Manufacturers
From Line Cook to Pentair Pool Pro: How Keith Smith Transformed His Career at Heritage Pools
Success in the swimming pool industry often comes down to two things: a willingness to learn and a commitment to excellence. Few exemplify this better than Keith Smith, this year’s Pentair Pool Pro Award winner and head of renovations at Heritage Pools of Charleston, SC. His story is not just one of career growth, but of passion, persistence, and the transformative power of education.
Long Before the Pentair Pool Pro Award, Was a Humble Beginning
Before stepping into the pool industry, Smith was working as a line cook in a restaurant, making ends meet in an oversaturated market. While he enjoyed the work, it wasn’t financially sustainable, nor did it offer much room for growth. When his brother-in-law, a service tech at Heritage Pools, encouraged him to consider a career in pool construction, Smith was intrigued. The opportunity to work outdoors, take on new challenges, and build something meaningful appealed to him.
He started with a trial run, working two days with the crew on a brand-new pool build. With no experience and wearing kitchen shoes, he was thrown into the deep end—digging trenches, getting covered in mud, and working harder than ever. But something clicked.
“I made up my mind after that first day of work,” Smith recalls. “After a long, hard day and seeing how much I had accomplished with this team, I knew I wanted to stick with it.”
Climbing the Ladder Through Dedication
After transitioning to a full-time role, Smith quickly expanded his skill set. He worked in pool construction, maintenance, and service, finding that his meticulous attention to detail made him particularly suited for pool care and chemistry management.
His natural curiosity led him to dive deeper into the renovations side of the business. Starting with smaller projects, such as liner replacements and tile work, he eventually moved on to full-scale pool transformations—replacing decks, reshaping pools, and upgrading entire systems.
“There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking a pool that’s been in the ground for 30 or 40 years and making it look brand new,” he says. “It’s like bringing something back to life.”
Mentorship and the Power of Leadership
A key figure in Smith’s journey has been Michael Gesmond, the owner of Heritage Pools. Smith first met Gesmond when they were neighbors, long before he joined the company. He remembers seeing Gesmond working out of his Honda Civic, taking on liner replacements before growing Heritage Pools into the respected business it is today.
“I’ve learned a lot from him—his drive, his commitment to excellence, and his ability to roll up his sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done,” Smith says.
Gesmond saw potential in Smith early on and actively encouraged his growth. He provided new opportunities, pushed him out of his comfort zone, and instilled confidence in his decision-making.
“He told me, ‘You have anything at your disposal to advance your career. Book the classes, get the certifications—just go do it.’ That kind of support is invaluable.”
The Role of Education in Elevating the Industry
One of the biggest lessons Smith has learned is the importance of continuous education. While hands-on experience has been a huge part of his development, formal training has elevated his expertise, particularly in electrical work, hydraulics, and safety compliance.
“A lot of older pools have single drains that aren’t code-compliant,” Smith explains. “Education allows me to confidently explain to homeowners why they need to upgrade their system—not to nickel and dime them, but to make their pool safer.”
Through manufacturer training, trade shows, and industry events, Smith has gained insights that allow him to better serve his customers. More importantly, it’s given him the knowledge to mentor his own team, ensuring that the next generation of pool professionals meets the highest standards.
Leading a Team with Commitment and Purpose
As head of renovations at Heritage Pools, Smith doesn’t just oversee projects—he actively supports his team, whether it’s digging trenches, troubleshooting pumps, or solving on-site challenges.
“I’m not here to babysit anyone,” he says. “I work with professionals. But I am here to support them, to problem-solve when things don’t go as planned, and to ensure that every job is done right.”
He leads by example, making sure that customer service, safety, and craftsmanship remain the top priorities. His approach is simple: he never asks his team to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.
The Value of Strong Industry Partnerships
Smith credits much of his professional growth to Pentair’s commitment to its dealers. Over the years, Pentair representatives have provided hands-on training, on-site troubleshooting, and product knowledge that have made a tangible impact on his projects.
