Taking place immediately prior to the opening of the show on Wednesday, Nov. 2, the panels will be held from 9:45 to 10:50 a.m.
The Retail Power Panel will discuss customer service, advertising and marketing, customer retention, fighting the “big box” stores, consumer trends, new technologies and more.
Moderator Penny Johnson, owner of Johnson Pools and Spas, will lead the distinguished panel, which will include Matt Gohlke, owner of Gohlke Pools; Chris Callanan, owner of North Shore Pool Supply; and Shawn Maynard, owner of Bullfrog Spas of Ogden.
The Builder Power Panel will discuss insights on emerging technologies, economic trends, industry issues, the state of the industry, growth opportunities and more. Moderator Lew Akins, president of Ocean Quest Pools by Lew Akins, will lead the panel, which will include Jeff Fausett, president of Aquatech Corporation; Ron Lacher, president of Pool Engineering, Inc.; and Pam Vinje, director of social media for APSP.
The Service Power Panel will discuss trends, innovative technologies, industry challenges and growth issues — and how they affect the service business. Moderator Steve Gorlin, president of Gorlin Pools and Spas, will lead the panel. Other participants include Dave Hawes, president of H&H Pool Service; Michael Love of Love Pool Care; and Tim McCue of Ohio Pool Works.
“These select groups of panelists have great insight to the issues facing the industry,” said Bill Weber, president and CEO of APSP, the show’s sponsor. “These will be very informative and interesting discussions, so I encourage all of our members to register for a Power Panel.”
The Power Panels are included free of charge in all registration packages. Registration is required and can be completed online at www.poolspapatio.com/attendee.
The 2011 Int’l Pool | Patio | Spa Expo will be held Nov. 2-4, in the Bayside Halls at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. For information about the show, visit www.poolspapatio.com/attendee or call (972) 536-6350 or (888) 869-8522.
