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PHTA UPDATES
  
SpaRetailer's "Leading Ladies" article features eight women who are shaking up the hot tub industry with bold moves and inspiring stories. Read the article to learn more about PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman and what she enjoys about the industry.
  
The Texas Pool and Spa Coalition (TPSC) and PHTA participated in the Building Officials Association of Texas (BOAT) annual conference in Austin-Georgetown, Texas. TPSC Chairman Rick Hagan and PHTA Director of Government Relations Jason Davidson met with code officials from cities all across Texas promoting the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) and connecting them with PHTA ISPSC instructor Kevin Tucker. With the looming threat of drought in Texas, the conference presented an excellent opportunity for Rick and Jason to talk about drought with representatives from local jurisdictions and learn firsthand about the conditions in their city. Rick and Jason provided building officials information on the ANSI/APSP/ICC-13 2017 American National Standard for Water Conservation Efficiency in Residential and Public Pools, Spas, Portable Spas and Swim Spas as a solution to help reduce the impact of water use and position PHTA as a leader in water conservation efforts.
  
Roy Vore, Ph.D., was recently interviewed by NBC 5 Dallas-Forth Worth regarding splash pad water quality and safety, after the tragic death of a young boy who contracted a serious illness from an amoeba after visiting a Texas splash pad in 2021. Dr. Vore is a CPO Instructor and member of the PHTA Recreational Water Quality Committee (RWQC). In the interview, Dr. Vore said the best practice is to monitor the water more than once a day and recommends Texas revise its code to adopt the CDC standard.
  
PHTA is excited to announce that the Let's Pool Together campaign is expanding to other western and southern states. Let's Pool Together, originally created to help the California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) spread awareness about water conservation practices in California and the role of the pool industry during drought, has now launched a Texas-specific portion of the website with information for pool builders and consumers in Texas.
PHTA is pleased to announce the launch of the new Greg Garrett Scholarship Award. Developed by the PHTA Recreational Water Quality Committee, this $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to one PHTA member in the builder or service sector each year to use for PHTA educational or certification fees. The application deadline for the 2022 scholarship is Friday, September 16.
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
Want to know everything PHTA and GENESIS® are doing at PSP/Deck Expo this November? Download our guide, which includes a schedule at a glance, education and certification information, featured resources, and much more.
 
EDUCATION AND EVENTS
Please join us in congratulating the 3,129 professionals who earned their CPO certification in June and July! We appreciate your commitment to operating pools safely.
The four-day Advanced Builder Workshop teaches the advanced skills you need to build a structurally sound water vessel and will put you on the path to acquiring your Certified Master Pool Builder & Design Professional certification. This workshop includes two GENESIS® courses, E245: Standards, Codes, and Ordinances: A Builder's Guide to Proper Implementation and C410: Advanced Pool Construction. Class starts virtually September 19! Register today.
  
PHTA is partnering with NESPA to host C260: GENESIS® CONSTRUCTION SCHOOL: Vinyl Liner / Fiberglass Pools on September 15-17 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Day one will cover 8 hours of required hydraulics for both vinyl liner and fiberglass pool installations. Days two and three will cover the fundamentals of installation, structural components, automatic pool covers, and additional water features for both vinyl liner and fiberglass pools. C260 is a required course to become a Certified Builder Professional (CBP). Register today!

Lauren Broom, Owner of Space Coast Pool School and a CPO Instructor, invites you to attend the World Aquatic Health Conference! Lauren will be presenting the session "OSHA General Industry: Hazardous Materials as It Relates to Aquatic Professionals"—click below to play this short video for a sneak peek!

Attending WAHC and want to get even more education? We're hosting a Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) Course starting Friday afternoon after the last WAHC session! The CMS Course provides students a breakdown of required education to safely and adequately maintain a water vessel. Students will examine multiple modules, including chemistry, calculations, water quality, structures and finishes, circulation, heaters, controls, filtration, and electrical components.
  