“My reps have been phenomenal resources. Any time I’ve needed help diagnosing an issue or understanding a product, they’ve been there,” Smith says.
One product that’s been a game changer for his renovation projects is the IntelliFlo3 VSF pump.
“It can be retrofitted to inch-and-a-half plumbing and has built-in automation capabilities,” Smith explains. “That means customers get a modern, energy-efficient upgrade without having to overhaul their entire system.”
Trends in Pool Renovation and Future Outlook
Smith has witnessed shifts in the pool industry over the years, with more homeowners embracing automation and energy-efficient upgrades. Retrofitting older pools with smart technology, LED lighting, and variable-speed pumps is becoming increasingly common, as customers recognize the long-term value.
“Five years ago, people weren’t as receptive to automation. Now, with products like the IntelliFlo3, they see the convenience and energy savings,” Smith notes.
Beyond technology, he also sees a growing emphasis on pool safety upgrades, as more homeowners recognize the importance of dual drains, VGB-compliant systems, and advanced circulation solutions.
Advice for the Next Generation of Pool Professionals
✔️ Give it time – “Stick with it for a few weeks, learn the ropes, and see if you enjoy the work.”
✔️ Stay hungry – “Push yourself to grow. If you’re in maintenance, ask to shadow a service tech. If you’re in service, get hands-on experience in renovations.”
✔️ Take every opportunity to learn – “Attend training sessions, take manufacturer courses, and keep your certifications up to date.”
✔️ Embrace challenges – “Not every day is easy, but the work is rewarding. You’re transforming backyards and creating something people will enjoy for years.”
Pentair Pool Pro Award, A Well-Deserved Honor
Smith’s journey from line cook to Pentair Pool Pro Award winner is a testament to hard work, passion, and the power of ongoing education. His story serves as an inspiration for pool professionals at every stage of their career—reminding them that mentorship, training, and a commitment to excellence can open doors to incredible opportunities.
“At the end of the day, I just love what I do,” Smith says. “I love taking something old and making it new again. And I love knowing that with every renovation, we’re delivering the best possible experience for our customers.”
Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR), a leader in helping the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water life’s most essential resource, today announced that Jerome Pedretti, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool, will depart the Company effective July 1, 2026. Pedretti concludes a distinguished career with Pentair spanning more than 20 years.
In connection with Pedretti’s departure, Pentair is eliminating the Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool role. De’Mon Wiggins, current EVP and President, Pentair Flow and Pentair Water Solutions, will assume responsibility for the Pool segment as EVP and President, Pentair Flow, Water Solutions and Pool, effective April 28, 2026. Pedretti will remain with Pentair through his departure date to support an orderly transition.
“Over more than two decades with Pentair, Jerome has made a significant and lasting impact on our Pool and Flow businesses through his leadership, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to our customers and our culture,” said John Stauch, Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are truly grateful for Jerome’s many contributions and for his thoughtful partnership in supporting a smooth transition. With De’Mon’s strong track record of execution and strategic leadership, I am confident in the continued momentum of our Pool business and excited about the opportunities ahead.”
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains statements that we believe to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words “targets,” “plans,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “likely,” “may,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “positioned,” “strategy,” or “future” or words, phrases, or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the overall global economic and business conditions impacting our business, including the strength of housing and related markets and conditions relating to international hostilities; supply, demand, logistics, competition and pricing pressures related to and in the markets we serve; the ability to achieve the benefits of our restructuring plans, cost reduction initiatives and Transformation Program; the impact of raw material, logistics and labor costs and other inflation; volatility in currency exchange rates and interest rates; failure of markets to accept new product introductions and enhancements; the ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions; risks associated with operating foreign businesses; the impact of seasonality of sales and weather conditions; our ability to comply with laws and regulations; the impact of changes in laws, regulations and administrative policy, including those that limit U.S. tax benefits or impact trade agreements and tariffs; the outcome of litigation and governmental proceedings; and the ability to achieve our long-term strategic operating and sustainability goals and targets. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. All forward-looking statements, including all financial forecasts, speak only as of the date of this release. Pentair assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update the information contained in this release.
