2024 Pool Nation Awards By Lauren Broom
On the evening of November 13, Pool Nation held its fourth annual Pool Nation Awards ceremony as part of the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Dallas, Texas. The event had approximately 500 attendees in Ballroom D of the convention center. This event honored and awarded the most exceptional talents and products in the pool industry. They are the only awards dedicated to the pool service and repair side of the industry. Their goal is to recognize companies, products, and individuals in many different categories that are voted and chosen by pool professionals.
The humble beginnings and the desire to educate and help all pool pros are there with the founders of Pool Nation. The founders, Edgar DeJesus, John Flawless, and Zac Nicklas, are simply pool pros who want to make a difference by bringing different pros in the industry together.
Edgar DeJesus’s opening comments spoke volumes to what Pool Nation is and what these awards mean to the pool industry.
“You guys have no idea how excited we are celebrating four years,” DeJesus said. “I look back and I’m so proud and so excited of how far we have come in the last four years, but what excites me the most is what’s yet to come.”
At the first Pool Nation Awards Ceremony, DeJesus said they were expecting 70 to 80 people to attend, and now their audience has grown to nearly 500 people.
“Since the beginning, what we really wanted to do is create a platform that celebrates others in the industry, but also fosters a community rooted in growth, innovation, and more importantly, collaboration,” DeJesus said. “Our purpose has always been to empower the pool pros because at heart that is who Zac, John and I are. We are just pool pros. Pool pros haven’t always received the recognition and resources that other areas of our industry get. Yet, they are the driving force that keeps our industry moving forward.”
The 2024 award recipients were: Automation of the Year— Jandy Aqualink RS.
Zac Nicklas, Edgar DeJesus & John Flawless, Pool Nation Florida
From page 23
Best Residential Filter of the Year—Aquastar Pipeline Filter.
Best Truck Wrap—Pool Guardians. Salt System of the Year—Hayward AquaRite S3 Salt System.
Builder of the Year—Gold Medal Pools.
Distributor of the Year—Heritage Pool Supply Group.
Heat Pump of the Year—Jandy VersaTempTM Heat/ Chill Pump.
Heater of the Year—RayPak AVIA. Innovative Product of the Year— PoolSide Tech The Attendant.
Pool Cleaner of the Year— Hayward TracVac.
Pool Girl of the Year—Maria Castellanos.
Pool Guy of the Year—Miguel Cabello.
Retailer of the Year—The Pool Place, West Conroe, LA.
Sales Rep of the Year—Daniel Nicholas.
Sales Rep Group of the Year—The Grit Game.
Trainer of the Year—Lauren Broom, Space Coast Pool School, LLC.
30 Under 40 Female of the Year— Makenzi Kinder.
30 Under 40 Male of the Year— Nick LaPointe.
Variable Speed Pump of the Year— Pentair IntelliFlo 3 . Woman Trailblazer of the Year— Taryn Springsteed.
Pool Company 250 Pool or Less of the Year—Logan’s Pool Service.
Alicia Stephens of BioLab was inducted into the Pool Nation Hall of Fame, which already holds Steve Barnes of Aquastar and Terry Arko of HASA.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Dave Cook of Heritage Pool Supply Group.
Finally, the Edgar, Zac & John Award was awarded to Megan Magaña, Senior Marketing Manager for the PSP/Deck Expo.
Pool Nation is about education, innovation and collaboration within the industry.
The awards night highlights those who define and exemplify what Pool Nation is for the pool industry.
The After Party at the Historic Union Station was held directly after the awards and was sponsored by HASA.
The party has always been a favorite among awards night attendees. The Aquastar sponsored jazz band maintained a unique mood for the night.
The cigar room sponsored by Pool Brain was a fan favorite at the After Party.
At the very end of the party, there was even a re-proposal. I was called up on stage by my husband, Ben Broom, to re-commit for another 24 years of marriage! It was a beautiful night.
Lauren Broom, 2024 Trainer of the Year
