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Step Into Swim Announces New Partnerships

Published

3 years ago

February 14, 2023

Pool industry leaders dedicate $95,000 to Step Into Swim, help nearly 2,000 children learn to swim

(Alexandria, Va.) – Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education, today announced strategic partnerships with key program supporters Master Pools Guild (MPG), Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA) Foundation, and Periodic Products, Inc. The partners committed a total of $95,000, which will help Step Into Swim gift grants to learn-to-swim providers across the country and fund swim lessons for nearly 2,000 children while driving down the drowning rate.

“The best thing we can do to keep our children safe in the water is to continue talking about the lifesaving skill of learning to swim and increase access to swim education to make water safety a reality for children in need,” says Rowdy Gaines, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Vice President of Partnerships and Development for PHTA, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “MPG, NESPA Foundation, and Periodic Products are longtime safety champions in the industry who continue to advocate for the next generation of swimmers. They share in Step Into Swim’s mission to create more swimmers and help provide a stepping stone to reach our goals in 2023.”

Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4,[1] though learning to swim from a qualified instructor reduces the risk of drowning by 88% among this age group.[2] Step Into Swim, with the help of partners like MPG, NESPA Foundation, Periodic Products, and others, is taking an active role to reduce drowning by reaching as many families as possible through safe swimming efforts.

Partnership Celebration with MPG

MPG, an exclusive network of over 100 elite custom pool builders from across the globe, committed $50,000 to Step Into Swim. The company works to enhance outdoor living spaces and continues to support swim education and access as part of its passion for aquatic recreation. Through its Platinum Level sponsorship, MPG will help Step Into Swim provide learn-to-swim programming for 1,000 children.

“The Master Pools Guild is excited to see the momentum that [PHTA President and CEO] Sabeena Hickman and Rowdy Gaines have built around the Step Into Swim program,” says Teri Wiltshire, Executive Director at MPG. “We are proud to partner with PHTA, and other industry supporters, sharing the goal of increased access to swim lessons and instilling water confidence in all swimmers.”

Partnership Celebration with NESPA Foundation

NESPA is a professional organization that advances the commercial interests of members in the pool and spa industry. The NESPA Foundation, which was created to advance education and professionalism in the industry, committed $25,000 to Step Into Swim. The association prides itself on making an impact in the industry, and its ongoing support of Step Into Swim affirms its advocacy work to support swim education in needed communities. Through its Gold Level sponsorship, the NESPA Foundation will help Step Into Swim provide learn-to-swim programming for 500 children.

“The NESPA Foundation is focused on creating more opportunities for children to learn lifesaving water skills and introducing kids to a lifelong love of aquatics,” says Dominick Mondi, Executive Director of NESPA. “Partnering with Step Into Swim aligns perfectly with our efforts. We were thrilled to see so many like-minded industry leaders join us in supporting Step Into Swim’s mission at NESPA’s annual Pool & Spa Show in January.”

Partnership Celebration with Periodic Products

Periodic Products, a material science technology company with a full range of swimming pool chemicals and products, committed $20,000 to Step Into Swim, which underscores its vision to advance safer environments in the industries it serves. Through its Gold Level sponsorship, Periodic Products will help Step Into Swim provide learn-to-swim programming for 400 children.

“It is an honor to be a Gold Level sponsor for the Step Into Swim program,” says PHTA Chair-Elect Joseph Laurino, PhD, President and CEO of Periodic Products, Inc. “Periodic Products and its employees are committed to helping make a difference in the communities we serve, and creating healthier and safer swimming environments is one important way. With this donation, Periodic Products is proud to impact so many children.”

All Step Into Swim partners have a collective goal of providing the lifesaving skill of learning to swim and raising awareness for the aquatic industry’s role in improving public health and safety. In 2022, the program raised over $750,000 dollars, which provided grants to more than 60 facilities in 46 states and funded swim lessons for 23,500 children. The initiative has gifted more than 300,000 swim lessons since 2012 through YMCAs, Jewish Community Centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, and many more. The program is funded through partner contributions, which are integral for advancing the mission. 100 percent of donations go to Step Into Swim initiatives and learn-to-swim programming. To learn more, visit www.StepIntoSwim.org.