ABOUT PENTAIR PLC
At Pentair, we help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and commercial water solutions, to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is a core large cap value S&P 500 equity stock focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.
Pentair had revenue in 2025 of approximately $4.2 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 9,000 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Shelly Hubbard
Vice President, Investor Relations
Direct: 612-812-0148
Email: [email protected]
April 1, 2026 – LAS VEGAS – Coverings (coverings.com), the largest international tile and stone event in North America, has announced seven Best Booth Awards for the 2026 show in Las Vegas, including three Best in Show awards, three Best Display awards and one Best Stone Display award. The annual awards program recognizes exhibits with exceptional creative and visual materiality experiences for showgoers.
“The booth craftsmanship and display ingenuity the exhibitors evoke on the show floor make Coverings a highly unique opportunity for attendees to be inspired by tactile and aesthetic spaces,” said Jamie Rich, Coverings managing director. “From new tile and stone collections thoughtfully presented to immersive exhibits designed with architectural elements and passthrough walkways, there is no shortage of innovation.”
A panel of tile and stone industry leaders selected the seven standout booths to spotlight as this year’s Best Booth Award recipients, though the caliber across the entire show floor is truly impressive.
Ceramica Del Conca (Booth 1614) received Best in Show for its immersive design that brings visitors on a sensory journey. Attendees visiting Ceramica Del Conca’s booth are greeted by the eye-catching exterior, covered with three-dimensional red stone and illuminated by LED lights hidden behind mirrors with primal shapes. Large surfaces flank the floors and walls of the first three rooms in the exhibit space, highlighting the three-dimensional effect of porcelain stoneware stones. The exhibit space also spotlights seven tile collections, including the Dinamika Stone Edition collection and Dimore collection.
A Best in Show award was also granted to Stonepeak Ceramics (Booth 6234) for its storytelling design, “The Magical Journey,” which illustrates how the company has transformed ceramics over time through innovation, sustainability and design. The entrance to the booth showcases an immersive journey that passes through a magical portal, beyond which visitors are offered a new interpretation of ceramics and led into a space of perceptions. The design transforms reality, and a perfect balance that plays on perspectives is revealed. Attendees enter the exhibition space, where porcelain dress stairs, vases and columns are installed upside down to represent an altar-universe and heaven-like experience. A Material Library is available inside the booth and features Stonepeak’s entire range of ceramic and porcelain products, including terrazzo-looks, marble-looks, stone-looks and more, showcasing the diverse product range of colors, thicknesses, formats and finishes.
VIVES AZULEJOS Y GRES (S.A.) (Booth 819) was also honored as a Best in Show winner. The company’s vibrant display, showcased through ceramics, is inspired by the striking impact one experiences when visiting Las Vegas. VIVES has conveyed this through its Surf collection, which offers a wide variety of decorated tile in multiple formats and colors. Key features of the booth for attendees to enjoy include two towers that simulate with tile the illuminated signs of Las Vegas as well as a central corridor, highlighting the full color range offered by the Surf collection. Two other collections creatively displayed are Tandem Wood and Duo.
Ceramica Rondine – Bottega (Booth 1145) earned one of the Coverings 2026 Best Display honors. Attendees visiting the booth are guided through a series of interconnected rooms, each displaying different ceramic and porcelain offerings from the company. A standout space within the exhibit is the Japan-inspired room, which displays a variety of Ceramica Rondine – Bottega’s wood-look tile collections and is centered around a vibrant cherry blossom tree. Select other collections on display include Pastel X, Portland Rock and Vibe.
Another Best Display award was presented to Decocer (Booth 833) for its “Echoes of the Earth” design by architect Héctor Ruiz Velázquez. The booth was created as a fully immersive experience inspired by the primal qualities of clay and the natural world. The entire pavilion functions as architecture made of ceramics, rather than using traditional panels or displays, allowing visitors to walk on, touch and inhabit the materials. In the central space of the booth, ceramic columns, clad in earth-toned tiles, emerge from the clay walls. The curved, flowing forms of the stand create an organic and natural spatial experience to showcase eight tile collections from the company, including Talya and Eterea.
