Aquatics industry veteran Natalie Hood has launched Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC, bringing more than 25 years of hands-on, operational and leadership experience together in a new consulting company designed to help organizations turn industry ideas into programs, education, events and initiatives that move from concept to implementation.
Hood launched Natalie Hood & Associates after seeing the same challenge throughout her career: organizations often have a strong idea or an industry need but bringing it to life can require expertise across several areas. A new education program, certification, event or industry initiative can involve everything from curriculum and instructor development to regulatory approvals, communications and implementation. Natalie Hood & Associates was created to help organizations connect those pieces and move projects from ideas to execution.
“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on so many different sides of this industry, and I’ve seen how connected all of these pieces really are,” Hood says. “I wanted to create something that allows me to bring that experience together and help organizations take an idea, figure out what it needs to become and actually get it across the finish line.”
Hood’s career in aquatics began long before her corporate leadership roles, working hands-on as a lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor and swim coach. She later spent eight years with the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF), advancing through management and leadership roles across operations, education, instructor development, events and industry programs. In 2019, NSPF and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) merged to form the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). Hood continued with the newly formed organization, ultimately serving as Director of Certification and Instructor Relations. At PHTA, Hood managed certification programs and relationships with more than 700 instructors across 127 countries, expanded service program approvals into more than 30 jurisdictions, developed educational and instructor programs, and led government affairs efforts involving pool and spa safety legislation and regulatory issues.
Most recently, Hood served as Director of Education and Events for The Grit Game, where she built the organization’s education department from the ground up and led instructional design for 12 new courses, including storyboards, examinations, training videos and LMS implementation.
Organizations can work with Hood to build or strengthen certification programs, develop curriculum and assessments, pursue state and regulatory approvals, create instructor and train-the-trainer programs, plan educational events and professional development, and support government affairs and industry initiatives. Her work also includes instructional design, industry communications, podcasting and media.
Podcasting and media also remain an active part of Hood’s work through Natalie Hood & Associates. Hood continues to own and host Myth Busting Wednesdays on the Talking Pools Podcast, where her weekly episodes focus on education, current industry issues and challenging common misconceptions within the pool and spa profession.
The launch also includes nataliehoodassociates.com, where organizations can learn more about Hood’s experience, services and current work.