AQUA Live will welcome three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines as its Keynote Speaker. Gaines, who is also PHTA's Vice President of Partnerships & Development, will speak on the importance of taking risks, staying dedicated, teamwork, and more.
  
CPSA/PHTA and the International Code Council are hosting a virtual event to help you understand the importance of adopting updated swimming pool and spa codes. The free webinar will be held 1-2 p.m. PT (4-5 p.m. ET) on August 23 and will present an overview of the residential provisions of the 2021 ISPSC and how it integrates into the 2022 California Residential Codes. Participation is limited for this free event, so register today!
Check out Page 17 of the Equip Exposition Brochure to see the PHTA and GENESIS® courses being offered live and in person in Louisville, Kentucky! Learn from experts Jason Brownlee, Paul John Boulifard, and Skip Phillips.

 

 
MEMBERSHIP
  
Did you know that every five seconds, a homeowner turns to Angi Leads looking for a pro? We’re excited to help maximize your online presence and offer a 25% discount on Angi Leads for your first 30 days to get you started. Franchisees considering joining Angi Leads have a dedicated sales team to answer questions about the program. Call (855) 607-0127, email phtaleads@angi.com, or visit pro.homeadvisor.com/r/phta.
  
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Mentor Match program reflects our commitment to you and your professional development. This unique online networking and career development tool helps you find, connect, and share experiences with others. Your mentor or mentee can be in the same city or on the other side of the world. Apply today to become a mentor or mentee!

 

Dell Inc.
ADVOCACY
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act (VGBA) continues to gain support in both the House and Senate. PHTA has endorsed the bill, which seeks to reauthorize and update 2008 legislation requiring every public pool in the US to install safe drain covers that prevent suction entrapment.  
PHTA continues to support the H-2B Workforce Coalition's efforts to gain meaningful H-2B cap relief. The coalition is currently negotiating with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and organized labor to reach a compromise on H-2B reform legislation.
On August 12, the House passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The reconciliation bill passed the Senate earlier last week by a vote of 51 to 50 along party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris providing the tie-breaking vote. The IRA details a scaled-back version of the Biden-Harris Administration economic agenda, after months of negotiations. The bill largely focuses health care, investments in disadvantage communities, and climate investments.  
Sign up for the PHTA Government Relations Newsletter! Get the latest news on our advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, and find out ways you can get involved. Plus, get legislative alerts when there's an upcoming event or action item in your area.
FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Spa Retailer
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are how a business knows where they are and where they want to go. Tracking KPIs regularly is essential for strategic planning at the enterprise level and at the employee level.
Multichannel Merchant
If your business sells anything online, it’s likely part of your sales funnel is dependent on a payment gateway to accept payments through a bank card or third-party service. This overview outlines the pros and cons of the most common types.
Pool and Spa News
Company name changes and rebranding are more common now due to mergers and acquisitions, as well as a desire to streamline a company’s name or to update it to better reflect the products and services being offered.
INDUSTRY NEWS
AQUA Magazine
With people overall spending more time at home, GENESIS® faculty advisors Feras Irikat and Kate Wiseman, MLA have seen new trends emerging that show a focus on the importance of outdoor living. More clients want to create a personal space that contributes to mental well-being.
Spa Retailer
The hot tub industry has seen several private equity-driven consolidations in 2022. Industry insiders from manufacturing and retail weigh in.
PoolPro
Pool algae can cause murky water or scum on pool walls or the water surface. Professionals say prevention is the best course and recommend using algaecide regularly.

UPCOMING EVENTS
23
Aug 2022
 
August 23
1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET
Virtual
15
Sep 2022
 
September 15-17
New Brunswick, NJ
19
Sep 2022
 
September 19-22
6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. ET
Virtual
5
Oct 2022
 
October 5-7
Charlotte, NC
12
Oct 2022
 
October 12-14
Houston, TX
14
Oct 2022
 
October 14-16
Houston, TX
18
Oct 2022
 
October 18-21
Louisville, KY
12
Nov 2022
 
November 12-17
Las Vegas, NV