Industry News
Honoring the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Pool Pro Award Winners With Pentair Pool

Celebrating the long-standing industry leaders whose dedication, vision,
and service-first mindset have shaped the future of the aquatics industry.
The Pentair Pool Pro Awards shine a spotlight on pool professionals who elevate the
standard of excellence — those who champion safety, embrace innovation, and support
the next generation of industry talent. Among this year’s honorees, the Lifetime
Achievement Award holds special significance. It recognizes individuals whose years of
service, leadership, and impact have left lasting imprints on their teams, their customers,
and the pool community at large.
The 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winners exemplify what it means to lead with
purpose. Their stories reflect a shared commitment to uplifting others, advancing the
industry, and showing what’s possible through hard work, humility, and a dedication to
doing things the right way.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Shannon Jones
Owner, Graves Pools and Spas | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
For Shannon Jones, the pool industry is more than a career — it’s a legacy. Celebrating 50
years in business, Graves Pools and Spas has been family-run for generations, and Jones is
proud to continue the mission her grandfather began… And share it with all three of her
children, who are also involved in the business. Early in her leadership journey, she created
a personal mission statement that still guides her today: to make a positive difference in
every life she meets.
That philosophy is woven through her business. Guided by servant leadership, Jones
focuses first on caring for her team, trusting that empowered employees deliver
exceptional experiences for customers. “The more I take care of them,” she says, “the more
they feel fulfilled, and the more they care for others.” Many members of her management
team have been with the company for 16, 18, even 25 years, a testament to her example-driven approach.
Jones’ commitment to excellence shows up in everyday actions, from celebrating safe
driving with the company’s “Golden Steering Wheel” award, to openly acknowledging and
correcting mistakes as part of a culture rooted in honesty. And her impact extends beyond
the business. Graves Pools and Spas supports swim education across three local YMCA chapters, providing equipment and services free of charge and hosting swim lessons in the
company’s pools. “If we save one child from drowning,” she says, “it would be worth
everything we give.”
As automation and A.I. reshape the industry, Jones is focused on bringing modern tools to
both residential and commercial customers, helping her community stay ahead of the
curve. And with all three of her children now part of the company, the future feels bright.
“Our opportunities are limitless,” she says. “And the more we grow, the more positive
differences we get to make. I’m honored to be recognized with this award, but having the
ability to make a difference in the world through my company, I’ve already won big time.”
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Sean Johnson
Executive Vice President, Field Services, Amenity Pool Services | New York City, NY
For Sean Johnson, the pool industry became a calling long before it became a career.
Growing up in New York City, Johnson didn’t learn to swim until he was a teenager, but he
was hooked from the moment he did. That first experience sparked a passion for aquatics
and lifeguarding that eventually led him to a career path, where he rose from an entry-level
role to leading an entire office by age 20.
Johnson’s lifelong dedication is rooted in helping people build meaningful careers. Whether
mentoring young lifeguards, developing leaders, or promoting from within, he has always
believed the strongest customer relationships start with strong teams. Throughout his
career with The Amenity Collective, a leader in aquatics, fitness, and recreation solutions,
Sean has been instrumental in the growth of its aquatics platform, including American Pool
and Amenity Pool Services, while mentoring field teams and building operational depth and
process across the organization. Under his leadership, his New York office grew from 40
commercial customers to more than 300, maintaining one of the highest customer
retention rates in the region.
His commitment to going above and beyond is perhaps best illustrated through his work
with Erickson Senior Living. Tasked with automating pools across dozens of properties,
Johnson personally visited every location — traveling more than 200 nights over three years
— to install systems, build relationships, and ensure residents enjoyed safe, perfectly
balanced pools. “It was one of the few things I got exactly right in my life,” he says, laughing.
“I made real personal friends along the way.”
Johnson also contributes beyond the industry, giving his time to Boy Scouts of America by
restoring trail systems, writing hiking guides, and continuing to serve as a scout leader. He’s
also a proud member of his local high school’s board.
