Industry News
Education Plays a Huge Role in the Pool Industry
The need for training and educating pool service professionals is constantly rising. Last year, the global pandemic led to a surge in demand for pool services. So, the majority of pool owners had to level up. Typically, pool experts should never stop researching, learning, and acquiring new skills. Doing this is good for their businesses and mental health. When you have the proper knowledge and skills, you rarely need to outsource services during pool construction/maintenance. Consequently, you’ll have better chances of increasing your revenue. Learning also helps you to stay relevant in the pool industry.
Remember, the pool industry is constantly evolving. If you are not careful, you’ll lose sales because you won’t be able to meet customer requirements. Fortunately, many training programs can help you become a better pool contractor or service technician. Currently, the training programs are online due to the covid-19 restrictions. Consider signing up for one!
Live training programs
Arvidson’s Pools & Spas is one of the few companies that constantly train their employees. They have different service areas, but they have to make sure everybody is on the same page. The retail division manager, Nadine Nuzzo, says, “The only way to make sure we deliver quality services to all our clients in different areas is to train our staff.”
The company started educating its staff even before the pandemic. Now, they have to attend classes virtually, following the wake of the pandemic. These sessions are always a good opportunity for all employees in different locations to reunite. Nuzzo says, “One of our primary objectives as a company is to gain more skills and knowledge through training. And these virtual training sessions have worked perfectly for us. This year, the company plans to start educating its customers as well. She says, “We seek to educate our customers through virtual training classes. Here, we plan to discuss pool maintenance, winterizing, etc. A good percentage of our customers are embracing these sessions pretty well. I mean, no one doesn’t want to understand their pools better.”
The best thing about online training is that it fits any schedule. Even the busiest person in the world can make time for virtual training. You can always pick a session that favors your schedule.
A better alternative: Pre-recorded training programs
Pool builders are busy people, especially during peak seasons. As a result, they may not have time to attend live training sessions. Luckily, they can choose to listen to pre-recorded training videos or audios during their free time. Nuzzo says, “My company often shares information on pool and spa chemistry. Our system allows staff to listen at their own time. Moreover, our pre-recorded sessions have several assessment tests to ensure everyone is on the right track.” In turn, these training sessions help you expand your clientele, sales, and revenues.
We are all together now
Education and training offer a wide range of benefits to pool service techs, customers, and students. Vice president of Kazdin Pools in Long Island, Julie Kazdin, says that she usually makes the most out of every situation. When the pandemic hit, she immediately started virtual training for her staff.
She says, “Virtual meetings were no longer new to us. We have one of our employees in Florida and another in Virginia. As a result, we were already accustomed to meeting virtually. When the pandemic hit, nothing changed. Additionally, every employee in our building used to sit apart from each other. Not much changed when the government issued the covid-19 safety guidelines. But we had to ensure that all our staff members stay safe.”
At present, Kadzin and her staff members continue with virtual training. She says, “We usually take the classes together as a team. We do this every Wednesday. This is often a nice time to step out of our busy schedules and see how we can become better employees. I usually encourage my team to sign in to the Watershape University live webinar every Wednesday.”
Keep your mind occupied with healthy distractions
Experts prove that education and training help you stay sharp and healthy as you age. So, it’s not just about becoming a better employee. You become a better person in general when you continue learning. Today, there are many apps specially designed to educate pool service experts. More often than not, these apps talk about balancing water chemistry and repairing pool problems. Taking time to read all the information provided in these apps helps you stay ahead of your competitors.
Kadzin says, “Everyone working in the pool industry should continue learning. Doing this helps them meet all customer needs and keep up with the latest industry trends. At the end of the day, training helps you grow your business and gain a competitive edge in the market.”
There are many training and education programs in the pool industry. Consider signing up for the live Kadzin training. It’s often pre-recorded so that you can listen to it during your free time. Alternatively, download a pool information app to keep yourself educated. Ultimately, education is one of the best investments for yourself.
Industry News
POOLCORP Welcomes John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer
Seasoned distribution leader to drive POOLCORP’s next chapter of growth, deepening commitment to customers and supply partners
COVINGTON, LA., May 14, 2026 — POOLCORP, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and outdoor living products, recently announced the appointment of John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Watwood joined the company in January 2026 as Executive Vice President and has quickly made an impact after spending much of his time in POOLCORP sales centers, meeting with customers, engaging with suppliers, and aligning closely with teams across the business. With extensive leadership experience in industrial and specialty distribution, Watwood brings a deep understanding of how to build high-performing teams, strengthen customer connections, and create long-term value in the industry.
Prior to joining POOLCORP, Watwood served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations at Motion Industries, a leading distributor of industrial parts and value-added solutions and a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company. During his career, he has led large-scale sales and operations organizations focused on customer growth, supply chain excellence, and market expansion.
“John has gained the trust of our employees, customers, and suppliers in a very short period of time,” said Kenny St. Romain, Senior Vice President at POOLCORP. “He understands distribution at its core, but more importantly, he understands the value of relationships and the local support that our customers need. Our field teams have seen firsthand his commitment to listening, supporting our customers, and helping us continue to evolve our already successful service model. There’s real excitement across the organization about where we’re headed under John’s leadership.”
Watwood’s appointment marks the next chapter for POOLCORP as the company continues to invest in customer-focused solutions, sales and service excellence, operational capabilities, and technology-enabled experiences designed to help industry professionals grow and operate more efficiently.
About Pool Corporation
POOLCORP is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related outdoor living products. The Company operates approximately 455 sales centers in North America, Europe, and Australia, through which it distributes more than 200,000 products to roughly 125,000 wholesale customers, including pool builders, retail stores, and service professionals. For more information, please visit www.poolcorp.com.
