Jessie Gesmond

Jessie Gesmond, 36

Having started in the healthcare field at 17 and progressing from a medical assistant to a nurse practitioner, Jessie Gesmond’s had plenty of practice helping others. Her husband’s pool business prompted her involvement, as she helped part-time with his company, Heritage Pools, during her days off.

In 2015, while on maternity leave and “bored out of her mind,” she started bringing her son into the office. She was hooked and resigned as a nurse practitioner to work full-time alongside her husband. Today, with three children in tow, she remains an integral part of Heritage Pools as the office manager.

“I love to see a design file come to life in a backyard and see the joy and endless set of memories that it will bring to a family,” she says. The industry’s creative and problem-solving aspects will keep her long-term, especially after witnessing Heritage Pools’ growth trajectory.

“We started our business in 2004 doing small repairs on equipment and vinyl liner replacements,” she recalls. “Today, we service over 400 accounts weekly, build around 150 pools a year and do about 100 renovations yearly.”

While Gesmond’s involvement in the business initially revolved around basic accounting, she has become fascinated by pool construction processes and hydraulics and plans to enroll in Watershape University classes.

Gesmond also hopes to be a part of changing the perception of the pool industry.

“It can be challenging to find professionals to work in the industry,” she says. “I love the pool business and would love for other young professionals to see that there is an expansive future [here].”