Winning the Lifetime Achievement Award, he says, feels deeply personal. “I’ve worked in
this business my whole life,” Johnson shares. “To be recognized like this… it means
everything to me. I hope it shows young people that the pool industry is a real career —
something you can grow in, lead in, and truly be proud of. And beyond that, it’s just plain
fun!”
Celebrating All the 2025 Pentair Pool Pro Award Winners
In addition to the Lifetime Achievement honorees, Pentair recognized winners across
multiple categories, including Premier Pool Pro, Unsung Hero, Safety Advocate, and
Advancing Automation. Visit www.pentair.com/en-us/pool-spa/pool-pro-awards to meet
all the remarkable individuals shaping the future of pools one customer at a time.
Industry News
Why Pools Matter: Pool Horizons Takes Its Message Global

For an industry that spends a great deal of time talking about how pools are built, operated and maintained, Pool Horizons is advancing a different conversation: why swimming pools matter in the first place.
Launched in 2023, Pool Horizons is a global initiative bringing together leaders from the swimming pool industry and broader aquatic community to examine and communicate the role pools play in society. Its work focuses on areas including health and wellbeing, community development, water safety and sustainability, with an emphasis on giving the industry research and real-world examples that demonstrate the value of aquatic spaces beyond recreation.
Over the next several months, Pool Horizons will continue that conversation at major industry gatherings in the United States and Europe, with appearances scheduled in Phoenix, Lyon and Atlantic City.
Pool Horizons Heads to the MasterMind Summit
The first stop will be the PHTA & GENESIS MasterMind Summit, taking place September 16–18 at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona.
Pool Horizons will host a two-hour session on Friday, September 18, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., connecting the cultural and social history of swimming pools with the data-backed narrative the industry is working to develop.
Author and historian Jeff Wiltse will explore the history of swimming pools and their enduring social, cultural and economic importance. Attendees will then hear about the latest Pool Horizons initiatives and how that work applies to the U.S. market.
The session will conclude with industry leaders discussing how different stakeholders can work together to better communicate the value of pools and create new opportunities for the industry.
Taking the Conversation to France
The initiative will head overseas in November for Piscine Global 2026 in Lyon, France.
On November 18 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pool Horizons will present preliminary findings from the Global Aquatic Social Impact Framework (GASIF) pilot study. The project is aimed at developing a more data-driven understanding of the social impact created by swimming pools and aquatic facilities.
Representatives from participating industry associations in France, Spain and the United States will take part, followed by a roundtable examining the challenges and future of the swimming pool industry. Leaders from CF Group, Fluidra, Hayward and Pentair are scheduled to participate in the discussion.
Pool Horizons will make a second appearance in Lyon during Aqualie on November 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. That session will introduce Pool Horizons and showcase a French public swimming pool Best-in-Class project, providing a real-world example of the role aquatic facilities can play within their communities.
Returning to Connect With The Industry in Atlantic City in 2027
The schedule continues into the new year with the Pool Horizons Summit in Atlantic City on January 25, 2027, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Following its 2026 gathering, Pool Horizons will return with a program that includes a keynote presentation, a new Best-in-Class project and contributions from leading figures throughout the swimming pool industry.
Together, the upcoming events provide Pool Horizons with an opportunity to continue building the conversation on both sides of the pond.
Industry News
Skimmer Expands Into Pool Construction Software With Acquisitions of Pool Builder Geek and Poologics
The two software platforms form the foundation of a unified offering for pool professionals; Pool Builder Geek founder Tommy Reynolds joins Skimmer to lead construction strategy.

AUSTIN, TX, August 24, 2026 — Skimmer, the leading operating system for pool service and maintenance professionals, today announced the acquisitions of Pool Builder Geek and Poologics, two software platforms purpose-built for pool construction businesses.
The acquisitions mark Skimmer’s expansion into pool construction and establish the foundation for a unified platform serving pool professionals from construction through ongoing service and maintenance.
As part of the acquisition, Pool Builder Geek founder Tommy Reynolds, who has extensive experience in the pool construction software space, will join Skimmer, leading the company’s construction strategy and continued investment in solutions for pool builders.
