2022 Economic Impact of the Swimming Pool Industry Economic Impact: 12,200,000,000 $12.2 Billion 76.8% growth over 5 years, 126% over 8 years 106,492 Jobs New Residential Pool Repair / Refurbishing New Commercial NEW CONSTRUCTION SERVICE AND RETAIL 0 3 6 9 12 YR 2022 YR 2017 YR 2014 $5.4B $6.9B $12.2B Median Selling Price Commercial: $262,500 Residential Pool with Spa: $85,000 Residential Pool only: $61,000 Average Cost of Service Commercial: $312/ visit Residential: $89/ visit 34,079 pools / $2.6B in sales 63% increase since 2014 $2.4B in sales Staffing Averages Retail Store: Full Time 5.6 / Part Time 2.4 Service / Maintenance: Full Time 4.8 / Part Time .7 / Sub .7 *Economic Impact Study was paid for the PIC - Pool Industry Council www.FSPA.com A publication of the Florida Swimming Pool Association www.FloridaPoolPro.biz December 2023
2 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Florida Pool Prosm © 2023 Florida Swimming Pool Association. Al l rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. 2555 Porter Lake Drive, Ste. 106 Sarasota, FL 34240 (941) 952-9293 / (800) 548-6774 Fax: (941) 366-7433 www.FloridaPoolPro.biz Association Mission: Advancing Florida’s swimming pool industry Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth McMurray Sr. Dir. of Marketing & Communications Charis Tyson Senior Director of Government Affairs Dallas Thiesen Office Manager Valerie Swika Director of Workforce Education Courtney Smith Finance & Accounting Manager Janine DeHerrera Events & Programs Manager Jessica Johnson Membership Development Manager Nicki Pressley-Rice PR & Digital Media Specialist Alyssa Holcomb Membership Services Specialist Kelly Sauro President Don Ball The Pool Works of Florida, Inc., Largo Vice President Deidre Bedford West Coast Pools, Bradenton Treasurer Ben Evans American Pools and Spas, Inc., Orlando At-Large Director Jonathan Mosher Signet Pools, Sarasota Past President Mickey Sigmon Pool Pro, Inc., Fort Pierce Published monthly by the Florida Swimming Pool Association CONTENTS Another year in the books President's Column S *** You Should Know Successes of 2023 Chief Executive Officer's Column Florida Pool Industry Generates $12.2 Billion In Economic Activity Managing sustainable growth in a declining economy Service Article Diving into 2024: The Swimming Pool Construction Outlook for the New Year Commercial Article Florida approves 15.1% decrease in workers' compensation rates Insurance Update Chapter News Calendar 4 4 5 7 8 10 14 18 24 All FSPA members are welcome to attend state Board of Directors meetings. If you would like more information or to RSVP, visit industry.floridapoolpro.com or call 800-548-6774. January 2024 Board of Directors Meeting Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort Fort Myers
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 3 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Simple Control for a Great Price TH-2038 11_23 2737 24th St. N. - St. Petersburg, FL 33713 - 727.823.5642 - aquacal.com - autopilot.com California residents visit aquacal.com for Proposition 65 information. *Applies to units equipped with advanced function digital controller. NOW AVAILABLE Control all basic pool functions right through your AquaCal® heat pump and the PoolSync® app. Contact your local HornerXpress® Branch for additional information ® PoolSync® WiFi Controller ChlorSync® Salt Chlorine Generator PoolSync® Relay Center* Pool Filter Pump Control* Valve Actuator* ChemSyncTM Water Chemistry Controller Heat Pump Controller
4 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA PRESIDENT Don Ball FSPA President president@FloridaPoolPro.com Another year in the books The 2022 Florida Legislative Session will run for 60 days from January 9, 2024 until March 8, 2024. FSPA is working on many exciting initiatives for 2024, stay up-to-date by reading Florida Pool Prosm and opening FSPA’s weekly e-mail updates. If you have any government affairs questions, please contact FSPA Senior Director of Government Affairs Dallas Thiesen at 941-9529293 or at Dallas@FloridaPoolPro.com. S *** You Should Know Q: When is the 2024 Florida Legislative Session? By the time you are reading this, the Holidays will be fast approaching. I would like to wish every one of you a happy holiday season. I hope you are able to take some time and enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Our sixth grandchild arrived a month ago; that makes six grandkids under the age of 5. You all know what I will be doing… As the year is winding down and we begin to reflect, my hope for you is that you are pleased with your accomplishments. I personally am excited for the next year. I see a lot of opportunity for our industry and association. The Florida Swimming Pool Association has achieved many milestone accomplishments this year. Here is just a short list. • We set an all-time attendance record at the A:
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 5 FSPA PRESIDENT Everything Under the Sunsm Expo. • Anew website was developed along with a complete rebranding (launching very soon!). • A full-time Membership Development Manager was hired. • We had a successful legislative initiative to lay the groundwork for 2024 legislation to clarify our scope of work as contractors. As many of you are aware, these are massive accomplishments that took everyone’s dedicated effort to complete. Thank you! On a sad note, this will be my last President’s article. To help cheer you up, I would like you to join me in welcoming incoming President, the lovely and talented, Deidre Bedford. Deidre is full of energy and ready to continue the success of the Association. I have served with her for the last seven years and cannot wait for you to experience her leadership. In closing, it has truly been a life changing experience to serve as your President. I look forward to the future and continuing to grow and share with all of you. Here is a chuckle. Aman walks into a pet store and asks for a dozen bees. The clerk counts out 13 bees into a box and hands it to the man. The man says I only want 12 bees. The clerk says, “Don’t worry it’s a freebie…” 2024 FSPA Slate of Officers Vice President Jonathan Mosher Signet Pool Sarasota Secretary Misty Knight Fluidra Oakland Park Treasurer Shawn Wiseman Wiseman Pools Leesburg President Deidre Bedford West Coast Pools, Inc. Bradenton Immediate Past President Don Ball The Pool Works of Florida, Inc. Largo At-Large Director Ken McKenna Tampa Bay Pools Brandon