Wonder Porcelain (Booth 4439) also received a Best Display award. The company’s impressive exhibit showcases warm colors, technical finishes, new product sizes and in-house mosaics, and each room of the booth features a different feel and experience. It was designed to display Wonder Porcelain’s product offerings via the walls and floors. A highlight of the booth is the black and white checkerboard floor, featuring the company’s new obsidian-black Tuxedo™ Porcelain™ Collection and bright-white Arctic Style Porcelain™. Wonder Porcelain’s Taj Opus™ collection is also on display, which captures the timeless character of Taj Mahal marble through a thoughtfully reinterpreted, shimmering and nuanced design.
The Best Stone Display award went to ANTOLINI® (Booth 7833) for its striking exhibit designed as a contemporary village, conceived by designer and creative lead Alessandro La Spada. The concept invites visitors to follow the story of natural stone – from its origin in the quarry to its transformation into refined architectural surfaces. The space invites visitors to see luminous backlit walls, refined kitchen surfaces and the expressive finishes of the Texture+ Collection. In a dedicated space of the booth, these innovations reveal how technology can elevate stone, unveiling unexpected textures and depth. Coverings 2026 attendees touring the space can discover more than 20 of Antolini’s natural stones, including Cipollino GreyWave and Irish Greene®, both part of the Exclusive Collection.
Learn more at www.coverings.com.
About Coverings: Coverings is the largest and preeminent ceramic tile and natural stone trade fair and exposition in the United States and North America. It features exhibitors from 40 countries and is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world with hundreds of exhibitors.
The exposition and conference, with more than 35 years of successful history, serve as a valuable and complimentary learning resource for all segments of the industry, with dozens of educational opportunities throughout the show. Coverings attracts thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders, real estate developers, as well as journalists, reporters, broadcasters, podcasters and bloggers who cover the vital tile and stone industry.
Key sponsors of the show are Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association of Spain (ASCER)/Tile of Spain, Tile Council of North America (TCNA), National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) and International Product Assurance (IPA) Laboratories.
The show is managed by Taffy Event Strategies.
For more information about attending, sponsoring or exhibiting at Coverings 2026, contact Taffy Event Strategies at 571-313-5801 or [email protected].
Press Contacts:
Eberly & Collard Public Relations
404-574-2900
Sophie Collins: [email protected]
Don Eberly: [email protected]
Manufacturers
Announcing the 2025 Pentair Pool Pro Awards Winners
Seven Pool Industry Professionals to be Recognized as “Backyard Legends”
2025 Pentair Pool Pro Awards Winners
The awards recognized seven outstanding individuals for their exceptional expertise and dedication to the pool industry. The winners are:
Premier Pool Pro Award: Nick Lehman, Service Tech/Manager at Pinch-a-Penny
Premier Pool Pro Award: Jena Beach, Service Manager at Coastal Pools
Lifetime Achievement Award: Shannon Grave Jones, Owner at Graves Pools and Spas
Lifetime Achievement Award: Sean Johnson, Executive Vice President, Field Services at Amenity Pool Services
Unsung Hero Award: Jake Skipper, Owner/Operator at Skipper Pools & Spas
Safety Advocate Award: Chuck Helmick, Service Manager at Johnson Pool & Spa
Advancing Automation Award: Claudio Pámanes, Owner at Pámanes Pools
“It’s inspiring to see the impact these pool professionals have had on their communities,” said Greg Claffey, President and Chief Revenue Officer, Pentair Pool. “And hearing their stories of success and growth has been downright humbling. It’s an honor to recognize them with these awards in tandem with our sponsors – AQUA Magazine, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, and GENESIS®.”
Attendees to the Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show can visit the Pentair Pool Booth (2219) on Wed., Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. EST for a public celebration of these winners.
For more information on the winners and to see highlights of the upcoming awards celebration in Atlantic City, please visit www.pentair.com/pool-pro-awards or www.facebook.com/pentairpool.
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.pentair.com/poolandspa.
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