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
Industry News
Hayward Holdings Names New Chief Accounting Officer

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]
Press Releases
Daldorado Names Marcia Gyles Director of Sales

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.
Press Releases
FSPA and PHTA Reunite Through Historic Affiliation

(Sarasota, Fl. / Alexandria, Va.) — The Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) today announced a new affiliation agreement, effective January 1, 2027, bringing together two leading organizations with a shared commitment to advancing the pool, spa, and hot tub industry.
The affiliation represents both a new chapter and a return to shared roots. FSPA operated as Region VII of the National Spa & Pool Institute (NSPI) during the 1960s and 1970s, transitioned to an independent affiliate in 2001, and became fully independent in 2008. Nearly two decades later, FSPA and PHTA are reuniting through a modern affiliation model designed to combine strong state and national resources while preserving FSPA’s autonomy.
Under the affiliation, FSPA will continue to independently govern and operate its organization, while FSPA members will also gain membership in PHTA. The relationship brings together FSPA’s deep Florida relationships, state advocacy, chapter network, and market expertise with PHTA’s national education and certification programs, standards development, workforce initiatives, research, advocacy, and industry resources.
“FSPA has always been focused on delivering meaningful value to our members and strengthening the industry in Florida,” says Keith Johnson, President of FSPA. “This affiliation allows us to maintain the identity, leadership, and local relationships that make FSPA strong while giving our members access to an even broader network of education, resources, and expertise. It is an exciting opportunity to bring our organizations back together in a way that positions our members and our industry for the future.”
The organizations already have a strong history of collaboration, including FSPA’s partnership with PHTA’s Step Into Swim drowning prevention initiative, which has expanded significantly since 2020—funding more than 180,000 swim lessons in 2025 alone—while increasing support for community learn-to-swim programs.
“There is tremendous power in bringing the industry together while continuing to recognize the importance of strong state and local leadership,” says Scott Frost, Chairman of the PHTA Board of Directors. “FSPA has an extraordinary history and presence in Florida, and PHTA brings national scale and resources that can complement that strength. Together, we can create greater opportunities for our members, speak with a stronger industry voice, and continue raising the level of professionalism throughout the industry.”
The affiliation is designed to expand access to education and certification, strengthen workforce development, increase advocacy influence, enhance consumer safety initiatives, and provide members with additional resources and benefits. The FSPA-PHTA affiliation takes effect January 1, 2027.
For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Senior Director of Content and Communications, at
[email protected] or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.
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About the Florida Swimming Pool Association
The Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) is a nonprofit trade association representing Florida’s swimming pool, spa, and hot tub industry. For more than 50 years, FSPA has served as a trusted resource for pool builders, service professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers while promoting professionalism, education, and safety across the industry. Through advocacy, training, and consumer outreach, FSPA works to protect the interests of its members and advances best practices in pool and spa construction, maintenance, and design. FSPA also supports drowning prevention and water safety initiatives through its charitable arm, the Florida Swims Foundation, which provides funding for swim lessons and water safety education programs throughout the state. For more information, visit www.fspa.com.
About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding 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.
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