Latham Group, Inc. – the largest designer and manufacturer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia and New Zealand, visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.
The team at Latham proudly rang the Nasdaq Opening Bell. The industry leader took a moment to celebrate its 70th anniversary and five years as a public company, highlighting continued growth, strong market performance, and resilience in a shifting residential construction landscape.
The achievement follows a year of solid performance for Latham Group Inc., which reported 7% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025, even as the broader residential construction market faced ongoing economic headwinds.
In a statement on LinkedIn, the company said:
“For seven decades, innovation has been at the core of what we do, made possible by the trusted builders and partners who bring these backyards to life every day.
Together, we’ve helped transform backyards into spaces where families gather and memories are made.
Here’s to 70 years of progress, partnership, and what we’ll build next!”
Photo Credit: Latham, The Pool Company
SPS’s Recent Acquisition of Pool Troopers Accelerates Company’s Investment in Scaled Infrastructure with ServiceTitan Powering Over 30 Branch Locations Across Five States and Standardizing Operations across the Service Cycle
LOS ANGELES – March 17, 2026— ServiceTitan (Nasdaq: TTAN), the software platform that powers the trades, today announced that SPS PoolCare, the largest residential swimming pool services platform in the United States, is standardizing their 30+ branch locations across five states on the ServiceTitan platform. By unifying their family of brands on ServiceTitan, SPS will leverage a single, enterprise-grade system to unify its vast operations, accelerate its high-velocity acquisition strategy, and scale its platform.
“SPS is demonstrating how purpose-built technology can transform a traditionally fragmented industry,” said Connor Theilmann, Chief Business Officer of ServiceTitan. “Their leadership team has made a deliberate investment in enterprise infrastructure, and we’re proud to support their continued growth. Standardizing on ServiceTitan will allow SPS to meet the needs of a large, multi-location operation, with Fraser Ramseyer, Storr Group, and the SPS leadership team making this one of the most seamless large-scale integrations we’ve ever seen.”
The move reflects SPS PoolCare’s continued investment in enterprise-grade infrastructure, as it advances its position as the dominant market leader in a highly fragmented industry. Founded in 2021 and backed by Storr Group, an investment firm that builds and scales industry-leading platforms, SPS PoolCare operates across Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, where it employs more than 1,000 team members and is on track to perform more than two million weekly recurring pool services in 2026. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based platform serves as SPS PoolCare’s technology backbone, enabling SPS to manage complexity across geography, workforce scale, and service frequency.
“We’ve worked closely with the ServiceTitan team for several years, and this decision reflects the trust and alignment we’ve built as long-term partners,” said Lance Martin, CEO and COO of SPS PoolCare. “Our objective has always been to build a durable platform that enables our team to deliver exceptional service to our customers. Standardizing on ServiceTitan gives us the operational visibility, integration speed, and performance discipline required to scale responsibly and create long-term value.”
Ranked #1 on Pool and Spa News Top 50 Service list, SPS continues to solidify its position as the industry leader, driven by the company’s ability to pair high-velocity revenue growth with a deep commitment to staff training and retention, active industry leadership, and an early adopter of innovative technology within the pool service space. SPS PoolCare is dedicated to the communities it serves, ensuring that its national scale translates into a positive local impact across its entire service footprint.
“From inception, our thesis at Storr Group has been to build the pool industry’s first scaled category-defining operating platform,” Fraser Ramseyer, CEO of Storr Group and Founder of SPS PoolCare. “Technology is not ancillary to that vision – it is foundational. ServiceTitan provides the infrastructure necessary to integrate acquisitions efficiently, drive operational consistency, and support disciplined expansion.”
SPS PoolCare’s focus on being the employer-of-choice is supported by ServiceTitan’s mobile-first capabilities, which empower their over 1,000 staff team members with the tools they need to succeed in the field.
ServiceTitan continues to invest in purpose-built technology for the pool industry, offering features like route optimization, automated chemical tracking, and integrated project management for renovations. By providing real-time visibility into multi-location operations, ServiceTitan enables enterprise-scale businesses like SPS PoolCare to make data-driven decisions that fuel organic growth.
About ServiceTitan ServiceTitan is the software platform that powers trades businesses. The company’s cloud-based, end-to-end solution gives contractors the tools they need to run and grow their business, manage their back office, and provide a stellar customer experience. By bringing an integrated SaaS platform to an industry historically underserved by technology, ServiceTitan is equipping tradespeople with the technology they need to keep the world running.
About SPS PoolCare
As the #1 swimming pool services company in the United States, SPS PoolCare is on track to perform over 2,000,000 weekly recurring pool services in 2026 and employs more than 1,000 staff across five states. Backed by Storr Group, the company is focused on growing its family of brands across the Sun Belt, as it continues to make owning a pool a joy. SPS PoolCare is committed to creating a world-class service experience for its customers and being an employer-of-choice for its team members. Read more at spspoolcare.com.
About Storr Group
Storr Group is an operationally focused lower-middle-market private equity firm that backs, builds, and scales industry-leading platforms. With a rich background in business building, Storr combines world-class operators with strategic M&A, deep integration, and sophisticated technology to drive sustainable growth and long-term value. To partner today, visit storrgroup.com.
Press Contact
Max Wertheimer
ServiceTitan, Inc.
© 2026 ServiceTitan. All rights reserved. ServiceTitan, the ServiceTitan logo, and all ServiceTitan product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of ServiceTitan, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other brand names and marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
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