In Episode 300 of the Pool Nation Podcast Edgar and John sit down with Mike from Quick Shop Pools and Bellafina Outdoors to talk about the future of pool construction, pool design, and pool business mentorship. If you are a pool service pro, pool builder, or pool business owner looking to grow, this is the pool podcast episode you cannot miss.

Mike spent 20 years in law enforcement working federal fugitive task forces, including the team that helped apprehend Whitey Bulger, before going all in on the pool industry. Today, he runs one of the most innovative pool construction companies and pool design showrooms in the country out of Huntington Beach, California. Pool pros who have walked through Bellafina Outdoors are calling it the Disneyland of pool design.

We also welcome Luz, Director of Operations at Bellafina, who brings over 20 years of brand and marketing experience into the pool industry, plus Thomas from PAL Lighting and Michelle from Heritage Pool Supply for a full Pool Nation studio conversation on pool builder education, customer experience, and elevating the pool trade for the next generation of pool pros.

IN THIS POOL NATION PODCAST EPISODE: - How Mike built a pool construction business from the ground up - The real story behind the Whitey Bulger fugitive apprehension - How the 2008 crash shaped a new vision for the pool industry - Why pool builder mentorship is the missing piece in pool construction - The Bellafina Pro Academy and the future of pool builder education - How to deliver a true pool design experience to homeowners - Why collaboration beats competition in the pool industry - Heritage Pool Supply's quarterly open house partnership with Bellafina

POOL NATION PODCAST TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 02:00 Thank you to our Pool Nation sponsors and partners 08:30 Meet Mike from Quick Shop Pools and Bellafina Outdoors 10:30 Heritage Pro Service Academy pool boot camp June 6 in Van Nuys 14:30 From law enforcement to the pool industry 16:30 The Whitey Bulger story behind one of America's biggest fugitive captures 21:30 Surviving the 2008 crash and launching a new pool design model 25:00 Why mentorship for younger pool builders matters 30:00 Inside the Disneyland of pool design showrooms 38:00 Why healthy competition makes the entire pool industry stronger 46:00 Industry tea: big changes coming to the pool industry 47:30 Luz on bringing fresh marketing talent into the pool world 58:00 Thomas from PAL Lighting on pool and landscape lighting design 01:08:00 The Outdoor Plus partnership and the tower of fire bowls 01:13:00 Introducing the Bellafina Pro Academy for pool builders 01:17:30 Heritage Pool Supply quarterly open house at Bellafina 01:24:30 Final thoughts for pool pros

THANK YOU TO OUR POOL NATION PODCAST SPONSORS: SPPA, Blueray XL, AquaStar Pool Products, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Hayward Pool Products, EnCore Brands Heritage Pool Supply Group, Pool Brain, Poolside Tech, Nidec OnCore Filtration

In Episode 299 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John “JJ Flawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” break down one of the most important conversations every pool pro needs to hear — the signals your business is sending you every single day.

From pricing mistakes and route inefficiencies to hiring too late and chasing the wrong growth, this episode dives deep into the real challenges pool service companies face — and how to fix them.

But that’s not all…

🚨 BIG NEWS: The Pool Pro Challenge just leveled up — now officially a $20,000+ competition (and pushing toward $25K) thanks to industry partners like BioLab and ProGuard.

If you’re serious about scaling your pool business, increasing profitability, and building something sustainable — this episode is a must-listen.

• Why more pools doesn’t always mean more profit
• The hidden cost of poor route density and wasted drive time
• How growth exposes every weak system in your business
• When to hire (and why waiting can cost you thousands)
• How to build additional revenue streams right in your customers’ backyards
• Why branding builds trust — not just recognition
• The real reason most pool businesses plateau
• How top pool pros are scaling to hundreds (even thousands) of pools

• The Pool Pro Challenge Prize Pool jumps to $20K+ (on the way to $25K)
• Upcoming Heritage Pro Service Academy hands-on training event
• Launch of Pool Nation certifications
• New Pool Nation Spotlights featuring real pool pros scaling their businesses

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:00 – What your business is really telling you 02:30 – AI, technology, and adapting in today’s world 05:00 – Real talk: health, burnout, and the grind 12:30 – Heritage Pro Service Academy announcement 15:00 – Creating new revenue streams (cool deck, services, upsells) 19:00 – 🚨 Pool Pro Challenge hits $20K+ 23:00 – Why this prize money is a game changer 31:00 – Pool Nation Spotlights: real growth stories 45:00 – Top 10 lessons from successful pool pros 54:00 – Route density and profitability breakdown 57:00 – Hiring mistakes and the cost of bad employees 01:00:00 – Scaling vs staying small: choosing your path 01:05:00 – Final thoughts and key takeaways 01:17:00 – Outro

A huge thank you to our incredible partners who make this podcast possible:

• SPPA
• BlueRay XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply
• ONCore
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Neodeck
• Encore Filtration

👉 Want to grow your business faster? Visit PoolNation.com and get plugged into training, events, and the community that’s changing the industry.

