For many pool professionals, the work that earns them recognition happens far from the spotlight. It happens on service routes, in equipment rooms, at customers’ homes, back at the office and in the countless moments spent teaching, troubleshooting, mentoring and stepping up when someone needs help.
That is part of what the Pentair Pool Pro Awards set out to recognize — and if the reactions of past winners are any indication, being singled out by the industry can carry more weight than the recipients ever expected.
2025 Pentair Pool Pro Award Winners: Nick Lehman of Pinch-A-Penny Pool Patio Spa and Jena Beach of Coastal Pools
When Nick Lehman of Pinch-A-Penny was named a 2025 Premier Pool Pro Award winner, he initially considered himself a “small fish in the industry.” After seeing the support he received from customers and his community throughout the competition, his perspective shifted.
“It’s really cool to see that a small fish can have such a big impact,” Lehman told AQUA after his win.
Fellow 2025 Premier Pool Pro Jena Beach had been in the pool and spa industry for only two years when she received the honor. She initially questioned whether she had enough experience to win, but later described the recognition as an important moment early in her career — one that left her grateful for the people who had supported her and excited about where the industry could take her next.
2024 Pentair Pool Pro Award Winners: Amber Gardner of Collins Pool Management and Keith Smith of Heritage Pools
Photo courtesy Nobile Photo
The year before, Amber Gardner of Collins Pool Management compared winning a Pentair Pool Pro Award to “winning the Super Bowl.” The recognition, she said, gave her added confidence to pursue the next stage of her professional growth. “It means the world to me,” she told AQUA.
Those stories are a reminder that there is no single path to making an impact in the pool and spa industry. Some professionals have spent decades building businesses and mentoring the next generation. Others are newer to the trade but have already distinguished themselves through leadership, customer service or a willingness to keep learning.
And now, the search is underway for the next group of professionals to recognize.
The 2026 Pentair Pool Pro Awards are accepting nominations through October 19. Pool pros can nominate themselves, or nominations can be submitted by colleagues, customers and others who know someone whose work deserves recognition.
This year's program will recognize seven professionals across five categories: the Premier Pool Pro Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Unsung Hero Award, Safety Advocate Award and the new Wave Maker Award, which recognizes a pool professional or industry leader whose influence is helping inspire what comes next for the trade.
Nominees will be considered based on factors including industry experience and commitment, pool and product knowledge, customer service, safety, education, leadership, community involvement and their broader contribution to the growth of the industry.
After nominations close, qualified nominees will advance to public voting, scheduled for October 23 through November 1. Selected candidates will then participate in interviews with representatives from Pentair Pool, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and AQUA Magazine. Winners will be announced in January 2027 and recognized at The Pool & Spa Show in Atlantic City.
The recognition also extends beyond the award itself. Winners will receive travel accommodations and special recognition in Atlantic City, educational opportunities through Pentair University, GENESIS or PHTA, an interview with AQUA Magazine and a swag package valued at up to $3,000.
Most importantly, however, the awards offer an opportunity to stop and recognize people whose everyday work can easily go unnoticed.
If there is a pool professional in your company, your community or your corner of the industry whose work deserves a larger spotlight — or if that person is you — now is the time to tell their story.
Nominations for the 2026 Pentair Pool Pro Awards close October 19. For complete award categories, eligibility information and the nomination form, visit Pentair's Pool Pro Awards website.
