Press Releases
PHTA Announces 2021 Award Recipients

(Alexandria, Va.)—The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its 2021 Awards, including Builder of the Year, Certified Service Professional of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and Young Professional of the Year.
This year’s award winners are as follows:
Builder of the Year
Joseph Vassallo, Jr., Paragon Pools
The Builder of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award. It is awarded to a CBP who has advanced the pool building profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.

Joseph Vassallo, Jr. has influenced the advancement of the industry through his commitment to providing pools and spas that exceed the industry and state standards, earning him and the company a multitude of industry and professional awards. These awards and recognitions credit his extensive knowledge of design and building of superior pools/spas as well as acknowledges his integrity as a professional businessman. Beyond that, he has been involved both personally and through his company Paragon Pools in a variety of charity programs and activism over the years. He has provided finances, resources, given of his time, and recruited others to support worthy causes in the community. His involvement shows the residents, fellow businesses, and media how devoted he (and the company) are to the building a sustainable community bringing positive awareness of pool industry professionals.
Certified Service Professional of the Year
Noel Conley, Miracle Pool Service, Inc.
The Certified Service Professional of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award. Each year, it is awarded to one CSP who has advanced the service profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.

Noel Conley served for nine years as a subject matter expert for the industry and was instrumental in creating the North Texas Chapter’s Dive into Recovery program to help disabled veterans. He also teaches PHTA’s certification courses and helps develop testing and training material. He has served on the Texas Pool and Spa Coalition, the North Texas Chapter Board of Directors, the PHTA Service Council, the PHTA Education Committee, and was named a PHTA Fellow in 2016.
Retailer of the Year
Crystal Pools, Elizabethtown, PA
The Retailer of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding retailer that has advanced the retail profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.

This company’s success is due to the focus it has on training its employees. Each employee working in the store must go through extensive product training so that they can answer questions and assist in product selection based upon their customers’ needs. Beyond that, they are active within their community. They are engaged with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and annually provide and install aboveground pools for very ill children.
Josh Culp accepted the award on behalf of Crystal Pools.
Young Professional of the Year
Allen Jerabeck, Tarson Pools & Spas
The Young Professionals of the Year Award recognizes forward-thinking leaders under the age of 40 who will be the voice and next generation of pool and spa professionals.
Allen Jerabeck is a pool and spa specialist for Tarson Pools & Spas in North Syracuse, NY. Allen is a CPO and a member of WAVE and has received numerous awards of excellence for his service and skill over the past 6 years. Originally from California, Allen spent the past two years elevating his company by not only using better components in his builds, but also focusing on creating better processes and applying new technologies.

“We are proud to honor each of these outstanding pool and spa professionals,” says PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE. “Thanks to the incredible work of these dedicated leaders, our industry continues to grow, evolve, and flourish. Congratulations to all of our 2021 winners!”
For more information, please contact Janay Rickwalder, PHTA’s Vice President of Communications and Public Relations, at [email protected] or 703.357.3918.
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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.
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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