(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.

Aquatics industry veteran Natalie Hood has launched Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC, bringing more than 25 years of hands-on, operational and leadership experience together in a new consulting company designed to help organizations turn industry ideas into programs, education, events and initiatives that move from concept to implementation.

Hood launched Natalie Hood & Associates after seeing the same challenge throughout her career: organizations often have a strong idea or an industry need but bringing it to life can require expertise across several areas. A new education program, certification, event or industry initiative can involve everything from curriculum and instructor development to regulatory approvals, communications and implementation. Natalie Hood & Associates was created to help organizations connect those pieces and move projects from ideas to execution.

“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on so many different sides of this industry, and I’ve seen how connected all of these pieces really are,” Hood said. “I wanted to create something that allows me to bring that experience together and help organizations take an idea, figure out what it needs to become and actually get it across the finish line.”

Hood’s career in aquatics began long before her corporate leadership roles, working hands-on as a lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor and swim coach. She later spent eight years with the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF), advancing through management and leadership roles across operations, education, instructor development, events and industry programs. In 2019, NSPF and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) merged to form the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). Hood continued with the newly formed organization, ultimately serving as Director of Certification and Instructor Relations. At PHTA, Hood managed certification programs and relationships with more than 700 instructors across 127 countries, expanded service program approvals into more than 30 jurisdictions, developed educational and instructor programs, and led government affairs efforts involving pool and spa safety legislation and regulatory issues.

Most recently, Hood served as Director of Education and Events for The Grit Game, where she built the organization’s education department from the ground up and led instructional design for 12 new courses, including storyboards, examinations, training videos and LMS implementation.

Organizations can work with Hood to build or strengthen certification programs, develop curriculum and assessments, pursue state and regulatory approvals, create instructor and train- the-trainer programs, plan educational events and professional development, and support government affairs and industry initiatives. Her work also includes instructional design, industry communications, podcasting and media.

Podcasting and media also remain an active part of Hood’s work through Natalie Hood & Associates. Hood continues to own and host Myth Busting Wednesdays on the Talking PoolsPodcast, where her weekly episodes focus on education, current industry issues and challenging common misconceptions within the pool and spa profession.

The launch also includes nataliehoodassociates.com, where organizations can learn more about Hood’s experience, services and current work.

About Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC

Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC provides consulting and professional services across the aquatics and pool and spa industry, specializing in education and certification, curriculum and instructional development, government and regulatory affairs, events and professional development, industry engagement, podcasting and media.

Media Contact

Natalie Hood

Founder & Principal Consultant

Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC

[email protected]

nataliehoodassociates.com

Industry-Leading Company Adds Over 150 Years of Combined Aquatics Experience to Its Growing Roster

Automatic Pool Covers, Inc., a trusted leader in pool safety and innovation, is pleased to announce the expansion of its national sales team — a strategic move designed to deliver deeper support and expertise to pool professionals and customers across the country.

The newly assembled team is led by Scott Cummings, the company’s Director of National Sales, and brings together some of the most respected names in the aquatics industry, with a combined 150+ years of hands-on experience. The group joins Mike Shadoan, Vice President of Business Development, who has been a cornerstone of the company for over 30 years.

“Leading this sales team at such a well-respected company is an honor,” said Cummings. “We have a tremendous opportunity to bring the highest quality automatic pool covers and service to pool professionals in this rapidly-growing sector of the industry.”

The expanded team includes:

• Scott Cummings, Director of National Sales — bringing 39+ years of industry expertise to lead the team’s national strategy

• David Williams, Southeast Regional Sales Manager — contributing 39+ years of knowledge to one of the country’s fastest-growing pool markets

• Mark Gramza, Sales Manager, Upper Midwest — with over 37 years of experience serving the Midwest region

• Matt Huntley, East Coast Sales Manager (including Florida) — with over 28 years of industry experience covering the critical Eastern seaboard

• Rick Larson, Regional Sales Manager, Western Region — a seasoned professional with deep roots in the western aquatics market

Every member of the new team brings a minimum of 25 years of aquatics industry experience, ensuring that Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. customers receive guidance from true professionals who understand the complexities of modern pool projects.

“We are thrilled to welcome this powerhouse group to our team,” said Shadoan. “Each member brings decades of real-world knowledge that allows us to support pool professionals at every stage of a project — from initial design through final installation.”

This expansion reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to best-in-class service and lasting partnerships with pool professionals nationwide. To contact a sales team member, visit https://automaticpoolcovers.com/sales-team/.

Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. (APC)
Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. (APC) is a leading U.S. manufacturer of automatic pool cover systems for gunite, vinyl, fiberglass, existing pools, and spas. Headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, APC partners with pool professionals nationwide to deliver high-quality auto-covers designed for safety, durability, and ease of use.

www.automaticpoolcovers.com