In 2012, faced with the closure of her previous workplace, Marcia Gyles embarked on an expedition from Indiana to Montana with her two young children, seeking a fresh start. While substitute teaching and searching for jobs, she encountered Aqua Creek Products.
After spending 15 years in the hospitality industry, Marley Cunningham reached a crossroads in her career. She realized she was happiest when exercising her creativity, which happened most often in her marketing roles. So, she pivoted.
Anthony Pizzi began in pool service, where he identified an issue with pool ladder bumpers damaging vinyl liners. He founded Poolular and developed the product LadderBoss as a solution to protect liners.
Jessica Werner joined Clear Comfort as an intern before completing her studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Over five years later, she remains an integral part of the company’s success.
Johan Temple started in the pool industry as an apprentice, working alongside his father — Jon Temple, owner of Tempool Inc. — and learning the intricacies of the trade. He swiftly progressed, running crews by age 18.
Cody Williams served as a sales and finance manager at a local Ducati dealership, but a chance encounter with a customer — a pool industry veteran — set him on a new path. Williams decided to transition from selling motorcycles to building pools.
Krystal Guilhemotonia began her pool industry career the same way many get their start in a family business: She started working for her dad, Brian Goettlich, off the books when he was running Aqua Creek Products from their family’s dining room table. Aqua Creek, based in Missoula, Montana, manufactures lifts and other accessibility products for…
Ernad “Ernie” Civic was working as a personal trainer after moving to Florida when he got a message from his dad, Zlatko Civic, that changed his life. “[My dad] was ready to leave his current job in Pennsylvania but could not find work,” Ernie says. “My dad is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever…
Adam Beech has always loved tech, so in 2006 when he started his pool service company, Pool Agency, he integrated as much technology as he could. Beech says he invested heavily in a good website, Google Ad Words campaigns and review sites. In 2008, he switched all his customers to autopay with paperless billing. The…
In a male-dominated industry, Nicole Newkirk has made research and knowledge her secret weapon. She says she makes a point to be knowledgeable about construction methods and not only focus on design: “I want to be respected without changing the way I present myself,” she says, adding that she’s struggled throughout the years with people…
While attending the University of Pittsburgh, Jordan Frabasilio spent much of his time playing Division 1 college baseball. Baseball helped get him into school, thanks to an athletic scholarship, and it was a far cry from the pool industry in which Jordan had grown up watching his father, Presidential Pools & Spas president James Frabasilio….
The pool industry helped Colton Frabasilio along while he was also pursuing his dream of becoming a major league baseball player. He worked in the company warehouse stocking parts for construction crews and service techs while he was in the minors: “This helped me learn all the different manufacturers and parts that go into building…