Building a Legacy: The Enduring Story of Mission Pools

For more than six decades, Mission Pools has stood as a hallmark of excellence and integrity in Southern California’s pool industry. Founded in 1960, the company has evolved from a small regional builder into one of the most respected names in custom pool construction — a second-generation family business that continues to thrive through leadership, hard work, and careful planning.

Bruce Dunn, the company’s president, has been guiding Mission Pools through nearly every major shift in the pool industry since its inception. Speaking with Pool Magazine from Whistler, British Columbia, during the Master Pools Guild Fall Meeting (hosted by Alka Pool Construction), Dunn reflected on the company’s roots, its evolution, and how he’s preparing the next generation to carry the torch.

From Modest Beginnings to Market Leadership

Mission Pools began humbly. Dunn entered the business almost by accident when he was hired to conduct a business analysis for the company’s original owner.

“I went in purely to study how come they weren’t making any money,” recalled Dunn. “It became very apparent that there was more going out the back door than there was coming in the front. When that changed, there was nobody left. We let everybody go — and that put me in the pool business.”

Soon after, he and his brother purchased the company. The partnership worked perfectly. “It was probably the greatest part of my career,” Dunn said. “My brother Jeff is four years younger than I am. He’s retired now, but we had forty-plus years of working together every single day, including Saturdays. It was a real joy.”

Together, the Dunn brothers charted a different course from other pool companies of their era. “When we got involved, you had a few franchise companies and a fractionalized industry that predominantly used subcontractors,” said Dunn. “We took the other road and decided we were going to hire employees in all the different trades and have an in-house construction company. We were also going to do not just residential work, but commercial work, which led us into government projects and even water parks.”

That model helped set Mission Pools apart in one of the most competitive markets in the country. Today, the company operates throughout Riverside, San Diego, and Orange counties — with a reputation built on quality craftsmanship and enduring client relationships.

Building a Culture of Craftsmanship

Ask Dunn what differentiates Mission Pools, and he doesn’t point to marketing or technology first — he points to their people.

“If you want to know the real difference, you’d have to look at the quality of the people we have,” he explained. “That’s not just from a management standpoint — it’s construction. The swimming pool business is construction. So many people focus just on sales, but if you don’t know how to build it and build it correctly, all the sales in the world certainly aren’t going to do you any favors.”

That philosophy has guided Mission Pools’ internal culture for decades. While many companies outsource labor, Dunn’s decision to keep skilled trades in-house created a consistent standard of excellence.

Learning, Leading, and Staying Ahead

Part of what’s kept Mission Pools relevant for over 65 years is a relentless commitment to education and professional collaboration. Dunn credits the Master Pools Guild with much of that success.

“Being part of the Guild allows you to share information and learn different techniques,” he said. “Back in the day when vanishing edges weren’t even a thing yet, the Guild was building them and teaching people about flow rates and friction — the kinds of things you needed to know to design an artistic pool correctly.”

For Dunn, continuing education is not optional. It’s essential. The regular Guild meetings — both spring and fall — serve as an opportunity to learn what’s coming next, network with innovators, and stay on the cutting edge of design and engineering.

He recalled with fondness the way knowledge is passed around at Guild gatherings. “I remember meetings with plans rolled out on a piano to teach somebody how to build a pool with a surge tank,” he said. “The way the piping would go, the way the equipment would run.”

Moments like that capture what Dunn loves most about the business: builders sharing their craft, not just their business cards. “That’s where the magic happens,” he said with a smile.

Succession Planning For The Next Generation

For Bruce Dunn, longevity has always been about preparation and adaptability. As Mission Pools continued to expand, he wanted to ensure the company’s strength would extend well into the future — not just through projects, but through people.

“I had the opportunity to take a course at Harvard,” he said. “During that three-year program, part of it was succession planning. That could mean you’re setting yourself up to be sold or setting yourself up for a legacy and continuation.”

Dunn and his brother chose the latter. “We made the decision that for those family members who wanted to be involved in the business, we’d make it available if they were qualified,” he said. “The succession plan we put in place in the late nineties was crafted off a number of case studies we had at Harvard.”

That plan proved both visionary and adaptable. “We found that a succession plan has to be flexible because the world changes, people change, and desires change,” Dunn explained. When his brother retired three years ago, the plan was ready to be executed — and the transition was seamless.

“My son, who had been working as our CFO, and Mike Roudebush, who was in charge of our large commercial projects, both stepped into leadership roles,” said Dunn. “They’re a mirror image of my brother and me — Jeff handled operations, I handled business. Brett handles the numbers, Mike runs operations. It’s a wonderful continuation.”

A Legacy of Quality and Reputation

After more than six decades, Dunn still arrives at the office by 6:30 a.m. and often works Saturdays. That level of dedication is woven into the company’s DNA — and it’s one of the reasons Mission Pools enjoys a reputation for craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.

“We sell an expensive product,” Dunn said. “The focus has to be on building correctly. Speed is not always necessary — quality is everything. You have to be driven to make the end product everything, if not more, than what the client expects. All the advertising in the world won’t get you through the front door as quickly as word of mouth will.”

That dedication continues to earn recognition. Mission Pools has been named a Top 50 Builder and Aqua 100 member multiple times — and at the very event we attended, Dunn added a few more Master Pools Guild awards to the company’s collection. But for Dunn, the real reward comes from seeing his team share in those achievements. “We’ll hang the awards in the back first, where the construction people gather every morning,” he said. “They’ll look at the photo and say, ‘I did the plumbing on that job,’ or ‘Look at the tile I installed.’ It’s important they get to share in the win.”

Building for the Future

Dunn’s philosophy on longevity and leadership can be summed up in one word: consistency. His team continues to deliver excellence year after year because they remain grounded in the fundamentals of construction, collaboration, and ethics.

“I think that’s what separates good builders from great ones,” said Dunn. “Good pool builders are in fact builders. You have to have sales to keep the door open, but if you can’t build and build correctly, it’s all for naught.”

His advice for younger professionals entering the industry is simple yet profound. “Dedicate yourself to becoming a builder,” he said. “It’s one thing to buy the equipment — it’s another to put it together correctly. Learn, and don’t worry about the money. It will come.”

That philosophy — grounded in craftsmanship, humility, and lifelong learning — has carried Mission Pools through generations. And as Bruce Dunn gradually transitions leadership to the next wave of talent, the company’s foundation remains unshakable.

“I’ve been blessed,” he said. “We’ve had a wide variety of projects, an incredible team, and a business built on integrity. Passing that legacy on to people who value it the same way — that’s the most rewarding part of it all.”

Photo & Video Credits: Mission Pools, Dan Kirksey – KDKC Productions