Last week, the PHTA SWT/H2B Coalition met with seven Senate and Congressional offices over two days discussing the importance of the summer work travel program on the seasonal swimming pool industry. PHTA hosted the group and facilitated opportunities for Coalition members to share their stories with Senate and Congressional offices about the importance that the Summer Work Travel (SWT) program has on communities across the United States. The Coalition also advocated for House Resolution 901, which expresses the cultural and economic importance of the Bridge USA/J-1 visa program, and the need for prompt State Department processing of students who work as lifeguards at pools across the country.

Get to know PHTA Board Chair-Elect Charlie Claffey in our newest Member Deep Dive! Claffey explains how his company, Claffey Pools, has not just survived but thrived during challenging times, such as the 2008 recession, the pandemic, and the 2021 Texas freeze. "If you want to lead," he says, "you need to be the one that is constantly pushing the envelope. If you want to lead, you need to be the one that sets the standard."

PHTA is excited to see WAHC attendees in person this week in Houston! This year's conference features more than 35 sessions across 5 education tracks, with more than 40 subject matter experts sharing the latest industry information. We're thrilled to be partnering with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), who is presenting all of the sessions in the Water Safety track as part of the Drowning Prevention Symposium. See you tonight for the Welcome Reception!

Join the California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) and the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) for a free webinar on Wednesday, October 26 at 4 p.m. PT as we discuss the new requirements your contract needs to remain compliant, as well as what you should do if someone files a complaint against your license.

PHTA is offering four of our most popular certification courses at PSP/Deck Expo in November. Take this opportunity to become a CPO, CMS, CST, or CHTT! Certification exams will take place on-site after the courses, on November 15.

New for 2022! At the Equip Exposition happening in Louisville October 18-21, you can expand your way into new product offerings or gain clarity on moving into pool installation and design. Take a dive into four GENESIS® courses dedicated to take your business to the deep-end.

In the St. Louis area? Join the PHTA St. Louis Chapter for a Leadership Training on November 1! Choose from training geared towards owners and managers, training geared towards technicians, or the NPC Start-Up Technician Certification course. Free lunch is included, and PHTA Senior Director of Member Programs and Services Seth Ewing will be there to talk more about PHTA, specifically the PHTA Registered Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program. Register today!

Attending PSP/Deck Expo this November? PHTA and GENESIS® will be there too, with a full lineup of education and events. See a schedule-at-a-glance for all PHTA and GENESIS® activities, find information on the PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception and WAVE Young Professionals Reception, get introduced to the new PHTA Breakfast of Champions, and learn more about our member programs and resources. Download the PHTA Guide to PSP/Expo, which will be updated regularly until the show starts November 12!

PHTA members are now eligible to save up to 30% off the everyday public web price of Lenovo’s entire product line of laptops, tablets, desktops, servers, accessories, and more! Whether you need a technology boost at work, a device to stream your favorite TV show, or a tool to help with homework, Lenovo has you covered. Plus, receive free ground shipping on all web orders and monthly limited-time special offers. Visit www.lenovo.com/us/en/m1pht or call 1 (800) 426-7235, ext. 7249 (M-F: 9am-9pm ET, Sat: 9am-6pm ET).

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Mentor Match program reflects our commitment to you and your professional development. This unique online networking and career development tool helps you find, connect, and share experiences with others. Your mentor or mentee can be in the same city or on the other side of the world. Apply today to become a mentor or mentee!

John Mason, REHS, Deschutes County Public Health Specialist, will be leading the session How the New PHTA/ICC-2 Public Swimming Pool and Spa Standard Can Be Used by Public Health Departments on October 17 as part of the Virtual National Capital Area Environmental Health Association (NCAEHA) Conference. During this session, we'll review the changes made within the standard, explain how it can be utilized by public health departments, and answer any questions with one of the Standard Writing Committee members.

The Department of Energy issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice proposing rulemaking and test procedures for Portable Electric Spas. The DOE proposes to incorporate much of APSP-14 in their rulemaking, which is a significant victory for PHTA and IHTA! The formal Federal Register notice is expected to be published in the next few weeks. The DOE will accept comments, data, etc. 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.

The DOE is holding a webinar, open to members of the public, on Thursday, November 17 to further discuss the proposal. IHTA/PHTA will submit comments on behalf of the industry. To participate in the coalition, please contact Justin Wiley, PHTA Vice President of Government Relations, Standards, and Codes.

Get the latest news on our advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, and find out ways you can get involved. Plus, get legislative alerts when there's an upcoming event or action item in your area.

allBusiness
Small businesses can use SMS messaging to expand their reach locally by announcing deals and encouraging customer loyalty.

Multichannel Merchant
With a recession looming on the horizon, business owners’ first instinct is to cut advertising spending, but by leveraging smart marketing, owners can weather the storm of a bad economy.

Heritage Pools is excited to announce that they have achieved the first Master Pool Builder and Design Professional in South Carolina. This designation, awarded by PHTA, signifies that Heritage Pools is an elite professional who has demonstrated quality, professionalism, ethics, and business prowess. The certification was earned by Michael Gesmond, owner of Heritage Pools.

SpaRetailer
Pools and Hot Tubs weren’t the only products that saw a surge in demand during the pandemic. Outdoor and sport toys also saw a spike in sales that has continued to this day.