Advanced Pool Builders to Share Best Practices

Success in the pool and spa industry requires a unique mix of sales and marketing finesse and technical competence. The Advanced Builder Program will feature industry thought leaders and CBP Certified Building Professionals® Lew Akins, Ron Lacher, and Tommy Johnson teamed with other select experts in an interactive experience designed for dedicated building professionals who have a stake in the success of a pool building business. Make plans now to attend the Advanced Pool Builder Program March 5-6 at the Southwest Pool & Spa Show in Houston, Texas, or visit www.swpoolandspashow.com.

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Cadre For 2008 Advanced Builders Program
Houston, Texas

Lew Akins is the owner and founder of Ocean Quest Pools by Lew Akins, with locations in Belton, Waco and Killeen. Lew is a well-known speaker, consultant, sales trainer and expert witness for the swimming pool industry. Lew has also written numerous articles on pool design and "negative edge" pools. In the pool business since 1979, he has won more than 166 national and regional awards, more than any other Texas pool builder. Lew was one of the modern pioneers of vanishing edge pool construction, building hundreds of these projects for clients, and providing consulting services on hundreds more.

As an APSP Certified Building Professional, Lew is frequently requested for consultation on complex and sophisticated commercial and private pool projects throughout the country. On six occasions, Lew has been named one of the top fifty pool builders in the U.S. in the annual Pool and Spa News "Industry Choice Awards."

Tommy Johnson leads the building division of Johnson Pools and Spas, a full-service swimming pool and spa company. The organization has expanded to include two retail locations and a comprehensive service operation. Tommy and his design team have won numerous awards both nationally and regionally and have been recognized for their ingenuity and creativity by Pool & Spa News, The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals Awards of Excellence program and Aqua Magazine. Recently, they were recognized with the distinction of building the first vanishing edge vinyl liner swimming pool in the world.

Tommy built his first pool in 1987 and is a licensed general contractor in the State of Alabama. As a widely respected member in the industry, he is a mentor and role model to many and has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to the professional development of others. Tommy is a founding member and past chairman of the APSP Builders Council.

Ron Lacher is a well-known speaker, educator and author on proper trade practices and structural engineering in swimming pool construction. Ron has authored numerous articles on proper construction techniques in various swimming pool trade publications and is a frequent seminar presenter at national and regional swimming pool trade conferences.

Ron graduated from California State Polytechnic University with a degree in civil engineering and is a Licensed Professional Engineer and a licensed swimming pool contractor in the State of California.

In addition, Ron is a member of the Advisory Board of the National Pool Industry Research Center at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, a member of the American Shotcrete Association, where he has been appointed to the Pool & Spa Committee and is a member of both the APSP Builders Council and the APSP Builders Education Committee.

Brett Abbott is the owner and senior consultant of MYM Austin Inc., a strategic marketing agency that specializes in developing and implementing strategic and tactical marketing systems for the sales consulting and swimming pool construction industries. Prior to starting his own firm, Brett spent 20 years in sales and marketing management in the high tech industry. Trained in a myriad of sales and marketing programs, Brett was responsible for rolling out new product lines, creating and delivering strategic sales and marketing programs. Brett is a frequent keynote speaker and seminar leader, teaching pool owners, sales trainers and other business owners how to improve the power of their marketing and grow their business.

Carvin DiGiovanni is the Director for Technical and Standards at the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, where he directs the industry’s standards, technical, and government relations programs. Carvin began his association career in 1976 with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), serving five years as Program Administrator for the development of safety and health standards for a variety organizations and trade associations. A frequent presenter on the value of technical standards, Carvin demonstrates the value of standards as a building practice that keeps business safe.

Michael Reed has more than 15 years of leadership experience helping individuals and organizations increase effectiveness and achieve excellence. Michael has helped to guide turnaround initiatives in both the non-profit and corporate sectors, and had significant impact on operations at the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, where he is focused on developing operational excellence and improving the value of membership for constituents. Michael presents frequently on individual competence development, building effective teams, and organizational change management.

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