“Our vision is to build an end-to-end platform for the pool and spa industry,” said Jack Nelson, CEO of Skimmer. “Pool Builder Geek brings an AI-native platform designed to evolve quickly with the industry, while Poologics brings a proven product that builders have relied on for years. Together, they significantly accelerate our ability to serve pool construction businesses.”
Pool builders manage complex estimating, permitting, project management, subcontractor coordination, customer communication, and job costing processes. Many still rely on spreadsheets or generic construction tools that were not designed for their specific needs. Pool Builder Geek and Poologics address those challenges with purpose-built capabilities, including estimating, project management, permitting, job costing, and AI-powered visualization.
“Pool builders do not need generic contracting software with a pool label added to it,” said Reynolds. “We built Pool Builder Geek specifically around how pools are sold and built with AI at the core of the platform. Joining Skimmer gives us the resources and expertise to accelerate our product roadmap and deliver even more for the builders we serve. I’m excited about what we can build together and what this means for the future of the pool industry.”
“We built Poologics on the belief that pool construction deserves software designed specifically for the industry,” said Nate Pruitt, CEO of Poologics. “Skimmer has built its business on that same belief for pool service. Together, we can give builders more resources, stronger support, and a faster path to innovation.”
Service and maintenance remain a core focus of Skimmer. The expansion into construction advances the company’s long-term strategy to provide connected, purpose-built tools for pool professionals across the industry.
About Skimmer
Skimmer is one of America’s leading pool service platforms. The company is on a mission to modernize the pool and spa service and repair industry through easy-to-use software and best-in-class support. Over 35,000 pool service professionals servicing 1,000,000+ pools in North America use Skimmer to get organized, get paid faster, and grow their businesses. For more information, visit getskimmer.com.
About Poologics
Poologics is an all-in-one business management platform built specifically for swimming pool builders. It streamlines CRM, estimating, project management, and job costing, helping professionals run their businesses with greater efficiency, accuracy, and control. For more information, visit poologics.com.
About Pool Builder Geek
Pool Builder Geek is an AI-powered project management platform built exclusively for the swimming pool construction and renovation industry. Created by a team with deep experience building software for pool builders, it gives builders purpose-built tools for project tracking, scheduling, subcontractor coordination, budgeting, job costing, and AI-powered backyard visualization. For more information, visit poolbuildergeek.com.
Media contact
Travis Wingate
Skimmer, CMO, [email protected], 416-838-9161
Industry News
Landmark Aquatic Names Jason Hill Kansas City General Manager

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Landmark Aquatic, a national leader in commercial aquatic construction and renovation, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Hill to General Manager of its Kansas City, Missouri market. Hill brings nearly two decades of commercial aquatic experience to the role, having worked his way through the industry as a laborer, plumber, project superintendent and project manager. That hands-on path through the trades gives him a perspective few general managers share.
“I truly understand the jobs of everyone here,” explains Hill. “It’s not just how they’re supposed to perform, I actually understand their day-to-day struggles, their desire for growth, and their need to have the best tools at their disposal to do their job efficiently.”
As he begins his tenure, Hill said mentorship and workforce development will be a top priority, particularly given how few professionals nationwide specialize in commercial pools.
“The commercial pool industry is such an anomaly,” he said. “As we grow our team, we are not likely to find commercial pool people waiting in our market to be hired, rather I am going to have to make commercial pool people. Training and coaching them is a big part of making that happen.” Hill’s emphasis on training echoes the company culture that earned Landmark a Top Workplace award, given in part for its investment in employee career development.
Hill is already collaborating closely with Landmark’s marketing team to grow the company’s visibility across the Kansas City market, contributing fresh ideas that are helping generate excitement. “I’m excited to compete with our other markets and see how far we can climb,” he said, noting his hometown ties add extra motivation.
With his depth of field experience and people-first approach, Hill is positioned to grow Landmark Aquatic’s presence and reputation throughout the region.
Jason can be reached at [email protected].
About Landmark Aquatic:
Landmark Aquatic is a nationwide provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance services, with more than six decades of industry experience. Serving clients across most of the U.S., Landmark delivers construction-led solutions and on-going support though its 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.
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