In Episode 298 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar and Zac are joined by industry experts Robbie Walker and Michael Viegas from Solenis to break down one of the most misunderstood areas in the pool industry — spa, hot tub, and cold plunge water chemistry.

If you’ve ever treated a spa like a pool… this episode will change everything.

We dive deep into:

• Why hot water chemistry behaves completely differently
• The truth about biofilm, bacteria, and “human juice” in spas
• The real differences between chlorine, bromine, and biguanide systems
• How aeration, temperature, and bather load destroy your chemistry
• Why your sanitizer disappears overnight
• The rise of cold plunges and wellness systems
• And how pool pros can turn spas into a profitable service category

This is a must-listen for pool service pros, repair techs, and anyone looking to level up their understanding of water chemistry — especially in smaller bodies of water like spas and hot tubs.

👉 Bottom line: If you're not treating spas differently, you're doing it wrong.

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Pool Nation Podcast 02:30 – Meet the Guests: Robbie Walker & Michael Viegas (Solenis) 06:45 – Why Spa Chemistry is NOT Pool Chemistry 10:20 – History of Spas: From Romans to Modern Hot Tubs 15:30 – The Rise of Cold Plunges & Wellness Trends 20:10 – The 3 Biggest Differences in Spa Water Chemistry 25:40 – Bather Load: The Truth About “Human Juice” 30:15 – Chlorine vs Bromine vs Biguanide (What Actually Works Best) 38:20 – Why Your Sanitizer Disappears in Hot Water 42:10 – Aeration, Jets & pH Drift Explained 47:30 – Shocking & Oxidation: What You SHOULD Be Doing 52:45 – Biofilm: The Hidden Problem in Every Spa 58:10 – Drain, Purge & Refill: The Right Maintenance Schedule 1:03:20 – Enzymes, Borates & Supplements (What’s Worth It?) 1:08:15 – Ozone, UV & Mineral Systems (Do They Replace Chlorine?) 1:12:30 – Final Thoughts: The Future of Spa & Wellness Industry

A huge thank you to our Visionary Partners for supporting the Pool Nation Podcast:

• The SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Nidec
• OnCore Filtration
• EnCore Brands

We appreciate your continued support in helping us grow the pool industry and build a nation of pool pros.

In Episode 297 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJFlawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” sit down with Jose Perez, founder of Encore Filtration also now officially known as The Duke of Dirty Filters.

This episode goes deep into one of the most overlooked yet critical components of pool service: filtration and why it directly impacts water quality, efficiency, customer trust, and profitability.

Jose shares his journey from air filtration into the pool industry, why most pool pros are losing money on filters without realizing it, and how innovation, pricing strategy, and protecting the service professional are reshaping the industry.

This isn’t just a product conversation it’s a business conversation about margins, competition from online retailers, and what it really takes to build a sustainable pool service company.

If you’re a pool pro, service company owner, or industry professional this episode will change how you think about filtration, pricing, and long-term growth.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:30 – Introducing Jose Perez (Encore Filtration) 04:15 – Why filtration is overlooked in the pool industry 08:20 – Jose’s background: From air filtration to pool innovation 13:45 – Taking the leap into entrepreneurship (no customers, no guarantees) 18:30 – The biggest gaps in the pool filtration market 23:10 – The real problem: Online pricing vs. service profitability 29:40 – Why protecting pool pros matters (and why most manufacturers don’t) 36:15 – The truth about margins, pricing, and customer trust 42:00 – Innovation beyond the product: thinking differently 48:20 – The FIT Kit concept (solving real field problems) 54:10 – How to build loyalty through customer experience 59:30 – The future of filtration & industry standards 1:05:20 – Technology center & raising the bar in testing 1:10:45 – Why “good is not good enough” in business 1:15:30 – Final thoughts & lessons for pool pros 1:18:00 – The birth of “The Duke of Dirty Filters”

• Filtration isn’t just maintenance it’s a profit center
• Competing with online pricing is one of the biggest threats to pool pros
• Innovation isn’t just products it’s customer experience + business strategy
• The companies that win will be the ones that protect the trade
• If you’re not improving, you’re falling behind good is not good enough

We want to thank our amazing Pool Nation Visionary Partners for making this podcast possible:

• The SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak EnCore Brands
• Heritage Pool Supply
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Nidec
• Encore Filtration

Follow us for more content, training, and industry insights:

• Website: PoolNation.com
• Instagram: @PoolNationPodcast
• Podcast: Pool Nation Podcast

In Episode 296 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar breaks down the pool service business systems that help companies scale without losing control. This is Part 2 of the series and it moves from the problem to the solution. If you want to know how to scale a pool service business, this episode walks through the systems that protect profit, improve consistency, and make growth sustainable.

