Southwest Pool & Spa Show 2025

Course Description

0.1 IACET CEUs

This unique session is based on a 2024 survey of more than 500 pool industry business owners across the U.S. who were “What are the top concerns you are facing right now?” Presented by Brett Abbott, industry marketing consultant and founder of Pool Builder Marketing and Dane Wiseman, industry digital marketing specialist, this presentation will review respondent’s top industry concerns, and share the specific recommendations for plotting today’s course into an uncertain tomorrow. 

Learning Objectives

• Discuss shrinking lead flow and ineffective prospect generation.
• Examine the effects of high interest rates, economic uncertainly and international instability, and ongoing labor challenges.
• Consider shrinking markets and how to integrate alternative markets.
• Explore the impact and opportunities offered by artificial intelligence.

Instructors

Brett Abbott

Dane Wiseman

Course Description

0.8 IACET CEUs

Operating a construction, service, and/or retail business can be a rewarding experience but it also comes with great responsibility and potential liability. Quality watershaping firms need to be on top of their games in both their external client-facing efforts, and also internally on corporate / personnel-facing operations. This 8-hour lecture introduces students to a broad range of important management topics and provides tools to help them apply basic best practices to their business. 

Learning Objectives

• Identify key facets of running a business, including general and administrative issues, human resources, information technology, legal concerns, marketing, advertising, and sales.
• Describe contracts, insurance, liability, and dealing with difficult clients.
• Explore how to establish a healthy company culture, including hiring practices and how to retain and retrain employees to reflect that culture.
• Develop strategies for growth, from marketing and sales techniques, through construction and finally seamless hand-offs to ensure positive referrals.

Instructors

Chris Volk, IWI

Julie Kazdin, IWI

Course Description

0.8 IACET CEUs

Although you may have used shotcrete subcontractors for years, do you know what to look for to be sure you’re achieving a quality installation? Shotcrete is a familiar and widely used concrete placement method used for various applications, including swimming pools. Compared to poured concrete, it involves fundamentally different equipment, material selection, crew responsibilities, application techniques, testing, curing, and personal protection. This course from Watershape University and the American Shotcrete Association provides crucial guidance on over 40 critical elements of shotcrete application that on-site pool-contractor personnel can use to properly evaluate the overall quality of shotcrete placement. Armed with this information, observers can readily use visual clues that confirm that the material’s placement is creating a high-quality and durable concrete pool shell. Key knowledge areas include an overview of material selections, equipment, placement techniques, finishing, curing, protection, testing, and jobsite safety. This vital information will help the pool contractor or owner verify that they are getting quality work from their shotcrete subcontractors. It may also be useful to the shotcrete contractor to better communicate and confirm the quality of their work to their pool contractors or owners.

Learning Objectives

• Gain a fundamental understanding of the wet-mix and dry-mix (gunite) shotcrete process.
• Describe ACI and other Industry standards that detail acceptable shotcrete placement.
• Identify quality materials and placement methods.
• Recognize proper application techniques, and missteps that can reduce the quality of the final product.

Instructors

Charles Hanskat

Course Description

1.6 IACET CEUs

Custom tile installations come with high expectations and often extravagant client investments, making absolute perfection the only acceptable outcome. Clearing that high bar requires a carefully controlled work environment, and complete command of proven installation techniques. This comprehensive presentation offers a framework for ensuring artisan execution and superior results in all environmental conditions. Taught by Luke and Amy Denny, one of the industry’s leading and most sought-after tile-installation artisans, students will go on a deep and detailed dive into the installation process. From how to properly tent and protect tile-installation environments, to the use of setting materials, understanding tile characteristics, and assembling a skilled labor force that is prepared to work at the highest level through seasonal and multi-seasonal projects, this course defines the roadmap to tile-installation success and professional prowess. 

Learning Objectives

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Tile Industry Standard for tile installations in submerged environments, TCNA P-602.
• Identify best practices for designing glass tile within pool environments.
• Explore methods, tips, tools for preparing a shell to receive a mosaic full-tile layout, in-class and hands-on.
• Review hands-on techniques for mortar rendering and installation.

Instructors

David J. Peterson, P.E., IWI 

Amy & Luke Denny

Course Description

1.6 IACET CEUs

As existing pools age and ownership turns over to a new generation, major renovations have become a larger and larger part of the watershape construction market. This in-depth, two-day major renovation design course is formatted with a series of targeted lectures supporting an interactive renovation design project.

Learning Objectives

• Explore the scope and nuances of major renovation projects.
• Review images that will inspire design and illustrate key concepts.
• Develop a complete renovation project from site analysis, troubleshooting existing problems and failures, through first-draft design.
• Describe the scope of work, design, material selection, structural engineering, mechanical systems, construction considerations and project management.

Instructors

Ben Lasseter, IWI

Chris Volk

Course Description

0.2 IACET CEUs

WU’s Project Profile Track highlights outstanding and unique work presented by the industry’s leading designers and builders. 

Learning Objectives

• Review high-end residential project profiles.  Examine, project conditions, client expectations and design challenges.
• Describe the collaborative process with clients and other project team members.
• List design changes, engineering considerations, project limitations, design and detail execution.
• Discuss completed projects and learning experiences/takeaways.

Instructors

Ben Lasseter, IWI

Course Description

0.2 IACET CEUs

This in-depth program details the requirement established by the American Concrete Institute, American Shotcrete Association and other organizations for concrete structures and shotcrete. The ASA contributes to the development of the ACI codes, which include shotcrete-specific guidelines and position statements designed to help ensure proper placement and overall strength. Students will examine the important requirements of ACI Shotcrete Nozzleman Certification. 

Learning Objectives

• Define code requirements for shotcrete found in the International Building Code, the American Concrete Institute 318 & 350.
• Review American Shotcrete Association’s guidelines and position statements.
• Discuss design, engineering, details, overview of parameters needed in place before, during, and after shooting takes place.
• Examine nozzleman certification.

Instructors

Charles Hanskat, ASA

Bill Drakeley, ACI, IWI

Course Description

0.1 IACET CEUs

Many builders have added maintenance services to their portfolio because it provides regular cash flow and they protect their own projects for several years instead of handing it over to unqualified service companies before the plaster has even cured. Are maintenance services part of your business plan in the future? It should be considered if you are worried about cash flow and the next economic downturn. This course will outline some strategies to get started.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss integrating pool maintenance services into your existing business model, including the necessary equipment, staffing, and training requirements.
• Identify three clear, potential paths to get started in the service sector and the pros and cons of each.
• List the long-term benefits of adding maintenance services to your construction company — there are more than you think!

Instructors

Chris Volk, IWI