PHTA is proud to announce that the 2022 Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant has been awarded to Fishers Health Department in Fishers, Indiana! The award was accepted by Spencer Martin, Environmental Health Inspector for Fishers Health Department, during the World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC) Awards Ceremony. Michael Lowry, son of Dr. R. Neil Lowry, presented the award along with Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA Vice President of Partnerships and Development. With the grant, Fishers Health Department plans to certify a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Instructor on their staff.

The PHTA Leadership Certificate Program, developed in collaboration with Cornell University, offers the necessary leadership and management skills that can set a company apart from its competition. The Executive Leaders track focuses on developing the soft skills and strategic mindset that a successful leader needs in order to communicate strategy, negotiate skillfully, influence team behaviors, and deliver results. The Emerging Leaders track helps participants discover their leadership style and hone interpersonal skills to help their team reach its fullest potential. Each track has been personally developed by Cornell University faculty experts.

Join the California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) and the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) for a free webinar today 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.

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.

If you're planning on attending PSP/Deck Expo next month but haven't registered yet, take advantage of our GENESIS® promo code! To receive FREE Expo Hall admission, start your registration at www.PoolSpaPatio.com and enter GENE115 on the registration home page when prompted to enter a discount code. Be sure to visit the GENESIS® Solution Center at Booth #4558, and PHTA right next door at Booth #5158.

Returning this year, the PHTA Demo Zone on the PSP/Deck Expo show floor is the place to go for hands-on education! Complete with an Endless Pools pool, industry experts will be covering a variety of topics, from how to incorporate wellness and fun into your backyard pool to detecting leaks and working with variable speed pool pumps. Check out the PHTA Demo Zone schedule!

Retrain your thinking of water vessel design with D265: Master Designer Methods: Kirk Bianchi, Crafting the Outdoor Space as a Living Art Form, happening next month at PSP/Deck Expo in Las Vegas. Bianchi's method will require students to rethink their design approach, with a landscape-based process that considers the functionality of the entire space first. The course lecture and projects will focus on sightlines, living spaces, traffic flow, spatial considerations, and more. This is a required course to become a Certified Master Pool Builder & Design Professional.

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!

Your PHTA Office Depot Member Benefits Program, previously Office Depot Business Solutions Division, has been rebranded to ODP Business Solutions. Now a B2B-focused company serving small, medium, and enterprise level companies like yours. You’ll receive savings of up to 75% on the Best Value List of preferred products with free next-business-day delivery or in-store and curbside pickup. To continue to receive your member discounts, you’ll need to re-enroll or register for an account through our dedicated ODP site. Register here.

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 this Friday, October 28 at 1 p.m. ET. Registration is free! Reserve your spot today.

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.

Multichannel Merchant
Retailers can use social media for more beyond marketing as U.S. social commerce sales are expected to surpass $79 billion by 2025.

Inc.
Owning a business is all about connections, and an owner should always be networking if they want to stay ahead of the competition.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Cyberattacks have skyrocketed in frequency as criminals become more sophisticated and the internet becomes further embedded in society, and business owners should take steps to shore up their security.

United States Swim School Association (USSSA) honored seven members with awards during the USSSA National Conference that took place in Maui, Hawaii. The evening was full of honors and accolades for some well deserving individuals.

AQUA Magazine
As Hurricane Ian recently reminded western Florida, weather waits for no one, and pool technicians will get more calls for repairs during hurricane season.

SpaRetailer
The boom in spa sales brought on by the pandemic may be wearing down, but those customers will now need chemicals and other supplies, which will allow retailers to maintain revenue.

Pool & Spa Marketing
Pool owners that want to extend the swim season through November should consult their service technician regarding the chemical options available.

Service Industry News
The climate agenda is seeing the phasing out of gas heaters, so this staple of the pool and spa industry may soon become permanently unavailable.