6 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS CHIEF EXECU IVE OFFICER Successes of 2023 Elizabeth McMurray FSPA Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth@FloridaPoolPro.com Dear Florida Pool Prosm Readers, I love winter and December, not only because it’s a bit cooler here in Florida, but also because it’s a wonderful time to pause and be grateful for all we have and reflect on the successes of the past calendar year. Each year, I usually summarize that for all of you, and share what YOUR Florida Swimming Pool Association has accomplished for its members. Government Affairs This year we finalized the 2023 Building Code with an 83% adoption rate of FSPA’s recommended modifications. This is a huge success representing what our members need in the code to build top quality pools and spas. We also completed our 2022 Economic Impact Study, gathering data from all across the state from our industry partners, learning that our industry represents more than $12.2 billion of economic impact and 100,000 jobs. Also in 2023, our Board of Directors and Code of Ethics Task Force, undertook the project of revamping and updating our FSPA Code of Ethics along with their correlating Processes and Procedures. This will better reflect our high industry standards for the future, and ensure our members are the best of the best with the full support of their industry association behind them. Everything Under the Sunsm Expo In 2023, we had the LARGEST tradeshow ever, with more than 5,145 registered attendees. There were 224 of your favorite exhibitors and more than 1,200 of you attended continuing education at our Expo. We are anticipating surpassing these figures in 2024, so be sure to register as early as possible to guarantee your participation in all your favorite activities with us. The Florida Swims Foundation This year, we reinvigorated our partnership with Every Child a Swimmer, raising and donating more than $150,000 to save lives by teaching children in our state to swim. In addition, we awarded more than $69,000 in postsecondary education scholarships for industry dependents through our Margaret M. Brown Scholarship Fund. In September, we had a fantastic High School Invitational Swim Meet at
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 7 the Rosen Aquatics Center in Orlando, Florida. There were 830 athletes competing and 36 schools represented. Membership Working alongside many dedicated volunteers, during the summer we successfully reactivated the FSPA Miami Chapter. We are now actively supporting our members in this region with a new Chapter Board of Directors, networking events and educational opportunities. In addition, our Board of Directors approved the establishment of two new councils to better represent the respective segments of our industry. We now have a Manufacturers and Distributors Council and a Retail Council. If you’d like to get involved with either, please reach out to your local Chapter to learn more. As you can see, 2023 was a stellar year for our association overall. I hope you can see how YOUR membership dollars were utilized for the betterment of our Association which represents your business and our industry each and every day of the year. For now, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2024! CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER What might be heard at Mount Rushmore about Salt Water Pools... I keep the pH in the correct range. I add conditioner as needed, honestly. I check the salt level and only use AQUASALT. I clean the cell every 2 to 3 months of use. 7.5 x 4.75 Florida Pool Pro
8 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FLORIDA POOL PERMITS Permits provided by HBW / www.hbweekly.com County Name October 2022 October 2023 Alachua County 7 16 Bay County 63 44 Brevard County 99 78 Broward County 184 119 Calhoun County 0 0 Charlotte County 71 100 Citrus County 35 28 Clay County 40 34 Collier County 22 363 Dade County 123 123 Duval County 82 83 Escambia County 28 15 Flagler County 58 43 Franklin County 0 4 Gadsden County 1 0 Gulf County 2 5 Hernando County 26 49 Highlands County 8 15 Hillsborough County 165 199 Holmes County 0 0 Indian River County 50 13 Jackson County 0 0 Jefferson County 1 2 Lake County 56 107 Lee County 143 278 Leon County 18 17 Liberty County 2 0 Manatee County 134 173 Marion County 46 42 Martin County 35 32 Nassau County 25 38 Okaloosa County 37 24 Orange County 178 168 Osceola County 43 73 Palm Beach County 219 294 Pasco County 174 87 Pinellas County 57 53 Polk County 92 56 Putnam County 3 3 Santa Rosa County 65 54 Sarasota County 126 67 Seminole County 7 6 St Johns County 122 140 St Lucie County 56 59 Sumter County 15 54 Volusia County 64 68 Wakulla County 10 6 Walton County 51 48 Washington County 4 5 TOTALS 2847 3285 County Name October 2022 October 2023
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 9 By Dallas Thiesen, FSPA Sr. Director of Government Affairs / Dallas@FloridaPoolPro.com Florida pool industry generates $12.2 Billion in economic activity Recently, the Florida Swimming Pool Association completed an economic impact study to assess the economic productivity the Florida swimming pool and spa industry contributes to Florida’s economy. The study showed that the Florida swimming pool and spa industry generates $12.2 Billion of economic activity per year for the state, growing 78%since 2017 ($6.9 Billion) and 126%since 2014 ($5.4 Billion). At $12.2 Billion per year, the industry accounts for 1.22% of the overall State of Florida GDP of $1 Trillion. The study also shows the Florida swimming pool and spa industry employs more than 100,000 people in the state of Florida, a 63% increase since 2014. Of those employed in the Florida pool industry, approximately 58,000 are working in new construction, renovation and repair while 49,000 are employed in the retail and cleaning and maintenance sector of the industry. The new construction and renovation/repair sector of the Florida industry generates approximately $4.1 Billion per year in economic activity, with $2.6 Billion being accounted for by newpool swimming pool and spa construction to the tune of 34,000 new swimming pools built every year. Within construction, new residential swimming pools and spas ECONOMIC IMPACT
10 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 ECONOMIC IMPACT make up the vast majority of pools and spas built. The retail and cleaning/maintenance sector of the Florida industry generates $2.4 Billion per year for the Florida economy. Recurring cleaning andmaintenance of residential and commercial pools and spas generates approximately $443 Million per year across the state, while retail accessory/chemical sales account for $1.6 Billion. Lastly, the Florida swimming pool and spa industry generates approximately $1.7 Billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue per year. For the state of Florida, the tax revenue is spread across business income taxes, sales taxes, and increases in local property taxes. The Florida industry generates about $230 Million per year in state business income taxes, $126 Million per year in sales taxes, and $29 Million per year in increased local property taxes. This economic impact study shows the strength of the Florida swimming pool and spa industry and demonstrates how important the swimming pool and spa industry is to the State of Florida. If you have any question about the economic impact study, please email FSPA Senior Director of GovernmentAffairs, Dallas Thiesen at Dallas@FloirdaPoolPro. com.