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Drowning Data. https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/data/index.html

[1] Association Between Swimming Lessons and Drowning in Childhood, A Case-Control Study: Ruth Brenner, et al. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151293/

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and Step Into Swim:

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with more than 3,700 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.

Step Into Swim^TM is an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and its foundation committed to safe swim education and drowning prevention. By investing in the next generation of swimmers through learn-to-swim programming, the Step Into Swim initiative instills confidence, empowers long-term participation in water activities, touts the positive benefits of water play, and advocates for safe practices. Since its inception in 2012, Step Into Swim has played a role in reducing drowning fatalities and has gifted swim lessons to more than 300,000 children with support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members and more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Drowning Data. https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/data/index.html

[2] Association Between Swimming Lessons and Drowning in Childhood, A Case-Control Study: Ruth Brenner, et al. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151293/

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Alise Everton

Alise Everton has been working in the pool industry for the past decade and is an experienced press correspondent and contributor for numerous trade publications and web portals including PoolMagazine.com and PoolContractor.com among others. Contact her for guest posting opportunities, press releases, and pool equipment related news.

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Beatbot Unveils iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Winner Sora 30 along with New Sora 10 for Effortless Spring Cleaning

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

Alise Everton

Award-winning innovation that elevates smart pool care into a simplistic lifestyle expression

Richmond, TX — [Mar 30, 2026] —Beatbot, a global leader in innovative pool robotics, is welcoming the spring season with the launch of two new additions to its Sora lineup: the Beatbot Sora 30, winner of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, and the Beatbot Sora 10, a new entry-level model designed to make intelligent pool cleaning more accessible. Built for reliable, hassle-free pool maintenance, the new Sora series helps pool owners tackle seasonal cleaning with powerful performance and thoughtful design.

The newly launched Beatbot Sora series models deliver complete cleaning coverage across floors, walls, waterlines, and platforms. Both the Beatbot Sora 30 and Sora 10 feature powerful 6,800 GPH suction, an ultra-large 5L debris capacity with 150μm filtration, and smart parking for easy retrieval, helping pool owners maintain cleaner water with less effort. The two models also feature bold color accents contrasted with deep black finishes, adding a modern visual touch that complements poolside environments.

Engineered for consistent performance, the robots actively navigate shallow areas and pool platforms, ensuring broad coverage throughout the pool. Powered by Beatbot’s innovative HydroBalance™ Structure, they deliver powerful suction and stable movement throughout the cleaning process.

The award-winning Sora 30 further distinguishes itself with a refined, minimalist design, featuring smooth contours, clean flowing lines, and a distinctive structure that gives it a recognizable look while blending naturally into backyard environments. It also enhances performance with a 10,000mAh battery, supporting up to five hours of floor cleaning for longer cleaning cycles.

The Beatbot Sora 30 is available with an MSRP of $999, while the Beatbot Sora 10 is priced at $699. Consumers now can place their orders on Beatbot’s official website and Amazon.
To provide pool owners with more choice and make spring pool maintenance even easier, Beatbot has also launched its Spring Cleaning promotion. For a limited time, select products are offered at up to 40% off on the Beatbot official website and Amazon.

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PoolDial Launches Modern Pool Service Software with Built-In AI Phone Answering

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

Alise Everton

Pool Dial - Pool service software company

PHOENIX, AZ, March 28, 2026 — PoolDial, a new pool service management platform built for small and midsize pool service companies, is now available nationwide. The platform combines route optimization, customer management, billing, chemical tracking, and AI-powered phone answering for $2 per pool, per month.

Most pool service companies are small operations: solo owners or teams of two to five technicians. Existing software options were built nearly a decade ago for larger operations, often on older technology that is slow to load and difficult to use. PoolDial was built from the ground up to address what small and growing companies actually need.

“Too many pool businesses are stuck with clunky old software, messy spreadsheets, or paper logs,” said Parker Conley, founder of PoolDial. “My goal is to build the best pool service software on the market. Software should handle the boring business stuff so pool pros can focus on what they do best: taking care of pools.”

