Press Releases
Float Like a Duck Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Award-Winning, Family-Friendly Water Safety Initiative Celebrates 20th Anniversary
(Las Vegas, NV) April 2023 – Float Like A Duck celebrates two-decades of sharing the importance of water safety. Float Like A Duck was founded by Paragon Pools’ President Joseph M. Vassallo as part of the company’s philanthropic endeavors with a mission of Educating the public on the importance of safety while celebrating the joys of water sports!
Since its launch in 2003, the water safety initiative with messaging in English and Spanish has achieved some notable milestones over the years including numerous accolades, hosting in-person events, publishing a water safety coloring book, releasing numerous water safety PSA videos, and establishing its own cheerful water safety mascot named Duckie, to name a few. In addition, Float Like A Duck has provided funding for free swimming lessons for at-risk youths and sponsors the Nevada Desert Mermaids artistic swimming team.
Float Like A Duck’s unique positive, family-friendly messaging has made it a popular platform for others to embrace and share among their community. Individuals and organizations from all walks of life have volunteered their time to present at events, participate in making the videos, and/or allowing their likeness to become part of the water safety coloring book. And the media has also found Float Like A Duck to be a cheerful and informative storyline for their news stories.
Vassallo states, “Water and water sports are an integral part of our lives whether it be in the bath, a pool, at the lake, or beach. Our goal through the Float Like A Duck program is to prepare the entire family with water safety skills, practices, and preventative measures to ensure every experience is an enjoyable one.”
The 20th anniversary campaign concentrates on enhancing the initiatives’ on-line presence providing a wide resource of information, tips, and videos for consumers, non-profits, and fellow water safety advocates. New content is continuously being added and a common theme focuses on ENFORCING the ABC&D’s of water safety, with a BIG emphasis on A-adult supervision.
Each YouTube video offers a unique perspective on water safety, and several are featured in Spanish. “Water safety encompasses all types of water-related environments not just the pool, therefore each year we brainstorm on how we can share the water safety message in different capacities,” states Vassallo. “Some of the videos target situations and/or elements that adults may not consider to be a vulnerable setting for their child.”
The objective is to educate families on steps they can take to keep their loved ones safe by bringing attention to situations and providing them with a pro-active safety tip to ensure a safe and fun lifestyle. May is National Water Safety Month, however we want the public to be conscious about water safety during the entire summer swim season as well as throughout the year.
The Float Like A Duck team encourages households to enjoy the Float Like A Duck webpages, downloadable coloring book, and videos as a family unit and then discuss the various elements so that everyone- including grandparents, teens, and kids have an appreciation for water centric activities and how to stay safe. Float Like A Duck resources can also be a helpful tool when discussing water safety with a caregiver, baby sitter, or au pair.
The national award-winning program has been recognized by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, the Nevada Governor’s Points of Light Awards, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, the National Water Safety Congress, and Kix Brooks- Kidde Hero of the Week. Several of the videos have also received awards for their production and content. Float Like a Duck/Paragon Pools has received three grants since 2021 from the PHTA Step Into Swim foundation. One hundred percent of the funds are presented to swimming programs throughout the Las Vegas community to provide free swimming lessons for at-risk youths in the valley. The 2023 Grant will be presented to the City of Las Vegas to utilize in their swimming lessons programs.
Float Like A Duck is an official partner of the PHTA National Water Safety Month, and the USCPSC Pool Safely program. Vassallo was also a founding board member of the Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition. And, Float Like a Ducks’ messaging physically crossed the US borders in 2021 and 2022 when packets of water safety coloring books were presented to Cabo San Lucas Fire Department-Fire Chief Juan A Carabajal Figueroa for his community.
The campaign has succeeded in growing support over the 20 years, where thousands have been exposed to floating and other lifesaving skills. Program partners have included the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, the City of Henderson & Rad Tad Travels, first responders Las Vegas Metro, LV Metro Volunteer Police & Mascot McGruff, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and the Nevada Highway Patrol, along with the YMCA, Danny Romero Designs, UMC Children’s Hospital, Hearts Alive Village Las Vegas, SNCDPC, SNHD, Las Vegas Sky Cam, Mirage Las Vegas & Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, Mary Vail MBA Publicist, Nevada Desert Mermaids, Ovia Entertainment, and media partners KVVU-Fox-5, KTNV TV-13 & the Morning Blend, iHeart Media, La Buena 101.9, Beasley Broadcasting, Pin Point Publications, as well as pool industry partners the PHTA, Fluidra, Cover Pools, Paramount Pool Systems, PebbleTec, Adams Pool Solutions, PoolCorp, National Pool Tile, and Carecraft.