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 11
12 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 By Tom Kelly, Shamrock Pools / tom@shamrockpoolservices.com THE SCOOP ON SERVICE Managing sustainable growth in a declining economy The previous two years have allowed the swimming pool industry to enjoy unprecedented success in many facets, including swimming pool service, repair, remodel, and new construction. Rapid expansion of demand has allowed many companies to flourish and reach new heights, with many having seen recordsetting years. However, this increased growth can lull business owners into a false sense of security that can prove detrimental, or even lethal, to their companies. Increased revenue is clearly something all business owners strive for. The aim for most is to grow their organizations and increase their volume of customers. When business is booming, it is easy for business owners to become hypnotized by large values of revenue, particularly if their company has never before experienced such top-line success. But revenue provides a very small glimpse into a company’s performance. To ensure sustainable growth and to minimize the risk of substantial losses during expansion, it is extremely important that business owners review their financial statements (i.e. balance sheets and income statements) thoroughly and often. Understanding lower line items, such as fixed and variable expenses, can mean the difference between surviving the next economic downturn or having to close shop. Fixed costs can often seal the fate of a business owner if not approached responsibly. As a company experiences growth, they may invest in additional equipment for new service routes, new vehicles for plaster jobs, newmachinery to facilitate new construction, or additional warehouse space for supplies. While the demand for work is present, these are all great purchases to serve an expanding company. However, as demand begins to slow, these items can turn from blessing to curse, as additional expenses mount without additional revenue to pay for them. Variable expenses are just as they seem, decreasing as work slows, and increasing as it picks up. As such, some may argue that these expenses are a lesser factor to consider. However, neglect of such expenses can lead
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 13 to excessively and unreasonably high costs to a company. Consider, for example, the effects of a lack of inventory control. When items are purchased for installation, their expenses are not truly felt by the company, as the company passes them on to the customer when the installation is completed and the final bill is issued. However, failure to track inventory allows greater risk for materials and equipment to become damaged, lost, or worse, stolen. Financial sustainabi l i ty is a growing concern as our industry and the economy have begun to cool off. While the economy may not necessarily be headed for a recession, there is no question it has begun to slow, and many businesses have already begun to feel the decreasing demand for their services. A well-run organization is one that is capable of weathering the ebbs and flows of the industry and the economy, not one that only sees success during a flourishing economy. It is vital to review the financials of your organization now to protect it from lethal losses down the road. Simple metrics such as your company’s debt-to-income ratio can help determine if you are in an overleveraged state, showing if THE SCOOP ON SERVICE Precision Control & BECS Controller Line • Reliable, 30 Year Track Record • All Items in Stock for Immediate Shipment • In-Field Service & Repair by Factory Techs • Leaders in Remote Control & Communication • ORP & Direct Reading PPM • Control Systems at Every Price Level Commercial Energy Specialists Excellence inWater Quality Control Since 1983 FL/Carribean Master Distributor/Service Center www.CESWaterQuality.com 800-940-1557
14 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 THE SCOOP ON SERVICE your company has a substantial commitment in the form of notes or loans accompanying its generated income. When work dissipates, financial commitments remain, causing companies to go belly up. Financing options are an incredibly valuable tool that can help your organization grow, but if misunderstood, they can accomplish the opposite. Furthermore, profit margins are another basic, yet essential, metric which must be monitored in your company. It is easy to stray from profit margin goals, especially with the volatile costs we have seen over the last two years. This is why a designated price book that is constantly maintained is one of the most significant tools you can have in your toolbelt. Meeting your margin on every project, job, or sale will allow you to continue operating your business. This is something that sounds elementary, yet it is often overlooked when bidding against other vendors. As unfortunate as it may sound, there is some work your company cannot afford to win if it requires you to perform it at a razor thin margin or at a high risk for loss. Lastly, solvency ratios provide a great picture of your ability to meet or exceed your financial commitments. Rather than simply comparing your financial commitments to your projected revenues, these ratios also consider the interest owed on your loans. The additional cost to borrow the money can become overwhelming, furthering the notion that you are better suited favoring a lesser-leveraged state. By reviewing your organization’s solvency, you will have a better grasp on your ability to contend with your fixed costs if the industry takes a turn for the worse. Each of the metrics and ideas discussed above are aimed to help prepare for the inevitable “rainy day.” They are at your disposal to ensure your company is equipped to handle the uncertainty of the future. The benefit of reviewing your company’s financial health while business is healthy, is that you have time to correct any issues you discover. If you elect to wait, you may not be afforded the same opportunity. As pool professionals, our collective goal is to help this industry expand and keep as many people swimming as possible, and that all starts with the ones running the show. If you operate your company responsibly, it will pay dividends for generations to come.
