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Float Like a Duck Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Award-Winning, Family-Friendly Water Safety Initiative Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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Float Like a Duck 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

5/5 - (13 votes)

Marianne Trusty is a Press Correspondent for the pool & spa industry. A published author and social media influencer reaching over 20 million people around the world each day. Contact Marianne about publishing op-editorials, breaking pool news and press releases at [email protected].

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Structure Studios Launches Version 4 of Its Professional Pool and Landscape Design Software Suite

New 3D Engine, Path Tracing, and Over 1,000 New Assets Make Version 4 the Most Powerful Release in Structure Studios History

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Structure Studios Launches Version 4 of Its Professional Pool and Landscape Design Software Suite

HENDERSON, NV—April 7, 2026—Structure Studios is redefining the gold standard in pool and landscape design with the launch of Version 4. Today’s major update to Vip3D, Pool Studio, and VizTerra streamlines the workflow for thousands of professionals worldwide who rely on the suite to deliver more than two million projects every year.

Built on a redesigned 3D engine, the update introduces significant advancements in rendering quality, real-time performance, workflow efficiency, and the most comprehensive library expansion in company history. This update is designed to help pool and landscape professionals create photorealistic 3D designs faster and produce precise, accurate, construction-ready plans.

Version 4 redefines what’s possible in outdoor design by pairing high-end visualization with an intuitive workflow. The next-generation rendering engine introduces Path Tracing to simulate real-world lighting behavior with incredible accuracy. With options like DLSS and dynamic Global Illumination, designers can now leverage the key tools in Version 4 to achieve significantly improved performance without sacrificing visual quality, even when rendering complex scenes with realistic lighting, reflections, and indirect light.

“Version 4 is the most significant leap forward we’ve taken,” said Noah Nehlich, Founder and President of Structure Studios. “We rebuilt our engine from the ground up to deliver dramatically better visuals and faster performance. Our goal wasn’t just to make the water look better; we wanted to make the entire design-to-build workflow feel completely seamless. Whether you’re a new designer, an experienced professional, or part of a high-volume design-build firm, Version 4 provides you with tools to achieve spectacular results straight out of the box and close more sales.”

Key Features in Version 4

• Path Tracing & Advanced Lighting: A redesigned rendering engine delivers beautiful, instant results with precise new controls for fine-tuning specific moods and artistic styles.
• DLSS & Global Illumination: Real-time performance is dramatically improved. Fully dynamic indirect lighting and reflections now simulate how light interacts between objects with greater accuracy than ever before.
• HDRI Skies: Designers can now create more realistic skies and lighting environments by selecting from the library of HDRI skies or importing their own custom options.
• 1,000+ New Library Assets: Version 4 adds 456 new plant and tree models, 148 new materials (including 65 brick options, 14 marble styles, and 30 stacked stone options), 165 new furniture pieces, and 380 additional library items, including a completely new Dynamic Door System and updated Dynamic Rockwork.
• Expanded GIS Data: Designers can now automatically generate parcel lines, setbacks, 3D structures, and property information directly within the workflow.
• Cross Sections & Scaled 3D Plan Views: New features allow designers to cut precise cross sections through any project and export full-color scaled 3D plan views, simplifying the path from concept to construction.
• Expanded Grid Size: The design grid now supports projects up to 2,550 ft x 2,550 ft, accommodating even the most ambitious commercial and residential projects.
• Default System: Designers can now save preferred settings, styles, fonts, and page templates as defaults, which can be applied automatically to every new project to streamline the design process.

Version 4 of Vip3D, Pool Studio, and VizTerra is available now.

Availability

Version 4 of Vip3D, Pool Studio, and VizTerra is available now. Current members can download the update immediately. New users can start a free 30-day trial or learn more about Structure Studios’ professional landscape and pool design software at structurestudios.com.

About Structure Studios

Structure Studios is the developer of Vip3D, Pool Studio, and VizTerra—the professional standard in 3D outdoor living and landscape design software. Used by pool builders, landscape designers, and outdoor living professionals worldwide, Structure Studios software helps designers create compelling 3D presentations that earn client trust and close more deals. Headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, Structure Studios has spent two decades building the tools that help designers do their best work. Learn more at structurestudios.com.

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CCEI Launches New 2026 Catalog

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CCEI 2026 Product Brochure

CCEI is pleased to announce it is offering a new, comprehensive, color catalog that showcases the wide range of products the company offers. From pH and ORP chemical controllers and pump room automation systems to pool and spa light transformers, this catalog provides complete details, installation instructions and illustrative photography.

Founded in 1973, CCEI is a manufacturer of automation and controller systems in the US as well as lighting systems in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Africa with its head office located in France. Known for its sophisticated and powerful equipment, the company’s sleek and attractive products are the choice products for pool professionals because of their ease of installation and ease-of-use. CCEI’s connected pool solutions, especially CCEI’s Vigipool automation and water treatment equipment, have made positioned the company as a leader in the swimming pool and spa industry.

“We designed this catalog with both the pool professional and the consumer in mind,” says Sébastian Chéreau, Head of CCEI’s Global Marketing. “We are proud to offer it as a tool for the industry.”

To receive a copy of the catalog, please fill out the form

More information about CCEI’s US operations can be found at:

www.ccei-pool.com/us/

424-800-2191

CCEI USA Inc.

808 Hindry Ave, Suite G

Inglewood, CA 90301

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New Poolsafe Removable Mesh Safety Fences available in 4 colors

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Poolsafe LLC, offers its new mesh, removable safety fencing with four color options. Built to provide an extra layer of protection around swimming pools, this fencing comes with patented heat-welded borders and poles in brown, beige, gray, and black colors to match the latest in backyard décor.

The fence’s patented ClearGuard™ Mesh comes in a black color offering superior visibility and a low-profile look that homeowners love. The Triton™ Gate is lockable and self-closing, with a curved top bar to deter climbing and a Tri-Pod Truss system that maintains alignment under heavy daily use — meaning fewer callbacks for your crew. Available in both 4ft and 5ft heights.

Four colors. Two heights. One reliable pool fence.

https://poolsafe.com/
(888) 489-2282

About Poolsafe, LLC
Poolsafe is a manufacturer of high-quality pool safety fences and a trusted provider of installation, replacement, and service for both fences and automatic pool covers throughout California. Poolsafe is committed to helping create safer backyard environments with durable, professionally installed safety solutions.

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