Another incredible year in the industry has passed, and the time has come to honor the 2025 PHTA Award Recipients. This year, at an awards ceremony held during the International Pool Spa Patio Expo in Las Vegas, Nev., all 11 recipients were recognized for their achievements in the industry and their continued commitment to raising the standards of professionalism for all who work in aquatics. From Young Professional of the Year to the prestigious Chapter of the Year, AQUA is proud to present the 2025 PHTA Award recipients.
Including Builder of the Year, Service Professional of the Year and more, the prestigious awards are meant to recognize the hard work and dedication of some of the most talented individuals in the industry. With a mix of winners familiar and known to the industry — and those who have just begun their pool and spa journey — it is a pleasure to know we have such incredible talent in our midst.
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
The Chapter of the Year Award is designed to highlight a single chapter that sets an outstanding example for the organization. Some of the major components of a chapter that the PHTA looks for, according to their website, include community outreach, strong leadership and providing “the highest quality of programs, activities and services.”
This year’s Chapter of the Year Award went to the Penn-Jersey Pool & Spa Association.
“When I first got the call from Sabeena Hickman, I was excited not only that we had won, but that I would get to be the one to announce it to our board of directors at our next meeting a few days later,” shares Chapter President Sean Bishop. “Our board
is made up of a fantastic group of volunteers that are passionate about the pool and spa industry.”
Bishop cites the commitment of the entire association as having a major impact on their success throughout the year. “This award reinforces why we all volunteer: the people, the collaboration, and the shared commitment to elevating the pool and spa industry.
“Being named Chapter of the Year strengthens our determination to continue building meaningful programs, supporting our members, and creating opportunities that make a lasting impact.”
Mike Church | Cody Pools | Builder of the Year
BUILDER OF THE YEAR
The Builder of the Year Award is a peer- nominated award presented to one PHTA builder who exemplifies what it means to advance pool-building and to be dedicated to the industry. Cody Pools was recognized as this year’s Builder of the Year.
“Honestly, I was completely surprised,” says Mike Church, the company’s president and CEO. “I had no idea we were even finalists. To be recognized as Builder of the Year by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, especially knowing that it’s voted on by peers across our industry, is an incredible honor. This award is one of the highest distinctions a builder can receive, and it means a lot to me personally, but even more to our entire Cody Pools team. It reflects the dedication, craftsmanship, and customer-first mindset that our people bring to every project.
“This recognition reinforces everything I love about this industry — the collaboration, innovation and the shared commitment to helping families create their own backyard paradise. It’s rewarding to know that our peers see value in the way we approach our work, from craftsmanship and customer service to transparency and teamwork.”
On a more personal note, Church finds this recognition to reinvigorate his own passion for the industry. “Being named Builder of the Year motivates me to keep giving back to the industry that has given me so much. I’ve always believed in sharing best practices and building strong relationships across the industry so we can all continue to raise the bar together. It’s been an amazing year for Cody Pools, and this award serves as both a celebration and an inspiration to keep growing, learning and helping our customers and our industry thrive.”
Steve Barnes | AquaStar Pool Products | Volunteer of the Year
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
The PHTA, and the industry at large, thrives with volunteer participation. The Volunteer of the Year Award highlights one outstanding individual whose contributions “raise professionalism in the aquatic community,” as denoted by the PHTA.
This year’s Volunteer of the Year is Steve Barnes, director of science and compliance for AquaStar Pool Products.
“When Sabeena called, I was genuinely surprised and deeply honored to see work that usually happens quietly in committee rooms recognized in this way,” says Barnes. “The real reward of volunteering isn’t a trophy — it’s helping make pools safer and the industry stronger. This honor reminds me to keep showing up, and I hope encourages younger professionals to step into these roles and discover how meaningful the work can be.”
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR
Peer-nominated and recognizing an unprecedented two individuals in this category, the Young Professional of the Year Award recognizes forward- thinking leaders under the age of 40 who represent the next generation of pool and spa professionals.
Johnathan Nies | Counsilman-Hunsaker | Young Professional of the Year
Johnathan Nies, Counsilman-Hunsaker
As project director for Counsilman- Hunsaker, Johnathan Nies is known for his professionalism, integrity, leadership and dedication, the PHTA says. His commitment to advancing the industry “through innovation, education and steadfast dedication to excellence” is cited as a major impact in receiving the prestigious award.