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 15 INSURANCE UPDATE Make sure you have the right pool partner. As the only endorsed property and casualty insurance provider of the Florida Swimming Pool Association, Insurance by Ken Brown (IBKB) has been protecting pool contractors for over 40 years. With this vast experience comes expertise, resulting in a higher level of service and coverage, including specialized protection against pool popping. Through our partnership with Amerisure, you can always count on loss protection programs and claims service that set the standard in the industry. So go with a partner you can trust. Give us a call today. Call (800) 940-1543 or email us at info@ibkb.net
16 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 Diving into 2024: The Swimming Pool Construction Outlook for the New Year DIGGING UP IDEAS As we welcome the upcoming dawn of a new year, it's time to look ahead and anticipate the trends and developments that will shape the swimming pool construction industry in 2024. The past year has brought about significant changes and challenges, and it's essential to stay ahead of the curve. In this article, I explore the swimming pool construction outlook after having just attended the International Pool Spa Expo in Vegas for the exciting year ahead. 1. Sustainable Design and Technology: In 2024, sustainability continues to be at the forefront of swimming pool construction. Clients are increasingly interested in eco-friendly pool designs and energy-efficient equipment. Expect to see a rise in demand for features like solar-powered pool heating, LED lighting, and smart pool management systems that reduce water and energy consumption. 2. Customization and Unique Features: The trend toward personalized swimming pool designs shows no sign of slowing down. Homeowners are seeking pools that reflect their unique lifestyles and preferences. This means more innovative and customized features, from vanishing edges and beach entries to waterfalls and fire features. Pool builders should be prepared to offer bespoke designs that cater to individual tastes. 3. Wellness and Health: In the wake of recent global health concerns, there's a growing interest in wellness-focused pool features. Designs that incorporate swimming for exercise, hydrotherapy, and water-based relaxation are gaining popularity. In 2024, expect to see an uptick in requests for swim spas, resistance pools, and saltwater pools, all aimed at promoting health and well-being. 4. Outdoor Living Spaces: Swimming pools are no longer just standalone features in a backyard. They are becoming integral parts of comprehensive outdoor living spaces. In the coming year, pool construction projects will involve creating cohesive environments that include outdoor kitchens, lounging areas, fire pits, furniture By Jeremy Hine, Florida Leisure Pool & Spa, jeremy@floridapoolspa.com
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 17 designs, deck spaces, and even pergolas. The pool is the key of, not center of, an outdoor oasis. 5. Advanced Materials: Advancements in pool construction materials are set to revolutionize the industry in 2024. Expect to see the use of durable, low-maintenance materials like composite decking, natural stone, and advanced pool finish products that enhance both aesthetics and longevity. New engineering in epoxies for improved strength, pool finishes, modification to the hydrating processes for concrete are on the forefront. 6. Digital Visualization and Augmented Reality: Clients want to see their pool designs come to life before construction begins. The use of digital visualization and augmented reality tools will become more prevalent in the pool construction process. This technology allows clients to explore their pool designs in 3D, making it easier to make informed decisions. Clients often don't know what they want until they see it. 7. Skilled Labor and Training: 800.641.9247 www.sgm.cc Specially designed with a patent pending proprietary formula, the six unique Diamond Brite Jewels finishes have unparalleled fade resistance and are highly UV stable. Through the years this will be the catalyst for keeping your rich, vibrant finish color as beautiful as when it was first installed, taking your poolscape from ordinary to something extraordinary. Why the Best Choice for Your Pool is... FSPA_DB_Jewels_half_page_Revision_Aug_2020.indd 1 8/19/2020 11:17:23 AM DIGGING UP IDEAS
18 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 PSN TOP 50 FSPA members on PSN Top 50 Service All five Florida companies on the Pool & Spa News’ annual Top 50 Service list are members of the FSPA. Congratulations on your success. #3 Pool Troopers Tampa / FSPA member for 44 years #2 National Pool Partners Tampa / FSPA member for 1.5 years #40 Master Touch Outdoor Living Coral Springs / FSPA member for 3 years #14 Ike's Carter Pool Companies Oakland Park / FSPA member for 40 yrs #35 Molinari Pools Vero Beach / FSPA member for 7 years Correction: In a previous edition of Florida Pool Prosm an article incorrectly stated the required operating range for ORP/pH controllers. The article is updated to read: “When oxidation-reduction potential controllers are required, the water potential shall be kept between 700 and 850 millivolts.” As the pool const ruct ion industry evolves, so do the skill requi rements. Pool bui lders will need to invest in ongoing training and development for their teams to stay up-to-date with the latest construction techniques, behavioral management and leadership, technology, and safety standards. Conclusion: The swimming pool construction industry is set to embark on an exciting journey in 2024, marked by innovation, sustainability, and personalization. Homeowners are looking for pools that not only offer relaxation but also align with their values and enhance their overall quality of life. As pool builders, staying abreast of these trends and offering innovative solutions will be key to meeting the evolving needs of our clients in the new year. Be sure to take time to take your staff to the Florida Swimming Pool Association’s Everything Under the Sunsm Expo February 23-24 to see products and talk to manufacturers so you are ready for all of these things in 2024. Cheers to a year of making dreams come true, one pool at a time!
