NESPA: New Depths Podcast: Recent Episodes
Northeast Spa & Pool Association
The NESPA: New Depths Podcast is hosted by Northeast Spa & Pool Association's (NESPA) Executive Director, Dominick Mondi and features guests who will address various elements of the pool and spa industry.
As Jeff joins the NESPA team as Industry Trainer, learn more about our plans for upcoming education programs.
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In this episode, Dominick sits down with Julie Kazdin, president of NESPA’s Board of Directors. Julie shares how leadership lessons learned working with NESPA and our Long Island Chapter have impacted her company, Kazdin Pools & Spas. They discuss the challenges and the rewards of taking on leadership for a volunteer organization and how our volunteers have always been the key to NESPA’s success.
In this episode, Dominick chats with Chuck Rienzi, founder of Aquatic Artists. After years of working in the landscape business, he evolved into creating ponds for his clients. As the business grew, Chuck found the company's niche, focusing exclusively on natural stone water features. This focus came in place in 2005, and now he works on 50 to 60 projects a year with pool builders in 4 states. Chuck believes his most significant achievement over the last 17 years is having the same core team from the beginning. Chuck also shares why he makes a point to enter NESPA's Outstanding Achievement Awards each year and what it means to his team when they win.
In this episode, Dominick catches up with Jesse Lubar, CEO of OMG National. OMG works with nearly 10,000 small businesses to help them navigate the near-constant evolution of internet marketing. As a NESPA partner, OMG has worked with pool companies to improve their lead generation. Jesse walks us through how a small business can reimagine its marketing mix to maximize the possibilities that digital marketing offers in today’s marketplace.
In this episode, we visit Loop-Loc headquarters in Hauppauge, NY. Frank Vingerhoets, Director of Professional Services for Loop-Loc, shares how Loop-Loc has evolved since the 1970s and how he found his way into the swimming pool industry through the company. Frank walks us through how products have progressed to address the complexity of today’s swimming pools. Learn how the company brings together hand-crafted work with advances in technology.
We check back in with Tom Flint of Thomas Flint Landscape Design and Development in this episode. With nearly 20 years in the industry and 10 years as a NESPA, Tom shares how he stays inspired to tackle new projects and how his company has evolved with the support of his peers at NESPA. Year after year, Tom enters NESPA’s Outstanding Achievement Awards as a way to push himself and his team to do better. Beyond taking home the gold himself, he is always impressed to see what everyone else has been up to each year.
In this explosive episode, Dom is joined by Steve Barnes – Director of Science and Compliance for AquaStar Pool Products. You probably know Steve from his years teaching at the Pool & Spa Show, but did you know he spent 30 years as a pyrotechnician – creating and executing full-scale firework displays. Steve is a 38-year veteran of the pool & spa industry, chairs the PHTA Technical Committee, ANSI/APSP-16, the Federal VGB Pool & Spa Safety Act drain cover standard, and ANSI/APSP/ICC-15 Standard for Residential Swimming Pool Energy Efficiency.
Steve not only walks us through the May 2021 updates to the VGB Act but brings us back to where this all started in 2007 and the chaos created by the initial implementation being retroactive. Learn more about what the new changes mean for your business and how you can stay in compliance with federal regulations.
In this episode of New Depths , we tackle marketing fundamentals for pool pros with Brett Abbott. A regular presenter at The Pool & Spa Show, Brett has focused his consulting business exclusively in the pool and spa industry for over 15 years. Brett shares insights on the essentials you need in your marketing program to position your company for long-term success. Dominick and Brett talk about how to determine what your company’s story is and how to communicate that to your current customers and potential customers.
In this episode, we talk with Brian Diglio of Blue Wave Pool Service & Supplies With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Brian played a crucial role in developing the Rookie to All-Star - Pool Service Fundamentals program with NESPA. Brian was at the NESPA Headquarters to deliver the course to a new group of rookies. He shares with Dominick how the training center at NESPA brings the lesson he teaches to life. More than just the equipment and hands-on learning, the networking done within the class can help you grow as a professional. Listen and learn how to bring an education focus to your company this season.
In this episode of New Depths, Dom is joined by Amy Rullo (past president of NESPA and current president of the Penn-Jersey Chapter) and Sarah Garrahan (past president of Penn-Jersey Chapter. They share their personal journeys as women working in our industry and how Penn Jersey launched the Women in the Industry group. Learn more about the successes of WITI, what they are planning next and how you can get involved with them no matter where your company is located.
We kick off season 2 of New Depths with Jim Dorsey of Kayden Manufacturing. Jim’s path into the pool industry is one of the most unique we’ve heard, but somehow it makes complete sense.
In the late ’90s, Jim began working with punk rock legends, the Misfits. He started managing merch and slowly took on more responsibilities, and ultimately landed as manager as the band traveled worldwide. Recognizing the gaps in his schedule and earning more, Jim followed a friend into the pool industry, and within six months, they started their own business – All American Pool Service & Supplies.
