Now in its fourth year, Pleatco's 2011 Perfect Pool Guy and Gal Contest drew over 200 contestants seeking the only national award recognizing pool and spa service excellence. After sifting through all of the nominees, Gil Serrano of Bay Area Pool Service in Florida, and Jennifer Angevine of Gold Coast Swimming Pools in New York were crowned Perfect Pool Guy and Gal for 2011.
Serrano, also known as "the pool whisperer" because of his skill in diagnosing pool problems with all five of his senses, has been in the business for 14 years. He was supported throughout the competition by more people than he could have hoped for, he says, with friends and clients calling in references throughout the competition.
"It is all about the heart you put into it," Serrano adds. "I felt great to be a part of the Pleatco Perfect Pool Guy Contest. This contest means a lot for all of us working in the pool industry."
Angevine has been the owner of Gold Coast Swimming Pools for the last 10 years, but she has been servicing pools since she was old enough to go along with her father. Her employees take great pride in working for a woman who always puts her clients and team members first.
At the award ceremony, Pleatco COO John Antretter noted the important role the pool service person plays in the pool ownership experience. "Many homeowners treat their service guy or gal like family," he said. "Homeowners trust their service professional to keep their 'backyard-oasis' safe."
As the contest has grown over the last four years, it has added award categories to recognize those pool guys and gals that are outstanding in their own way. This year's winners are:
PERFECT POOL GUYGil Serrano, Bay Area Pool Service, Florida
PERFECT POOL GALJennifer Angevine, Gold Coast Swimming Pools, New York
INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENTJim DeBerry, Aqua Pool Dealer, FloridaAnnie Abbate, Chem-Tech Pool Cleaning, Arizona
BIG HEARTBob Charlton, The Pool Guy, Florida
FUTURE LEADERSHIPChris Hamm, Crystal Clear Pools, Florida
MOST CREATIVE ENTRYJonathon Santoscoy, True Blue Pool Service, TexasLarry Sniezek, Burnett Pools and Spas, Pennsylvania
CUSTOMER SERVICELesley Leal, Optimus, Tennessee
BIGGEST POOL PERSONALITYPaul Beauparlant, Paul and Sons Pool Service, Nevada
Pleatco also named the following 14 finalists in the competition: Adam Shulte of Watson's Cincinnati in Ohio, Cameron Dillon of Tri-County Pool and Spa in Florida, Bob Hickle of Nierman Brothers Pool and Spa in Indiana, Andrew Meece of Amerimerc in Kansas, Michael Berggren of Berggren Pool and Spa Services, in Washington, Geoffrey Dillon of Pools and Spas a Go-Go, Bob Malsack of Hansens Pools and Spas in Wisconsin, Jason Blake of B&S Pools in Arizona, Anne Bostwick of Gulf Coast Pool & Spa in Florida, Jim Eiler of Aqua Pools in Illinois, David Bristow of David Bristow's Pool Service in North Carolina, Beau Braisher of Beau Braisher's Pool Service in California, Kyle Conlon of Cypress Pools in New York, and Ryan Landriault of In Hot Water Spas in Alberta, Canada.
