The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, and GENESIS, an educational program of PHTA, are pleased to announce the keynote speakers at the 2025 MasterMind Summit, September 23-25 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Now in its second year, the MasterMind Summit is the only educational event of its kind, offering opportunities to learn from industry experts, network with likeminded peers and uncover innovative strategies to grow the industry.
The 2025 MasterMind Summit is excited to welcome Neil Tarallo of Cornell University and Philipp Beckermann of IMP Digital as the two keynote speakers.
Tarallo will be leading the Purposeful Growth Workshop: A Leadership System for the Pool & Spa Industry, which will share how leaders can guide growth every day through the choices they make and how they run their business. Attendees will walk away with tools to help their team work smarter and a system to help hire, train, and reward employees in ways that support growth.
“Running a pool and spa business takes more than just hard work — it takes a clear direction, strong teams, and the ability to adjust when things change,” says Tarallo. “Whether you oversee retail, service, sales, or installs, this workshop will help you lead with purpose, align your team, and build a business positioned for the future.”
Beckermann’s keynote on AI That Works: Inside the Toolbox of Tomorrow’s Pool & Hot Tub Company is a hands-on session that reveals how top-performing companies in the industry are leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline operations, supercharge marketing, and automate repetitive tasks. Beckermann will share real scripts and workflows, as well as a clear vision of how to scale a business with less stress and more automation.
“Artificial intelligence is not replacing the personal touch in our industry — it’s enhancing it,” says Beckermann. “For pool builders and hot tub retailers, AI means smarter marketing, instant follow-up, and data-driven insights that help us understand exactly what customers want before they even step into a showroom. This technology is going to shorten sales cycles, create more personalized buying experiences, and ultimately help us grow stronger relationships with our clients. The businesses that lean into AI now will set the standard for the next decade of our industry.”
The 2025 MasterMind Summit will also feature an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, which features the first permanent dive tower installation of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, advanced filtration systems, and innovative infrastructure. This tour will offer valuable takeaways for designers, builders, operators, and aquatic professionals alike.
The 2025 MasterMind Summit is made possible through the generous support of Platinum sponsors Basecrete, Fluidra, Hayward, Heritage Pool Supply Group, International Pool Spa Patio Expo and Pentair Pool; Gold sponsors Counsilman-Hunsaker, Master Pools Guild, and The Pool & Spa Show; Silver sponsor AquaStar Pool Products; Roundtable sponsor Periodic Products; Opening Party sponsor Mosaicist; and Media sponsor AQUA Magazine.
For more information and to register for the MasterMind Summit, visit phta.org/mastermind.