“My initial reaction was shock and humility to be recognized by an industry that has already given so much to me,” Nies says. “My immediate thought was how incredibly grateful I am to my entire team and the mentors who invested in me, allowing me to focus every day on our mission of creating world-class aquatic experiences.
“Being the Young Professional of the Year doesn’t just feel like a recognition of past work, it renews my passion for the future of our industry. Going forward, this honor means embracing a greater responsibility to pay it forward. I feel incredibly energized and motivated to mentor the next wave of young professionals who will ensure the aquatics industry continues to innovate and thrive.”
Alexa Blanda | Mill Bergen Pools | Young Professional of the Year
Alexa Blanda, Mill Bergen Pools
The second award in this category was given to Alexa Blanda, Mill Bergen Pools’ service manager. Through her contributions on the NESPA Membership Committee, her service as chair of the PHTA Service Council, championing the PHTA Registered Apprenticeship Programs and more, Blanda’s recognition emphasizes her dedication to the industry.
“Being recognized as one of the 2025 Young Professionals of the Year by PHTA is deeply humbling, and has really been such an honor,” Blanda shares. “It is a reflection of countless hours spent learning, growing and serving customers every day with the utmost care and passion. It has inspired me to continue to keep raising the bar and give back to the industry as much as I can, as it is such a privilege to be part of a community whose sole purpose is to bring people together.”
Scott Clark | The Spa and Sauna Company | IHTA Hot Tub Retailer of the Year
IHTA HOT TUB RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Specific to hot tub retailers, the International Hot Tub Association (IHTA) annually recognizes one outstanding retailer who “advances the hot tub retail profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the hot tub industry.” This year, the peer-nominated award was given to The Spa and Sauna Company.
“It was an emotional and incredibly meaningful moment for our entire team,” reflects Owner and Operator Scott Clark. “To be recognized as the IHTA Hot Tub Retailer of the Year is both humbling and energizing. We’ve worked hard for 35 years to build something special, and this award felt like a reflection of the commitment, passion, and heart our people put into serving customers every single day.”
Looking to the future, Clark says the company won’t take their foot off the pedal. “This recognition fuels us to continue raising the bar for our industry — not just in sales, but in service, customer experience and community impact. It reinforces why we do what we do: helping families bring wellness, connection, and relaxation into their homes. Going forward, it inspires us to keep innovating, strengthening our team, investing in our people, and supporting our industry peers so we can all elevate the standard of what a great hot tub retailer should be.”
Mike Todd | Rainbow Pools & Living Art Design | Retailer of the Year
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Powered by RB Retail & Service Solutions, the 2025 Retailer of the Year Award recognizes Rainbow Pools & Living Art Design. The PHTA cites the company’s president, Mike Todd, as an “industry leader with a deep commitment to raising the industry’s standards.”
“[I extend] gratitude to both PHTA for recognizing us and gratitude that my team got to be recognized for all their hard work,” Todd says. “Retail is not easy. You have to constantly evolve and change. They have all done a wonderful job, and I am thankful they were recognized. It gives you a goal to strive for. We can’t take our foot off the gas! It makes us look around and ask how we can win it again next year.”
Nick LaPointe | Golden State Pools | Service Professional of the Year
SERVICE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
The 2025 Service Professional of the Year is nothing short of an industry powerhouse. Having been born into his family business and using that knowledge to propel him to great heights, this year’s Service Professional of the Year is Nick LaPointe, owner of Golden State Pools.
“My seven-year-old son happened to overhear the phone call when I found out. He lit up, he was so proud. I think he was also really excited about there being a trophy,” LaPointe jokes. “That moment really meant a lot to me. He sees how hard I work, and knowing he looks up to me like that made it all the more special.
“I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years now, and some of our clients have known me through a lot of my life’s milestones. They’ve seen me graduate high school and college, get married, and start a family. Over the years, we’ve built lasting relationships with our customers by staying committed, consistent, and focused on quality. It’s not just business; I have a genuine personal connection with the people we serve.”
“That same connection runs through our company,” he continues. “We’ve worked hard to create a culture where everyone supports each other and understands what we’re working toward together. Life can be tough sometimes, and you never really know what someone might be dealing with, so having that support system in place for our team is huge. It’s part of who we are as a company.”
