E-221 Pool Nation Podcast - The Best of Pool Nation Podcast

The Pool Nation Community Comes Together

When 348 pool professionals from across the United States and Puerto Rico gather in one place, you know something special is happening in the industry. The Pool Nation Podcast's latest episode captures the excitement and energy surrounding their annual conference and awards ceremony, while diving deep into the power of business networking and community building in the pool industry.

Host Edgar De Jesus and his co-hosts John "JJ Flawless" and Zach "the pool boy" Nicholas share behind-the-scenes insights into what it takes to bring together hundreds of pool professionals for education, networking, and celebration of industry excellence.

The Massive Undertaking of Industry Events

Organizing a major industry conference isn't just about booking a venue and sending invitations. The Pool Nation team reveals the incredible amount of preparation required, especially when you're away from your business for an extended period.

And when you leave for two weeks, the amount of preparation that you need to do home-wise, I think I underestimated it at the beginning, right? Because I'm used to three, five days or whatever, no big deal. But two weeks, man, that's a long time.

— John "JJ Flawless", Pool Nation Podcast

This challenge highlights a crucial reality for pool business owners: balancing industry involvement with day-to-day operations. The hosts emphasize that successful participation in industry events requires careful planning and delegation to ensure your business continues running smoothly in your absence.

Building Bridges Through Business Networking

The episode's central theme revolves around "building bridges" and the transformative power of business networking within the pool industry. The Pool Nation Conference demonstrates how bringing professionals together creates opportunities for knowledge sharing, relationship building, and industry advancement.

The conference features four distinct educational tracks:

• Technical training for hands-on skills development
• Business strategies for company growth
• Hands-on workshops with equipment and tools
• Retail-focused sessions for store owners

We hope that you tune in, that you enjoy this and everybody tune in on Wednesday for the Pool Nation Awards. We're really, really, really excited about that. We've got 25 different categories. We're doing the Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement.

— Edgar De Jesus, Pool Nation Podcast

Innovation in Industry Education: The Pool Nation Business Bar

One of the most innovative features introduced at this year's conference is the "Pool Nation Business Bar" – a concept modeled after Apple's Genius Bar but designed specifically for pool business challenges.

We are going to have the Pool Nation Business Bar. And really, it's tailored after the Apple Bar where you show up. You bring your Apple phone, and you go, hey, I have a problem. I don't know how to fix this. And they sit down with you, and they help you fix it. It's the same thing, but for business.

— Edgar De Jesus, Pool Nation Podcast

This innovative approach addresses real-world business challenges pool professionals face, covering areas such as:

• Business scaling strategies
• Human resources management
• Branding and marketing
• Financial planning and management
• Retirement planning

The one-on-one consultation format ensures personalized attention and practical solutions that attendees can implement immediately in their businesses.

The Growth of Industry Recognition

The Pool Nation Awards have evolved into a major industry celebration, with 25 different categories recognizing excellence across various aspects of the pool business. The event's popularity is evident in its rapid sellout and the overwhelming response from industry professionals.

Let's wrap our heads around this. We're talking 500 people that are going to be at the, and we're still a week out before the awards. And there's going to be more people that are going to want to come. That is just bonkers, man.

— John "JJ Flawless", Pool Nation Podcast

The awards ceremony, followed by the after-party at Dallas's historic Union Station, represents more than just recognition – it's a celebration of the community that has formed around shared professional values and mutual support.

The Strategic Partnership Ecosystem

Throughout the episode, the importance of industry partnerships becomes clear. The Pool Nation team acknowledges numerous sponsors and partners who make their events possible, from Ultimate Pool Tools and SPPA to Natural Chemistry and Hayward Pool Products.

These partnerships demonstrate how successful industry events require collaboration between manufacturers, distributors, service providers, and media companies. Each partner brings unique value to the ecosystem, whether through financial support, product expertise, or promotional reach.

The strategic nature of these relationships extends beyond simple sponsorship – they represent a network of companies committed to advancing the entire industry through education and professional development.

Practical Lessons for Pool Business Owners

Several key insights emerge from the hosts' discussion about balancing business operations with industry involvement:

Preparation is Critical: Extended absences from your business require significantly more preparation than short trips. Business owners must plan weeks in advance, ensure proper delegation, and have contingency plans in place.

Community Investment Pays Dividends: While participating in industry events requires time and resources, the networking opportunities, education, and relationship building provide long-term benefits that justify the investment.

Innovation Drives Engagement: New formats like the Business Bar show how traditional conference models can be enhanced to provide more personalized, practical value to attendees.

Growth Requires Adaptation: As events grow in size and scope, organizers must continuously adapt their approach to maintain quality while accommodating increased demand.

Conclusion: The Power of Professional Community

The Pool Nation Podcast episode reveals how industry events serve as catalysts for professional growth and business development. With 348 pool professionals attending from across the US and Puerto Rico, the conference demonstrates the hunger for education, networking, and community within the pool industry.

The success of events like the Pool Nation Conference and Awards ceremony reflects a maturing industry that values professional development, recognizes excellence, and invests in collective growth. For pool business owners, participation in such events isn't just about learning new techniques or seeing new products – it's about being part of a community that elevates the entire industry.

As the pool industry continues to evolve, events like these will likely play an increasingly important role in setting standards, sharing best practices, and building the relationships that drive innovation and growth across the sector.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Welcome and PSP Expo Update
• 02:30 Awards Preparation and Personal Updates
• 05:45 Business Preparation Challenges
• 08:20 Pool Nation Conference Details
• 12:15 The Pool Nation Business Bar Innovation
• 15:30 Awards Growth and Community Response
• 18:45 Partnership Acknowledgments