Edgar covers the real structure behind pool business growth, including chemical systems, route structure, service consistency, repairs, customer communication, and the numbers every pool pro needs to know. If your company is adding pools but still feels chaotic, these pool business systems can help you create repeatable results and build a stronger operation.

This episode is for pool service business owners who want better route efficiency, stronger margins, improved customer retention, and a clearer path to scaling. If you are trying to grow your pool service company without breaking your operations, this episode gives you a practical roadmap.

00:00 Intro and Part 2 overview 03:00 What systems really mean in a pool business 07:30 Why operations break before money 12:00 Chemical systems and hidden profit leaks 20:30 How to control chemical creep 28:00 Route structure and profit 36:00 Drive time and margin loss 44:00 Service consistency and reputation 52:00 SOPs and repeatable results 59:00 Repairs and captured profit 1:08:00 Customer communication and trust 1:17:00 The numbers every pool pro must know 1:26:00 What real scaling looks like 1:34:00 Building one system at a time 1:41:00 Final thoughts and Matrix invite

Special thanks to our Pool Nation Visionary Partners for supporting the podcast and the pool industry.

SPPA Blu-Ray XL AquaStar Pool Products Natural Chemistry Raypak Heritage Pool Supply Hayward Pool Products Poolside Tech Pool Brain Nidec Oncore Filtration

EnCore Brands

E-295 Pool Nation Podcast. If you’ve ever felt like your pool business is growing… but somehow getting harder, more stressful, and less profitable—this episode is for you.

In this episode, Edgar breaks down one of the biggest problems in the pool industry: why companies break when they try to grow. And more importantly, what you need to fix before it happens to you.

This isn’t about working harder. It’s about understanding what growth actually does to your business.

Because growth doesn’t fix your business… 👉 Growth reveals your business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why adding more pools can actually make your business worse
• The critical mistake most pool pros make between 50–100 pools
• How poor structure leads to burnout, callbacks, and lost profit
• Why not knowing your cost per pool is killing your business
• The pricing mistake that keeps you stuck and underpaid
• How repairs are the hidden profit engine you're walking past every day
• The mindset shift from technician to true business owner

If you’re serious about scaling your pool business the right way—and actually making money doing it—this episode will change how you think about growth forever.

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. In Part 2, we’ll break down the systems and operational structure you need to scale the right way.

00:00 – Podcast Intro & Welcome 01:00 – Why Pool Companies Break When They Grow 03:30 – The Illusion of Growth (Why More Pools Feels Right) 06:00 – The Most Important Stage in Your Business (And Why You Skip It) 09:00 – The Breaking Point: 70–90 Pools 11:00 – When Everything Starts to Feel Heavy 13:00 – How Small Decisions Turn Into Big Problems 15:00 – The Hidden Cost of Rushing (Chemicals, Time, Profit Loss) 17:00 – You Didn’t Fail—You Grew Without Structure 19:00 – The Most Important Question: Cost Per Pool 22:00 – Why Most Pool Pros Don’t Know Their Numbers 24:00 – Route Inefficiency & Profit Leaks 26:00 – When Growth Makes the Math Worse 27:00 – Sponsor Break 31:00 – The Pricing Problem (Why Matching Competitors Fails) 34:00 – The 3 Things Your Price Must Cover 36:00 – The “More Pools” Trap 38:00 – Why More Work Doesn’t Fix a Broken System 40:00 – The Repair Opportunity You’re Missing 44:00 – Turning Pools Into Profit Centers 46:00 – Technician vs Business Owner Mindset 49:00 – Why Most Pool Pros Stay Stuck 50:00 – The Power of Knowing Your Numbers 52:00 – Sponsor Break 56:00 – Key Takeaways: Fix the Foundation Before You Grow 57:30 – What’s Coming in Part 2 (Systems & Scaling) 59:00 – Outro

A huge thank you to our Pool Nation Visionary Partners for making this podcast possible:

• SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply Group
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• EnCore Brands
• Pool Brain
• Nidec
• OnCore Filtration

These companies are investing in the future of pool pros and helping us build a stronger industry.

