filtering system with a cartridge filter that does not require backwashing and saves water. Correct any leaks or service problems as they occur.
• If it’s clean, don’t drain. Drain hot tubs and pools only when you have a water quality problem. Water only needs to be changed in a spa 2-3 times a year if you maintain your hot tub properly and it incorporates new water cleaning technology. Pools only need to be drained if repairs require it.
• Recycle & Re-use Water. Use captured rainwater to replace water lost to evaporation in spas and pools or to refill a hot tub. When you drain your hot tub, let it sit open for 48-72 hours with no new chemicals added, and then use the water on garden plants.    
• Shut off waterfalls, fountains, and other water features to reduce water loss and evaporation.

“Save Our Water and Let’s Pool Together provide helpful resources to Californian pool and spa owners looking for tips to conserve water this summer,” said Ryan Bailey, Water Use Efficiency Branch Manager with the California Department of Water Resources. “For many Californians, most water waste happens in our yards, making it important that we take steps to conserve in our pools and hot tubs as well, like preventing evaporation, checking for leaks and preventing unnecessary water use and spillage.”

For more information on how Californians can take action today to save water, visit SaveOurWater.com.

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with nearly 3,500 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of swimming, water safety and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.

About the California Pool and Spa Association

The California Pool and Spa Association™ (CPSA) has been representing the pool and spa industry for over 40 years by advocating on behalf of their interests before the California Legislature and state and local regulatory agencies. CPSA works with all segments of the California pool and spa industry and partners with other associations to be the central source of information for the industry. CPSA also promotes the highest standards of professional conduct in pool construction, service, and repair and seeks to promote the products and services of its members. For more information, visit www.thecpsa.org.

About Save Our Water

Save Our Water is California’s statewide water conservation program. Started in 2009 by the California Department of Water Resources, Save Our Water’s goal is to make water conservation a daily habit among Californians. The program reaches millions of Californians each year through partnerships with local water agencies and other community-based organizations, social marketing efforts, paid and earned media and event sponsorships. Please visit SaveOurWater.com and follow @saveourwater on Twitter and @SaveOurWaterCA on Facebook.