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 19 By David Griffiths, Insurance by Ken Brown / dgriffiths@insbykenbrown.com Florida approves 15.1% decrease in workers' compensation rates Businesses in Florida will pay an average of 15.1 percent less in workers’ compensation insurance rates starting January 1, 2024. Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky issued a Final Order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall workers’ compensation insurance rate decrease of 15.1 percent. The rate decrease applies to both new and renewal workers’ compensation insurance policies effective in Florida as of January 1, 2024. Note: Class code 5223 Swimming Pool Construction is reduced by 20.7 percent and class code 9014 Swimming Pool Service is reduced by 12.7 percent. “I’m pleased to announce that Florida businesses will see a reduction in workers’ compensation rates for the seventh consecutive year,” said Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky. “It’s clear the workers’ compensation market in Florida is stable and competitive; I’m confident lower workers’ compensation rates will assist in ensuring that all of Florida’s businesses have the opportunity to succeed in our state.” “As a former small business owner myself, I’m always working to support Florida’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. A decrease in workers’ compensation rates means lower insurance costs for employers, allowing them to put more money back into their business, where it belongs,” said Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. “I’m pleased that Florida’s business owners will benefit from another year of rate relief and look forward to keeping Florida the best place to live, work, and run a business.” “Today’s announcement means more cost-saving opportunities for every business operating in Florida,” saidAgriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Florida is committed to supporting small businesses and I look forward to seeing another year of reduced workers’ compensation rates.” The filing, which was approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, follows an 8.4 percent decrease recommended last year, a 4.9 percent INSURANCE UPDATE
20 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS INSURANCE UPDATE decrease in 2021, and a 5.7 percent cut in 2020. According to written testimony by NCCI officials, much of the decrease, 13.6 percent, is the result of loss experience, trends and benefits paid to injured workers in 2020 and 2021 as of year-end 2022. Florida’s medical costs are expected to rise due to recent medical fee schedule updates, finally allowed after years of debate. The state Department of Administrative Hearings in May dismissed a challenge from Zenith Insurance Co. and others that argued that parts of the reimbursement plan approved by the Division of Workers’ Compensation was out of line with other states and fees are based on inflated hospital charges, not actual payments accepted by the providers. Florida’s experience, in other ways, reflects trends seen across the country. “On a countrywide basis, there was a notable rise in claim costs for 2022, with medical claim costs increasing about 5 percent and indemnity claim costs rising about 6 percent year over year,” the NCCI summary reads. “The workers’ compensation system continues to be healthy. Countrywide, lost-time claims, MADE IN THE USA w w w . p u r i t y p o o l . c o m FAMILIAR FAVORITES FULL SELECTION OF LEAF RAKES STAIN REMOVERS & TILE SCRUBBERS New! PELICAN FEATHERWEIGHT TRASH COLLECTOR SPA SCOOP Red Baron ULTRA-LITE GATOR Pro-Lite Fast & Easy Replacement Parts! Choose From:
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 21 Classification Code Effective 4/1/2003 Effective 7/1/2010 Effective 1/1/2023 Effective 1/1/2024 Swimming Pool Construction 5223 $15.45 $3.60 $3.95 $3.13 Swimming Pool Service 9014 $10.76 $3.98 $2.99 $2.61 Contractor Exec Supervisor 5606 $5.32 $1.14 $1.35 $1.20 Retail Store 8017 $3.86 $1.41 $1.35 $1.20 Plumbing 5183 $12.45 $4.55 $3.38 $2.97 Clerical 8810 $0.72 $0.25 $0.15 $0.25 Outside Sales 8742 $1.41 $0.44 $0.29 $0.25 relative to premium, declined 4 percent in the past year. Private carrier plus state fund net written premium increased about 10 percent to $47.5 billion in 2022, just above the 2019 level.” Private carriers posted a calendar year combined ratio of 84 percent, the sixth straight year with a combined ratio below 90 percent. The NCCI analysis did not include COVID-19 claims and the organization is treating those as part of a catastrophic event. The actual filing was not available online, since it includes “trade secrets” and copyrighted information, OIR and NCCI said. Below is a table with the history of many rates which are relevant to the swimming pool industry: While rates in other lines of insurance continue to rise primarily due to litigation and catastrophe, workers’ compensation, being the most regulated insurance coverage in Florida, continues to experience rate reductions. INSURANCE UPDATE
22 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS YOUR LOYAL FRIEND IN POOL FINANCING ESTABL ISHED IN 1 999 We're here when you need us. Join our network. www.pool loan.net
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 23 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Broward Chapter Volunteer: Stephanie Taggart (954) 868-0230 FSPABroward@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPABroward.com Broward members in the news! Florida Swims Foundation along with the Every Child a Swimmer program is proud to work alongside swim schools such as our member Aqua Champs located in Oakland Park. Just in the past quarter 17 children are now Safe Swimmers because of the Every Child a Swimmer scholarships. Thank you to FSPA and Florida Swims for your continued support; together we can save many lives. We are all proud of Broward members, Ike’s Carter Pool Companies (#14) and Master Touch (#40) were listed in the 2023 PSN Top 50 Service Firms. Great job! We hope you do not miss the Holiday Casino Party Havana Style on December 1. Check out the pictures on our Facebook page. Your Board is in the process of planning great events for 2024. As a collective, we want your participation and input on the future locations, events, and classes. Please make sure to attend the Annual Membership Meeting on January 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Funky Buddha, 1201 NE 38th St., Oakland Park. There will be free food and drinks! It will be a fun night to start out 2024. Eat, drink, and meet with fellow members and sponsors. Thank you, sponsors: AquaCal AutoPilot, Florida Stucco, Fluidra, Hayward, HornerXpress, Lo-Chlor, Pentair, Proline, Raypak, SCP / Pool Corp, SGM, and StoneHardscapes. Thank you, members, for your continued support of growing the Broward Chapter! If you know of a someone who would like to be a part of Chapter, contact us. Please like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/FSPABroward and our Instagram @FSPABrowardChapter.