Recognizing how he needed to learn more, Jim and his team jumped full steam ahead into education with NESPA. And in true Jim fashion, he’s taken all that he’s learned and is now an instructor, most recently at The Pool & Spa Show.
In Episode 73 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we talk to Dominick Mondi Executive Director of NESPA, and his journey into the pool industry. We talk about the history of NESPA and its advocacy for the pool industry. We talk in detail about the Pool Spa Show that will take place in Atlantic City on January 25th to 27th and what it takes to put on such a large event. Dom discusses the expo part of the show with over 300 vendors and how their education encompasses over 110 education classes that cover water chemistry, business classes such as hiring the right candidates, and even the hands-on classes they offer. A must listen podcast.
In Episode 14, Dominick catches up with Chris Rauschenbach of Puravida Outdoor Living. Chris was born into the industry and worked for many years on the distribution side for his family’s company – Seaboard Industries. He recently took the leap and launched his own backyard design and construction business.
Chris shares why one of the first things he did was as a company owner was to join NESPA! Dominick and Chris chat about his passion for pool construction and how the craft of swimming pool design and construction is evolving with new technology.
It’s the collaboration we’ve all been waiting for! Leaders from the Northeast Spa & Pool Association and the National Plasterers Council sit down to discuss winterization, including their joint Winter Effects Taskforce. In this cross-over episode of Smooth Finishes and New Depths, Dominick is joined by incoming NESPA President Chas Bogardus and the team from NPC - Brent Lane, Chris Marcano, and Rob Romano (wearing two hats as Vice-Chair of NPC and Secretary of NESPA). This is a two-part episode so stay tuned.
In Episode 13, we continue our conversation with NPC’s Smooth Finish and discuss the many ways our organizations work together, the importance of industry collaboration, and how joining efforts is just plain smart. We dive deeper into our Winter Effects Taskforce and share what will be happening at each of our Trade Shows in 2022.
Participants from Smooth Finish- Brent Lane, Chris Marcano, Rob Romano
Participants from New Depths- Dom Mondi and Chas Bogardus
In this Episode 11, Dominick catches up with Howard Roberts of Liquidscapes. They chat about crafting the perfect outdoor environment design specifically for each customer. He shares the balance between big picture elements and the small details he needs to deliver exactly what works for each homeowner. After 40+ years in the industry, Howard shares his career path and how now, decades later, his son is blazing his trail in the pool and spa industry.
In Episode 10, we talk with Amy Rullo, president of NESPA. As Amy wraps up her year as the association's president, she looks back at the many challenges we faced in 2020 and 2021. She also shares with us what she's excited about as we look ahead to the tremendous opportunities for our industry and the innovative approaches NESPA is taking to support us.
In this episode, Peter Muehlbronner, owner of AHI Consulting, shares with us the ins and outs of swimming pool inspections in real estate transactions. After starting his career in construction, Peter transitioned into home inspections and then added swimming pool inspections due to growing demand. With a focus on proper training, constantly staying up to date on pool construction and codes, Peter helps homeowners understand their new properties with swimming pools and educates them about safety on their new property. In addition, he highlights the critical pool features he focuses on during each inspection.
In Episode 5, we talk with Landon Eafrati from Fluidra about what the Internet of Things (IoT) means for pools. IoT is in almost every house - cell phones, tablets, smart TVs, lights, garage door opener, thermostat, door locks, doorbell- the list goes on and on. Why Not Pools?
Homeowners are almost expecting “smart” applications for pools, and acting on that expectation simplifies the sales process. Landon walks us through the internet of Pool Things and how to deliver what every customer is looking for in a well-priced, easy-to-use automation system.
As a leader in the commercial market, Ben shares how ongoing training is the foundation of his company’s success and how networking across various industry groups benefits his professional growth. He also shares how his company works with young people to fill the high demand for lifeguards in today’s market.
NESPA Executive Director Dominick Mondi sits down with Frank Christiana from the The Liner Specialists, Inc. and talk about the Vinyl Liner industry and some Mets talk.
In Episode 3, Brian Siegel from Northstar Pool Company talks about how he took over the business his father, William Siegel, and mentor Richard Davis started. He shares why long-term client relationships are the key to its success and a core company value.
Brian also talks about how he trains his employees to have a safety mindset on every job site and how he works with clients to make sure their backyard is safe to enjoy their pools with less worry.
In this episode, we talk with Sean Meyers and Dustin Weller, the owners of DS Pool Service.
They share their paths to joining the pool industry, why they chose to join forces and how they manage employees in peak season and slower times.
Northeast Spa & Pool Association Executive Director Dominick Mondi interviews Chas Bogardus from Budd's Pools on preparing your business for the upcoming season, how COVID impacted the industry and much more.