What PoolDial Includes

PoolDial is a mobile-first platform designed for pool service businesses running 30 to 300+ pools. It is the first pool service software to include AI phone answering and an AI business assistant in every account. Key capabilities:

AI Phone Answering: A 24/7 AI receptionist that answers calls, captures leads, responds to customer questions, and sends summaries to the owner.
AI Business Assistant: Available in the dashboard, mobile app, and via SMS. Answers questions, pulls up customer info, and provides business insights.
Route Optimization: Map-based route planning with drag-and-drop scheduling.
Billing & Invoicing: Online card payments with automatic QuickBooks sync.
Chemical Tracking: Water test logging, LSI calculations, and service history for every pool.
Website Builder: A professional pool company website included in every account.

The platform also includes work order management, a field mobile app with offline support, a customer portal, team management with unlimited users, and data import from Skimmer, Pool Brain, and other pool service software.

How PoolDial Compares

The pool service software market is currently served by products like Skimmer, Pool Brain, Paythepoolman, and PSS. PoolDial differs in three key ways:

AI built in: AI phone answering and an AI business assistant are included in every account. Other pool service software does not offer this.
Modern architecture: Built in 2025 on a modern tech stack. The platform loads fast, works reliably on mobile, and is actively developed.
Simple pricing: $2/pool/month with every feature included, unlimited users, and no tiered plans.

Pricing and Availability

PoolDial is available now on web, iOS, and Android. Pricing is $2 per pool per month with a $40/month minimum. Every feature is included at every level with unlimited users. A 30-day free trial is available with no setup fees. The company is currently onboarding its first customers.

About PoolDial

PoolDial is pool service software for small and midsize companies. Founded by Parker Conley, a software engineer, the platform handles routing, billing, customers, and communication so pool professionals can focus on taking care of pools. Learn more at pooldial.com.

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Pentair Pool Raises More Than $80,000 Through Nationwide Polar Plunge Fundraising Effort in Celebration of its Official Swimming Sponsorship of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Published

1 week ago

March 24, 2026

Alise Everton

Minneapolis, Minnesota — March 24, 2026 — Pentair Pool, a global leader in sustainable
pool solutions, recently participated in Special Olympics Polar Plunges across Florida,
Minnesota and North Carolina. Pentair Pool and its employees are proud to support the
2026 Special Olympics USA Games as the Official Swimming Sponsor furthering its
commitment to inclusion, community impact, and helping people safely and sustainably
enjoy water.

In celebration of the partnership, nearly 80 Pentair executives, employees, and family
members took part in the annual Polar Plunge, raising more than $80,000 to support local
Special Olympics delegations. Funds raised will help athletes from each delegation travel
to Minneapolis this June to compete in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, taking
place June 20–26 at the University of Minnesota and National Sports Center.

Participation in this year’s Polar Plunge grew significantly, increasing 16-fold year-overyear — a testament to the passion and dedication of Team Pentair in support of Special
Olympics athletes and their communities.

“Supporting the Special Olympics USA Games is a natural extension of who we are at
Pentair Pool,” said Jerome Pedretti, Executive Vice President and CEO for Pentair Pool.
“Swimming brings people together, builds confidence, and creates opportunity, and we’re
proud to stand alongside Special Olympics athletes, volunteers, and organizers to help
deliver an unforgettable experience in and out of the water.”

As the Official Swimming Sponsor of the 2026 USA Games, Pentair Pool will work closely
with Special Olympics leading up to and throughout the event, providing support, raising
awareness, and engaging employees through volunteer opportunities designed to enhance
the athlete experience during swimming competitions.

To learn more about the partnership, visit www.pentair.com/en-us/poolspa/landing/special-olympics.html.

About Pentair Pool

At Pentair, we help the world safely and sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s
most essential resource. From our residential and business solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water
solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair Pool is driven to help people
sustainably enjoy water. Our solutions include industry-leading pumps, automation,
lighting, heating, and filtration technology that help our customers enjoy a smarter and
more sustainable pool. Customer success is at the heart of our vision for bringing family
and friends together in the pool and on the deck to build social connections, create lifelong
memories, and help promote fitness and enjoyment. For more information, visit
www.pentairpool.com.