24 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Central Florida Chapter Coordinator: Sonja Dickey (941) 952-9293 FSPACentralFlorida@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPACentralFlorida.com The Central Florida Chapter would like to wish all our members a happy holiday season! The Chapter would like to welcome Fratelli Pool Service as our newest Chapter member. We are excited to have you be a part of our Chapter! Thank you to the 2023 Chapter Board of Directors for their hard work and dedication to the FSPA throughout the year: President Todd Koonts, Spies Pool; VP Richard Moseley, Holland Pools; Secretary/Treasurer Shawn Wiseman, Wiseman Pools; and Directors Adam Alstott, Tropical Pools; Derek Brown, Insurance by Ken Brown; Ken Martin, Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering; Jay Cunningham, Picture Perfect Pools; Dylan Kain, HornerXpress; Stephen Corbett, Red Rhino Leak Detection; Nick Arceneaux, Solar Source; Letitia Kirwan, Pool Corp; Ben Evans, American Pools & Spas; and Steve Bludsworth, Classic Marcite. The 2024 Central Florida Chapter slate of officers has been elected. Please welcome the new Chapter Board of Directors: President Todd Koonts, Spies Pool; VP Jay Cunningham, Picture Perfect Pools; Secretary/Treasurer Shawn Wiseman, Wiseman Pools; and Directors: Derek Brown, Insurance by Ken Brown; Dylan Kain, HornerXpress; Stephen Corbett, Red Rhino Leak Detection; Nick Arceneaux, Solar Source; Brian Hopgood, Pool Corp; Randy Busch, Pinch a Penny #168; and Steve Bludsworth, Classic The team at American Pools and Spas donated tons of food for Thanksgiving! They are a member of the Central Florida Chapter. Marcite. Thank you for getting involved with your local Chapter. We appreciate your commitment! The next Chapter Board meeting, which all members are encouraged to attend, will be via Teams on January 16 at 12:00 p.m. Watch your inbox for dial-in information. We look forward to seeing you all there.
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 25 Pre-order this license plate and fund free swim lessons! www.SwimForLifeFlorida.org We need help to save children from drowning! We need your help to provide funding for free swim lessons! If we can reach 3,000 pre-orders on the Swim for Life license plate pictured below, the Florida Swims Foundation will have a recurring revenue stream to provide free swim lessons for underserved children throughout Florida. We only have until October 2024 to reach our pre-order threshold or the opportunity will be lost. Pre-order these for yourself and for your company vehicles! Let's flood the state with these colorful license plates and make everyone want to order one! The Problem What YOU Can Do Make the commi tment for your company vehicles and personal vehicles by placing your pre-orders at www. SwimforLifeFlorida.org. Help us spread the word! We need thousands of people on board with this mission! Tell your neighbor, tell your friends, tell your local swim instructors, tell your golf buddies. We have items online you can email and mail to your customers to promote this opportunity to save lives! How it Works You complete the form and pay $35 per plate now. This purchases your voucher. Once the plate is in production you can redeem your voucher at your local DMV / Tax Collector. When you redeem the voucher, you will pay a one-time plate replacement fee of around $35. Each year after, your registration will include $30 for the specialty plate and $25 of that goes to the Florida Swims Foundation to pay for swim lessons. www.SwimForLifeFlorida.org FLORIDA SWIMS
26 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Your incoming 2024 Directors are working on exciting and educational events. Please let us hear from you with any suggestions for speakers or events. If you haven’t already, please like our Facebook page at FSPACentral Florida Chapter to keep up with upcoming events and meetings. Charlotte Harbor Chapter Coordinator: Sonja Dickey (941) 952-9293 FSPACharlotteHarbor@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPACharlotteHarbor.com The Charlotte Harbor Chapter wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The Chapter would like to welcome Balsinger Pool Construction & Remodel, Beautiful Pools, Premix Marbletite, and Sunseeker Pool and Spa as our newest Chapter members. We are excited to have you be a part of our Chapter! Join us for our annual Christmas Party at Oak and Stone at Wellen Park on December 4 at 6:30 p.m. Entry is $30 and includes one drink ticket, dinner, dessert, and FUN! If you would like to participate in the gift exchange, please bring a $20 wrapped gift. See you there! Thank you to the 2023 Chapter Board of Directors for their hard work and dedication to the FSPA throughout the year: President Nicki Pressley-Rice; and President Billy Freyer, Better Pools and Spas; VP Ken Moyer, Brenntag; Secretary David Rovinski, Pool Corp; and Directors: Christina LePoint, The Pool Store of Charlotte County; and Dustin Maherg, Nautilus Pools. We look forward to introducing the elected 2024 Charlotte Harbor Chapter Board of Directors: President Billy Freyer, Better Pools and Spas; VP Ken Moyer, Brenntag; Secretary Wread Richarson Nautilus Pools; and Directors: Christina LePoint, The Pool Store of Charlotte County; and Dustin Maherg, Nautilus Pools. Your incoming 2024 Board is working on exciting and educational events. Please let us hear from you with any suggestions for speakers or events. If you haven’t already, please like our Facebook page at FSPACharlotte Harbor Chapter to keep up with upcoming events and meetings.
