How Aiden Dunn Bought His Dad's Pool Business and Won Pool Guy of the Year

In the span of just a few months in late 2023, Aiden Dunn collected three major industry recognitions: he became an IPSSA regional director, won Pool Nation's Pool Guy of the Year award, and took home IPSSA's Pool Pro of Tomorrow honor. It was, as he puts it, "a nice little run."

But the path to those accolades started decades earlier, when Aiden was a kid watching his father build a pool service business from scratch, swearing to himself that he'd never follow in those footsteps.

Growing Up in the Pool Business

Aiden's father started the family pool service business in 1989 with just 40 to 50 pools. For the next two decades, he ran it as a one-man operation, occasionally bringing on employees but mostly handling everything himself.

"I've been doing this a long time, but basically since I was born, my dad started his — my business, I guess now — back in 1989. So he started out just with 40, 50 pools or so. Was a one-man show for about 25 years, 20 years or so."

— Aiden Dunn, Pool Nation Podcast

Like many children of pool professionals, Aiden grew up around the business. He saw the early mornings, the chemical runs, the emergency calls. And like many of those kids, he decided early on that this wasn't the life for him.

"I told myself I never wanted to be a pool guy growing up and moved away for a while."

— Aiden Dunn, Pool Nation Podcast

The Return Home

After moving away and experiencing life outside the pool industry, something shifted for Aiden. He began to see the opportunities he'd overlooked as a kid — the flexibility, the outdoor work, the ability to build something substantial.

He came back, but not as an employee. He bought the business from his father, transforming from the kid who wanted nothing to do with pools into the owner of a multi-decade pool service operation.

"Saw what the pool industry had to offer. Moved back and bought the business from him and basically took off from there."

— Aiden Dunn, Pool Nation Podcast

Scaling Too Fast, Then Finding Balance

With fresh eyes and new ambition, Aiden immediately started growing the business. He began hiring employees and expanding the customer base. But like many entrepreneurs, he learned that growth without structure can be dangerous.

"Started hiring people, growing a little faster probably than we should have at first. Toned it back a little bit and then stayed pretty steady. And we're in a bit of a transitional period again right now, but just been growing strong for seven, eight years now."

— Aiden Dunn, Pool Nation Podcast

The admission is refreshingly honest. Many pool service owners have experienced the same pattern: the excitement of growth followed by the realization that systems, training, and infrastructure need to catch up before you can scale sustainably.

Aiden's solution was to "tone it back" — slowing down to build the foundation that would support long-term growth rather than chasing short-term expansion.

A Pattern Across the Industry

What makes Aiden's story particularly interesting is how common it is. The hosts of the Pool Nation Podcast noted that his journey mirrors what they see repeatedly in their 30 Under 40 award nominations.

"That's such a common thing that we hear from people... when we're going through all of the 30 under 40 entries is it was a family business. And as a kid, I wanted nothing to do with it."

— Pool Nation Podcast hosts

There's something about growing up in the pool industry that makes the next generation initially reject it, only to come back with a deeper appreciation for what their parents built. The pattern suggests that exposure to the business as a child creates both the skills and the eventual desire to continue the legacy — even if it takes a detour to realize it.

The Awards Run

In late 2023, Aiden's work in the industry received significant recognition. Within the span of a few months:

• November 2023: Elected as IPSSA regional director at their board meeting in Las Vegas
• Days later: Won Pool Nation's Pool Guy of the Year award
• January 2024: Received IPSSA's Pool Pro of Tomorrow award

When asked about the experience, Aiden maintained characteristic humility: "It was a good couple of months there. Yeah, I had a nice little run... Humbling as always, but it was fun."

Lessons for Pool Service Owners

The Family Business Advantage

Growing up in a pool service family provides an education that no certification can match. Even if you leave the industry, you carry knowledge about customer relationships, water chemistry, and business operations that becomes invaluable if you return.

It's Okay to Step Away

Aiden's time away from the industry gave him perspective. Sometimes the best thing for a future pool business owner is to experience other work first. It provides comparison, builds appreciation, and often develops skills that transfer back to the family business.

Growth Requires Patience

Scaling too fast is a common trap. Aiden's honest admission about growing "faster than we should have" and then pulling back offers a valuable lesson: sustainable growth requires building systems alongside customer count.

Industry Involvement Pays Off

Aiden's recognition came partly through his involvement with IPSSA and the broader pool community. Getting involved in industry organizations creates connections, learning opportunities, and visibility that solo operators miss out on.

The Next Generation

Aiden Dunn's story represents a growing trend in the pool industry: second-generation owners who bring fresh perspective to established businesses. They combine the institutional knowledge passed down from their parents with new ideas about technology, marketing, and business operations.

For the business his father started in 1989, the future now includes modern growth strategies, industry recognition, and a leader who chose the pool life after seeing what else was out there — and deciding this was exactly where he wanted to be.

Related Resources

If Aiden's story resonates with you, here are some resources to help you grow your pool business:

• How to Start a Pool Service Business: Complete Guide
• Pool Route Valuation Guide — useful if you're buying or selling a family business
• IPSSA Membership Benefits Guide
• Case Study: Josh Sandler's Multi-Generational Pool Business
• Case Study: James Broderick's Referral-Only Business