For more water safety information, tips, and videos are available on the website, social media, and on YouTube. https://www.paragonpoolslv.com/float-like-a-duck
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – January 5, 2026 – Team Horner today announced a planned leadership transition as Dr. Bill Kent steps down from his role as Chief Executive Officer. Effective immediately, Mike Dooley, currently serving as Chief Operating Officer and President, will assume the roles of Chief Executive Officer and President.
Dr. Kent will continue his involvement with Team Horner by transitioning to the role of Chairman of the Board for Team Horner’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), where he will focus on supporting the company’s employee-owners.
“Leading Team Horner has been an incredible honor,” said Dr. Kent. “I am immensely proud of what our team has built together and confident that Mike’s leadership, vision, and deep operational expertise will guide the company through its next phase of growth. I look forward to continuing to support Team Horner and its employee-owners in my role as Chairman of the ESOP Board.”
Mike Dooley brings extensive experience and a strong track record of leadership to his expanded role. As COO and President, he has played a key role in driving operational excellence, strengthening customer partnerships, and advancing Team Horner’s employee-owned culture.
“I’m grateful for Bill’s leadership and mentorship, and for the trust placed in me by the Board and our employee-owners,” said Dooley. “Team Horner has a strong foundation, and I’m excited to build on that momentum while staying true to our values, our people, and our commitment to our customers.”
This leadership transition reflects Team Horner’s long-term succession planning and its commitment to continuity, stability, and employee ownership.
TEAM HORNER® is a family of Companies focused in different areas within the Swimming Pool and Spa business worldwide. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and founded in 1969, Team Horner is an integrated manufacturer, wholesale distributor and global exporter of swimming pool equipment and chemicals. Team Horner is an employee-owned company dedicated to delivering exceptional service and solutions to its customers. Through its ESOP structure, Team Horner empowers its employee-owners to share in the company’s success while maintaining a strong focus on integrity, collaboration, and long-term growth.
AquatiCare™ is Landmark Aquatic’s newly enhanced preventative-maintenance program, built to keep your water safe, your systems reliable, and your downtime low. Customized service plans align with each facility’s unique needs, covering equipment inspections, routine maintenance, and precise chemical care. Water is your business; staying on top of it is ours. We get ahead of issues before they surface, so your water is ready for anyone, anytime.
With AquatiCare™ facilities get technicians that are factory trained, Certified Pool Operators (CPOs) that also receive continuous, certified training so technicians stay current on industry standards, safety protocols, and the latest technological advancements. AquatiCare™ also offers in-depth maintenance of chemical, deck and mechanical items to help extends equipment life, optimize water consumption, and create a more sustainable operation. AquatiCare™ packages are fully customizable, with maintenance visits scheduled to align with a facility’s specific needs.
Landmark Aquatic is a premier provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance, with more than six decades of industry leadership. Serving clients nationwide, Landmark delivers construction-led solutions supported by its CPO-certified AquatiCare maintenance team, ensuring excellence “for the life of your pool.” Committed to the full lifecycle of every facility, Landmark prioritizes long-term partnerships while adapting to client needs through exceptional service, operational excellence, and forward-thinking solutions.
For more about Landmark Aquatic visit www.landmarkaquatic.com
More information contact:
RB Retail & Service Solutions now offers DocuSign as an integrated feature in their pool and spa industry business software. This electronic signature and agreement platform lets you send, sign, and manage documents securely online, instead of using paper contracts. Integrated directly within the RB system so staff can work with contracts and request signatures without exiting the POS software. Allows users to send contracts (e.g., sales agreements, financing forms, service waivers), track status, send reminders and easily pull signed contracts attached directly to the customer. Provides security and compliance with encrypted documents and detailed audit trail.
RB Retail & Service Solutions provides point of sale and business management solutions for pool & spa and chimney & hearth retailers. The software was specifically designed with those industries in mind, taking into consideration the features that would be of most importance to those business owners. RB is a highly experienced and trusted authority in the industry and its software boosts profitability, competitiveness, work/life balance of owners and employees, efficiency, and the ability to make more informed, data-driven decisions about their business.
RB Retail & Service Solutions software was created over 20 years ago by a pool and spa professional to handle the diversity and complexity of the pool and spa retail, service, and construction business. Our software is continually enhanced, and further developed with suggestions and input from hundreds of pool and spa dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Call to schedule a demo.
To learn more or to schedule an online demo, call or visit their website:
(866) 933-9099
Monroeville, PA
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