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 27 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Book your hotel for the EXPO! Hyatt Regency (9801 International Dr.) $232 / night / Reservations: 407-284-1234 (rate not guaranteed after Jan. 31) Rosen Centre (9840 International Dr.) $219 / night / Reservations: 800-204-7234 (rate not guaranteed after Jan. 30) Four Points by Sheraton (6435 Westwood Blvd.) $159 / night (rate not guaranteed after Jan. 30) East Central Florida Chapter Coordinator: Diane Michael (386) 538-1083 FSPAEastCentralFlorida@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPAEastCentral.com Thank you so much to Joel Gray, Jack’s Magic, for sponsoring the Chapter meeting in November. He always has such a great presentation, and we are always so thankful to have him attend one of our meetings. Joel, thank you for making the long drive up to the East Central Florida Chapter and for all your support of our Chapter! Thank you so much to everyone supporting the Chapter’s 3rd Annual Casino Night! We are so grateful to Larry and Emily Drumb, Pool Renovations by Larry, for chairing this event for the third year. It wasn’t an easy year getting our fundraisers together, but Larry always comes through! Thank you so much, Larry! And thank you to all our sponsors (as of November 15)! Join us December 14 for this Holiday Party / Casino Night at The DAYTONA, Autograph Collection Hotel by Marriott. Title Sponsors: HornerXpress and AquaCal AutoPilot; Bar Sponsors: East Coast Pools & Spas and Fluidra; Food Sponsor: Hayward; DJ Sponsor: Cypress Creek Outdoors; Craps Table Sponsors: VakPak and Waterside
28 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS The East Central Florida Chapter welcomes new member Amylia Carlin, Central Florida Homes and Pools, pictured with prospective new members Greg and Tony along with presenter Joel Gray, Jacks Magic. Electric; Blackjack Sponsor: Aqua Comfort; and Roulette Sponsor: Moore Outdoors. Due to the Casino Night fundraiser, there will not be a Chapter meeting in December. All meetings are currently held on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Houligans, 1725 W International Speedway Blvd., unless otherwise stated. Dinner is available for purchase individually. Future members, the Chapter would like to buy your first dinner with us to get to know everyone. Guests are welcome to attend two meetings prior to joining. Your Board has decided to go with a hybrid approach to this year's meetings and events. Here are tentative 2024 meeting dates (these may change based on your volunteer Board of Directors): January 9, February 13, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10. Please l ike our Facebook p a g e www. f a c e b o o k . c om / FSPAE a s t Ce n t r a l Ch a p t e r a n d o u r I n s t a g r a m @ FSPAEastCentralChapter. Thank you for your continued support! The East Central Florida Chapter meeting in November was sponsored by Jack's Magic.
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 29 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Coordinator: Kelly Sauro (941) 952-9293 FSPAFloridaGulfCoast@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPAGulfCoast.com Phillip Wiesman (lef t) , American Leak Detect ion, and Raul Medina (below), Regions Bank, each gave a presentation at the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter meeting in November. Welcome to the newest member of the Chapter – Leisure Pools of Naples! Thank you for joining. The Chapter meeting in November was hosted by American Leak Detection and Regions Bank. Raul Medina, Regions Bank, provided information to members on small business loans and cleaning up credit reports to apply for a business loan. Phillip Wiesman, American Leak Detection, gave an informative presentation about leaks. Thank you both for presenting! In December we are going to TopGolf for our holiday party! This will be held Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. We are looking for sponsors for this event and we will also need items for a silent auction. If you would like to sponsor or wish to donate items, please contact Kelly Sauro. The Board is working on and planning for 2024, if you would like to sponsor a meeting or have ideas for events, please contact Kelly. We are working hard to have a fun, involved Chapter! Florida West Coast Chapter Coordinator: Malinda Howard (727) 638-6072 FSPAFloridaWestCoast@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPAWestCoast.com The Florida West Coast Chapter would like to wish all of our members a Happy Holiday season! The Chapter Board met on Tuesday, November 7 at Queen’s Pizza in
30 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Clearwater. Thank you to TaylorAndersen and SCPDistributors - Clearwater for sponsoring the lunch. The Board will not be meeting in December. The next Board of Directors meeting will be held at noon on Tuesday, January 9 at Queen’s Pizza in Clearwater. Our Board of Directors meetings are usually scheduled for the first Tuesday of the month. We are always interested in hearing your ideas for Chapter meetings and programs. Thank you to the 2023 Chapter Board of Directors for their hard work and dedication to the FSPA throughout this year: President Rick Howard, Rick’s Pool Service; Vice President Tim Converse, Solar Solutions; Secretary Cathie Alderman, HornerXpress; Treasurer Brian Gangelhoff, A Pool’s Best Friend; and At-Large Directors: Taylor Andersen, SCP Distributors - Clearwater; Don Ball, The Pool Works of Florida; Alex Fletcher, Aquaworx USA; DavidOxley, retiree; and Ray Pearen, Fresh Finish Pools. The Chapter Board of Directors for 2024 will be as follows: President Rick Howard, Rick’s Pool Service; Vice President Tim Converse, Solar Solutions; Secretary Cathie Alderman, HornerXpress; Treasurer Brian Gangelhoff, A Pool’s Best Friend; and At-Large Directors: Don Ball, The Pool Works of Florida; Alex Fletcher, Aquaworx USA; Joel Gray, Jack’s Magic; David Oxley, retiree; and Ray Pearen, Fresh Finish Pools. Thank you to these members for committing their time to continue serving the Chapter in the coming year! Greater Miami Chapter Volunteer: David Griffiths State office: (866) 930-3772 FSPAGreaterMiami@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPAMiami.com Be ready for an active 2024 for the Greater Miami Chapter! Manasota Chapter Coordinator: Sonja Dickey (941) 952-9293 FSPAManasota@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPAManasota.com Happy Holidays to all our members, families, and friends! We wish you all the best during the busiest time of the year! Each year the Chapters have the opportunity to recognize members for