“Being named Service Professional of the Year is an incredible honor, but I don’t see it as a ‘career capstone,’” he clarifies. “To me, it’s more like a challenge and a reminder to keep growing, learning and pushing myself. I want to understand every corner of this industry, not just the technical side of building, servicing or repairing pools. More than anything, I want to use what I’ve learned to make a positive impact and give back to the industry that’s given me so much.”
Southern Nevada Health District | Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant
DR. R. NEIL LOWRY GRANT
Alongside the annual PHTA Superlative Awards, the PHTA honors public health officials or departments with a $5,000 grant given out in memory of Dr. Robert Neil Lowry. As a long-time member of the PHTA and the Recreational Water Quality Committee, Dr. Lowry’s major influence on the industry is seen today through the work of many public health officials.
This year’s grant was awarded to the Southern Nevada Health District for their contributions to “advance the public’s health and safe use of recreational water in pools, spas and waterparks through educational, safety, operational and technical programs.
“We were thrilled to learn our Aquatic Health Operations team was selected as the Lowry Grant recipient,” says Karla Shoup, the district’s environmental health manager. “The team is constantly challenged by unique circumstances in Las Vegas including innovative aquatic facility design and the sheer volume of permitted venues (over 5,000). Being recognized by the PHTA as leaders in aquatic public health is an exciting honor.”
Over the last two years, the SNHD has been using risk factor surveys to help assess the safety of recreational water venues. With this grant, Shoup says, “We will implement our new risk factor survey program for facilities that operate under conditions requiring additional surveillance. Grant dollars will be used to collect and evaluate data, then develop and distribute risk mitigation materials to support our goal of safer facilities for everyone.”
GREG GARRETT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Also honored at the awards ceremony in Las Vegas were the annual Greg Garrett Scholarship recipients. Given in memory of Greg Garrett, an industry veteran of more than 45 years, this $5,000 scholarship is awarded to PHTA members in the builder or service sector.
The purpose of the scholarship is to be used toward further PHTA education or certifications, in order to increase professionalism in the industry. A matching sponsorship from Periodic Products, Inc., made it possible for two winners to be recognized in 2025.
Chad Bland | Greg Garrett Scholarship
Chad Bland
As a five-year member of the PHTA and a previous mentee of Greg Garrett, Chad Bland of Pool Certs was announced as the recipient of the PHTA-sponsored scholarship.
“Winning this scholarship from PHTA was both humbling and energizing,” says Bland. “My initial reaction was extreme excitement — followed by deep appreciation for the opportunity to continue learning from the best in the business. With so many outstanding courses available through PHTA and GENESIS, it’s tempting to want to take them all. This scholarship awarded me the opportunity to jump into some big ones.
“This award reinforces my commitment to lifelong learning and reignites my drive to elevate the professionalism of the pool and spa industry. It reminds me that every step I take in advancing my own education helps me better serve pool professionals through teaching, mentoring, and improving training methods at my company.”
The future is bright for Bland, who plans to continue earning certifications through the PHTA. “Beyond personal achievements, my goal is to pass my knowledge forward — training the next generation of pool professionals with integrity, creativity and a science-based understanding of water. As someone with a lifelong passion for water, pools and people, this scholarship helps me strengthen the bridge between education and real-world practice, allowing me to enhance the quality of education delivery for Certified Pool Operator (CPO) students at Pool Certs and across the industry.”
McKenna Paschell | Greg Garrett Scholarship
McKenna Paschell
The Periodic Products-sponsored award was given to McKenna Paschell of Absolute Pool Care. Her understanding of the importance of technical aspects of the industry and her lifelong passion for taking clients’ visions and turning them into reality were just two of the many reasons for her selection.
“Winning this scholarship was surreal,” Paschell reflects. “I actually missed the first phone call, but when the phone rang a second time and Terry Snow introduced himself and explained why he was calling me, I was overwhelmed, speechless and cried happy tears. I was astonished that out of all the applicants, I was chosen — me, a young woman with so much left to learn in this industry. Yet someone saw my potential, and I was honored to continue my journey with the support of the Greg Garrett Scholarship.”
“I’m the first to acknowledge that I will never be done learning,” says Paschell. “Everything I do — every mistake, every success — is an opportunity to grow. I’m incredibly fortunate to work for a company that supports every step I take in the aquatic world. Receiving this award confirmed for me that others also see my potential in this industry — that I have the capability to grow and make a difference in the field I’ve chosen as my home. And I am beyond excited to put that to use.”
This article first appeared in the January 2026 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