In episode # 294 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus sits down live at AquaStar with Bryan Chrissan and Michael Kraus to break down one of the most important topics in the pool industry today training, repetition, and real-world experience.

From early career mistakes to high-level field knowledge, this episode dives into what it really takes to build confidence, skill, and success in the pool service industry.

You’ll hear real stories from the field including costly mistakes, hard-earned lessons, and the power of mentorship along with a deep conversation on how education in the industry has evolved from basic classroom learning to hands-on, immersive training.

Whether you’re a new pool tech or a seasoned pro, this episode will challenge how you think about learning, growth, and what it takes to become elite in this industry.

💡 If you’re not getting reps… you’re not getting better.

00:00 – Podcast intro & Visionary Partners 01:00 – Meet Bryan & Michael + setting the stage 03:00 – Industry changes: Then vs. now in training 07:30 – Real-world mistakes (and what they teach you) 12:00 – Travel story + behind-the-scenes laughs 20:00 – Why networking is EVERYTHING in this industry 25:00 – Pool Nation Bootcamps & $10K Pool Pro Challenge 30:00 – The importance of reps in building confidence 36:00 – Rookie mistakes: filters, pumps, heaters & more 41:00 – Learning from failure vs. wasting time 45:00 – The power of mentorship & calling for help 50:00 – Evolution of pool industry education 56:00 – Why hands-on training beats classroom learning 01:05:00 – Creating a safe learning environment 01:10:00 – Real impact: changing lives through training 01:18:00 – Long-term thinking vs. short-term sales 01:25:00 – Relationships vs. transactions in business 01:30:00 – Final thoughts: learn, share, grow 01:40:00 – Outro + where to connect

A huge thank you to our Pool Nation Visionary Partners for supporting this podcast and the pool industry:

• The SPPA
• Blu-ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Nidec
• OnCore Filtration

We appreciate everything you do to help move the industry forward.

In episode #293 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we sit down with industry leaders Alicia Stephens and Michael G to break down what innovation really looks like in the pool industry—and why it matters more than ever for pool service pros, retailers, and business owners.

From next-generation pool chemicals and faster-dissolving chlorine technology to AI-powered training platforms and the future of education, this conversation goes deep into how the industry is evolving—and how you can stay ahead of it.

We’re not just talking about products—we’re talking about thinking differently, solving real problems, and building a better experience for your customers.

You’ll hear how innovation is reshaping:

• Water chemistry and treatment strategies
• Pool service efficiency and troubleshooting
• Retail and customer experience
• Training, certifications, and workforce development

Plus… we tease some major upcoming industry disruption you’re going to want to keep your eye on 👀

If you’re a pool pro, business owner, or industry leader looking to stay competitive, this is a must-listen episode.

• Why “old school” pool chemistry thinking is holding you back
• How new chemical innovations are solving real field problems
• The role of AI in training the next generation of pool pros
• How to simplify your service process and reduce errors
• Why innovation isn’t just for big companies—it’s for YOU

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Pool Nation 02:00 – Meet Alicia Stephens & Michael G 04:30 – Industry energy, culture & community 06:30 – Why innovation matters right now in the pool industry 09:30 – Michael’s background (Harvard, toys, marketing & beyond) 12:00 – Storytelling, branding & marketing in pools 15:00 – What “real innovation” actually means 18:00 – How the pool industry is changing (environment, chemicals, behavior) 22:00 – New product innovation: faster dissolving trichlor & shock technology 26:00 – Solving real problems for pool pros in the field 30:00 – Retail vs service: simplifying chemistry for success 34:00 – Multi-benefit products (the “multivitamin” approach) 38:00 – Algaecide + phosphate innovation explained 42:00 – New category: pool fragrance (yes… seriously 👀) 47:00 – AI-powered training & BioGuard University breakdown 52:00 – The future of education in the pool industry 57:00 – Why embracing change is critical for growth 1:01:00 – Final thoughts: innovation, mindset & opportunity 1:04:00 – Teasing what’s coming next (major disruption ahead)

A huge thank you to our amazing partners who continue to support the Pool Nation mission:

• SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Nidec / U.S. Motors
• OnCore Filtration

Your support helps us continue to bring education, innovation, and growth to pool pros everywhere.

If you’re serious about growing your pool business, improving your chemistry knowledge, and staying ahead of industry trends—make sure you:

✔️ Subscribe to the Pool Nation Podcast ✔️ Share this episode with your team ✔️ Stay plugged into everything Pool Nation

Because the future of this industry belongs to those who learn faster, adapt quicker, and think differently.