PHTA has teamed up with Cornell University to deliver to you a private leadership learning experience. Through a series of four on-demand courses and two live-virtual events with colleagues and a Cornell professor, you are sure to learn the necessary leadership and management skills needed to elevate your career. With the tumultuous times we are facing, brushing up and constantly honing these skills is necessary to stay ahead, motivate your team, and continue to drive your company to success.

This program is being offered exclusively to PHTA members! Whether you're a C-level executive or growing in your leadership role, there is a program for you. Choose from the Emerging Leaders track or the Executive Leaders track.

PHTA is proud to announce this year’s winners of the PHTA Awards of Excellence. PHTA’s International Awards of Excellence program is one of the largest, most well-renowned design competitions in the pool and hot tub industry. These distinguished awards recognize exceptional installations of pools, spas, hot tubs, and water features that showcase the most beautiful, creative, and innovative work in the industry. Watch a video of the winning entries here.

Pleatco, in partnership with GENESIS / Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and AQUA, present the winners of the Pleatco Perfect Pool Tech 2022 Awards. This year we had an outstanding field of entries and are pleased to announce this year's major award winners:
– Amy Lemieux, Pleatco Perfect Pool Gal
– Fred Goss, Pleatco Perfect Pool Guy
– Kristine Blanchard, Pleatco Future Leadership Award
– Jason Scaramuzzi, Pleatco Industry Achievement Award

Thanks to everyone who participated for making this, our 14th year, a success. Please join us in congratulating these fine hardworking backyard heroes!

Please take a moment to check that your staff roster is up to date in your PHTA membership account! We want to make sure that all of your staff are taking advantage of the member benefits that extend to your entire company. By updating your roster with correct email addresses, your employees will receive information about key benefits and important notifications.

Looking for more ways to show that your company is a member of PHTA? Download a copy of your Membership Certificate to display in your office, showroom, portfolio, and elsewhere.

Jason Brownlee, Master CBP, is teaching D211: Elements of Design at PSP/Deck Expo next month. This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of good design and will teach you how to lay out the different improvements in your projects. We will break the fundamentals down into two categories: the Elements of Design and the Principles of Design. Once you have a good grasp of the fundamentals, you will learn how to apply them. D211 is a required course to become a Certified Expert Pool Builder & Design Professional.

Stop by Booth 29064 this week to see PHTA and GENESIS® at the Equip Exposition! In addition to our booth, three GENESIS® instructors are teaching four informative sessions on how to incorporate pools, spas, and water features into backyard landscape design. We hope to see you there!

If you couldn't make it to the World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC) last week, or if you were in attendance and want to relive all the fun and education, check out our WAHC photo album!

Join the California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) and the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) for a free webinar on Wednesday, October 26 at 4 p.m. PT as we discuss the new requirements your contract needs to remain compliant, as well as what you should do if someone files a complaint against your license.

In the St. Louis area? Join the PHTA St. Louis Chapter for a Leadership Training on November 1! Choose from training geared toward owners and managers, training geared toward technicians, or the NPC Start-Up Technician Certification course. Free lunch is included, and PHTA Senior Director of Member Programs and Services Seth Ewing will be there to talk more about PHTA, specifically the PHTA Registered Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program. Register today!

Attending PSP/Deck Expo this November? PHTA and GENESIS® will be there too, with a full lineup of education and events. See a schedule-at-a-glance for all PHTA and GENESIS® activities, find information on the PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception and WAVE Young Professionals Reception, get introduced to the new PHTA Breakfast of Champions, and learn more about our member programs and resources. Download the PHTA Guide to PSP/Expo, which will be updated regularly until the show starts November 12!

Dell Technologies offers PHTA members a wide range of reliable business class technology solutions—from cutting-edge Laptops, Desktops, and All-in-One systems to powerful Servers, award-winning Monitors, and an extensive line-up of Dell branded accessories. Through this partnership, PHTA members have access to a number of valuable benefits. To access these benefits, visit https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/lp/phta or call (800) 757-8442 to speak with a Small Business Advisor.

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!

The PHTA Manufacturers Agents Council will be hosting a webinar on the value and role a Manufacturer Agent plays in the industry. All manufacturers, manufacturers agents, and interested members are welcome to attend. Join us on Friday, October 28 at 1 p.m. ET. Registration is free! Reserve your spot today.

The World Chlorine Council is hosting a free Pool Chemical Safety Webinar tomorrow, October 20 at 9:30 a.m. ET. This two-hour webinar will feature an international panel of prominent aquatic chemical safety professionals to raise awareness of common swimming pool maintenance and safety concerns. Several members of the PHTA Recreational Water & Air Quality Committee (RWAQC) will be speaking. Register now and show your support!

On October 13, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify Wage and Hour Division regulations that would revise the analysis for determining employee or independent classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The NPRM would set a framework more consistent with longstanding judicial precedent.

PHTA members should note that the Department of Labor's test applies only to FLSA, and many states have their own tests that are applied to state wage and hour claims.

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.

Did you know the top of Raypak's AVIA pool and spa heater can rotate 360 degrees?

Through our voice of customer sessions with pool professionals in the industry, we have been made aware of some pain points surrounding pool heater installation. Moving water connections from one side to the other of the heater was a big problem, which is why we simplified the process with our 360-degree rotating top. To elevate both function and design, we took it a step further with two more details. For your convenience, we’ve lengthened the control harness so that there is no need to disconnect when servicing the heater. Plus, you can hang the top off the side of the heater for easy heater access.

Your pool life shouldn’t be complicated, and at Raypak we’re building solutions to bring you peace of mind.

Service Industry News
In a time with constant changes to available technology, owners need to be aware of all the ways they can leverage the resources available.

Spa Retailer
While spending on advertising may have decreased during the pandemic, businesses should reinvest in their marketing as demand for hot tubs and pools begin to stabilize.

Multichannel Merchant
Inflation plays a large role in consumers’ purchasing decisions, and they are looking for brands that give them the best value.

PHTA Strategic Partner Pentair has been recognized by Business Intelligence Group with its Sustainability Leadership Award. This award is significant as it recognizes those people, teams, and organizations that have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice or overall mission.