Industry News
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Announces 2025 Superlative Award Recipients

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, is proud to announce the winners of its 2025 Superlative Awards, including Builder of the Year, Service Professional of the Year, Retailer of the Year, International Hot Tub Association (IHTA) Hot Tub Retailer of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Chapter of the Year.
The 2025 PHTA Superlative Award winners will be recognized during the PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception on October 21 in Las Vegas, NV, as part of the International Pool Spa Patio Expo.
“This year’s PHTA Superlative Awards truly show the breadth, depth, and strength of our industry,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President & CEO of PHTA. “These individuals and organizations understand the importance of raising up those around them, which in turn elevates the pool, spa, and hot tub industry as a whole. I am so impressed by their dedication and commitment to their craft. Congratulations to all 2025 PHTA Superlative Award winners!”
2025 PHTA Superlative Award Winners
This year’s award winners are as follows:
Builder of the Year
Mike Church, Cody Pools
The Builder of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award given annually to one PHTA builder member who has advanced the pool building profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.
Mike Church, President and CEO of Cody Pools, took over the company in 2003, overseeing 19 employees and two offices. Over the last two decades, Church has successfully grown the company and now leads more than 500 employees across three states. Church leads with integrity and transparency, upholding ethical standards and significantly influencing the pool industry as a whole. He believes in the importance of continuing education and has many certified professionals on staff. This commitment to excellence has led to Cody Pools being named the number one pool builder in America for the past 13 years in a row by Pool and Spa News. Church is known throughout the industry as a respected leader and innovator.

Service Professional of the Year
Nicholas LaPointe, Golden State Pools
The Service Professional of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award given annually to one PHTA service member who has advanced the service profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.
Nicholas LaPointe, Owner of Golden State Pools, understands the importance of customer loyalty. Golden State Pools has been a family-run company since 1980 and today has 1,300 accounts—the majority of which are more than 10 years old. LaPointe was born into the business and uses that historical knowledge to build longstanding relationships with vendors, suppliers, and clients alike. He successfully completed the PHTA Leadership Certificate Program powered by Cornell University, a sign of his commitment to elevating his company and his team. LaPointe is a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) and is currently on the path towards becoming a Certified Master Pool Builder & Design Professional (MCBP).

Retailer of the Year
Mike Todd, Rainbow Pools & Living Art Design
The Retailer of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award recognizing one outstanding retailer who has advanced the retail profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry. This award is sponsored by RB Retail & Service Software.
Mike Todd, President of Rainbow Pools & Living Art Designs, is an industry leader with a deep commitment to raising the industry’s standards. Todd leads with positivity and respect, earning the trust of both his staff and his customers. Todd was previously named the BioGuard Retailer of the Year and serves on the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA) Board of Directors. He understands the importance of giving back and supports Step Into Swim, PHTA’s drowning prevention initiative. Todd holds several industry certifications, including Certified Builder Professional (CBP), Certified Pool & Spa Service Professional (CSP), and CPO.

IHTA Hot Tub Retailer of the Year
Scott Clark, The Spa and Sauna Co.
The International Hot Tub Association (IHTA) Hot Tub Retailer of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award recognizing one outstanding hot tub retailer who has advanced the hot tub retail profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the hot tub industry.
Scott Clark, Owner and Operator of The Spa and Sauna Co., exemplifies unwavering commitment and leadership within the pool and hot tub industry. He and his team continually demonstrate excellence through customer care, innovation, and industry advocacy. Clark is an active member of the IHTA Retailer Subcommittee and helps develop training and education for other hot tub retailers. He is known for his humble leadership, commitment to innovation, and deep knowledge of the hot tub industry. Clark believes in the power of collaboration and openly shares best practices with other businesses.

Volunteer of the Year
Steve Barnes, AquaStar Pool Products
The Volunteer of the Year Award is bestowed upon one prominent individual each year who has made distinguished contributions that raise professionalism in the aquatic community through their volunteering with PHTA.
Steve Barnes, Director of Science and Compliance at AquaStar Pool Products, demonstrates a steadfast commitment to advancing the pool and hot tub industry. He has served on countless industry committees, including the PHTA Standards Process Committee, PHTA-16 Standard Writing Committee, PHTA Technical Advisory Council, and International Code Council (ICC) International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) Code Development Committee. Over his 40-year career in the industry, he has worked tirelessly to improve and enhance industry standards that keep swimmers and professionals safe.

Young Professionals of the Year
The Young Professional of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award recognizing a forward-thinking leader under the age of 40 who will be the voice and next generation of pool and spa professionals. In 2025, PHTA recognizes two outstanding young professionals.
Alexa Blanda, Mill Bergen Pools
Alexa Blanda, Service Manager at Mill Bergen Pools, sets an example for all pool professionals with her dedication, innovation, and leadership. She has already had a meaningful impact on the industry through serving on the NESPA Membership Committee, chairing the PHTA Service Council, championing the PHTA Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and collaborating on the PHTA Service Technician Manual used by thousands of certified professionals. Blanda is a Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) and a Certified Pool & Spa Service Technician (CST) who cares deeply about strengthening the entire industry.

Johnathan Nies, Counsilman-Hunsaker
Johnathan Nies, Project Director at Counsilman-Hunsaker, is dedicated to advancing the safety and standards of the pool and hot tub industry. He is a PHTA CPO Instructor, leading all CPO courses at Counsilman-Hunsaker to ensure that his colleagues are well-trained in safety practices and regulatory compliance. He is known for his professionalism, integrity, leadership, and dedication and is deeply committed to advancing the industry through innovation, education, and steadfast dedication to excellence.

Chapter of the Year
Penn-Jersey Pool & Spa Association
The Chapter of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding chapter that has set a stellar example for the organization, advancing and enhancing the industry through strong leadership, community outreach, and providing their members with the highest quality of programs, activities, and services.
The Penn-Jersey Pool & Spa Association has successfully grown into a robust pool and spa industry community, with hundreds of engaged members. From giving pool and hot tub professionals a break during the busy season to enjoy a Phillies game, to launching the Women in the Industry (WITI) Walk to raise funding and awareness for drowning prevention, to hosting a hospitality event at the annual Pool & Spa Show, this chapter knows how to create and sustain a dedicated base. Everything the Penn-Jersey Pool & Spa Association does is in support of making the industry stronger and the community more connected.

For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Director of Content and Communications, at [email protected] or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.
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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.
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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