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 31 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS outstanding volunteer work and dedication to the swimming pool industry and FSPA. The FSPA presents the “Director of the Year” to one person in each of the local Chapters. Each Chapter recipient is determined by a vote of the local Chapter membership. The award is based on an individual’s leadership in their Chapter as well as commitment and service to the Chapter. If you would like to nominate a member for Director of the Year, please submit your nominations to me by December 10. All awards will be announced at the Awards Ceremony during the 2024 Everything Under the Sunsm Expo. We would like to take a moment to thank our 2023 Board of Directors for their dedication time, expertise and so much more. They deserve a round of applause: President Todd Starner, Starner Brothers Pools, Inc; VP Micah Dellinger, Pool Corp; Secretary Will Deifenbach, Aqua Leak Detection; and Directors Evan Brown, Ben Brown Insurance; Rob Sanger, Galaxy Pools; John Ellsworth, Aqua Tech Pools GC; Ben Steiner, Red Rhino Leak Detection; Jon Mosher, Signet Pools, and Mike Kopke, Universal White Cement. The 2024 Manasota Chapter slate of officers has been elected. Please welcome the new Chapter Board of Directors: President Todd Starner, Starner Brothers Pools, Inc; VP Micah Dellinger, Pool Corp; Secretary Will Deifenbach, Aqua Leak Detection; and Directors Evan Brown, Ben Brown Insurance; Rob Sanger, Galaxy Pools; John Ellsworth, Aqua Tech Pools GC; Jonathan Mosher, Signet Pools; Kent Kimes, Kimes Engineering; Daniel Yohann Sparkling Kleen Pools; and Allan Quickel, New Dawn Electric. The year is coming to an end. We will not have a Board meeting until January 2024. Enjoy the rest of the year and know we are planning a wonderful, funfilled 2024. The next Chapter Board meeting, which all members are encouraged to attend, will be after the state Board Meeting in January. The Chapter Board Meeting is Tuesday, January 9 at 11:45 a.m. at the FSPA T.E.C. Center. Your incoming 2024 Board of Directors is starting to work on exciting and educational events for next year. Please let us hear from you with any suggestions for speakers or events. If you haven’t already, please like our Facebook page at FSPAManasota Chapter to keep up with upcoming events and meetings.
32 Florida Pool Prosm • December 2023 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS North Central Florida Chapter Coordinator: Sonja Dickey (941) 952-9293 FSPANorthCentralFlorida@FloridaPoolPro.com www.FSPANorthCentral.com Happy Holidays to all of our members, families and friends! We wish you all the best during the busiest time of the year! The Chapter would like to welcome SwimState Pool Service as our newest Chapter member. We are excited to have you be a part of our Chapter! Ahuge round of applause for the 2023 North Central Florida Chapter Board of Directors. This Chapter should be proud of their Board as they reached so many goals in one year! In 2023 the Chapter organized a successful 2nd Annual Clay Shooting Tournament, hosted two CE classes, hosted Inaugural Tubing the Ichetucknee River, and were able to donate funds to the Margaret M Brown Scholarship Fund of the FSPA, Florida Swims Foundation, and the Pool Industry Political Action Campaign (PIPAC). Way to go! Thank you, President Mike Canto, Fun State Pools; VP Dino Muggeo, Dino’s Pool Service and Repair; Secretary Brent Handy, Paragon Pools; Treasurer Jeremy Hine, Florida Leisure Pool & Spa; and Director Larry Losciale, Easy Modern Living. The 2024 North Central Florida Chapter slate of officers has been elected. Please welcome the new Chapter Board of Directors: President Mike Canto, Fun State Pools; VP Dino Muggeo, Dino’s Pool Service and Repair; Secretary Brent Handy, Paragon Pools; Treasurer Jeremy Hine, Florida Leisure Pool & Spa; and Director Larry Losciale, Easy Modern Living; and Tim Martin, SCP. Thank you for getting involved with your local Chapter. We appreciate your commitment! Each year the Chapters have the opportunity to recognize members for outstanding volunteer work and dedication to the swimming pool industry and FSPA. The FSPA presents the “Director of the Year” to one person in each of the local Chapter. Each Chapter recipient is determined by a vote of the local Chapter membership. The award is based on an individual’s leadership in their Chapter as well as commitment and service to the Chapter. If you would like to nominate a member for Director of the Year, please submit your nominations to Sonja by December 10. All awards will be announced at the
December 2023 • Florida Pool Prosm 33 FSPA CHAPTER NEWS Awards Ceremony during the 2024 Everything Under the Sunsm Expo. Mark your calendars early! SCP is proud to present our 3rd annual Sporting Clay Shoot on February 3 at Bradford Sportsman’s Farm. Thank you HornerXpress, Lo-Chlor, National Pool Route Sales, R & R Ranch Co., and SCP for sponsoring this event. Interested in being a sponsor? Contact Sonja. The next Chapter Board Meeting, which all members are encouraged to attend, will be January 17 at 7:00 p.m. via Teams. Meeting information will be shared as we get closer to the date. Your incoming 2024 Board is working on exciting and educational events. Please let us hear from you with any suggestions for speakers or events. If you haven’t already, please like our Facebook page at FSPA North Central Chapter to keep up with upcoming events and meetings. IN REMEMBERANCE: DAN JOHNSON - 07/30/1946 - 11/8/2023 (77) Past president Dan Johnson had been part of the pool industry since 1974. He was an active member of the FSPA for many years and had a great impact on the association and the industry. Dan proudly served in the Air Force for 4 years. After his military service, he embarked on a successful career as a self-employed individual with Swim Inc. Outside of work, Dan enjoyed traveling and spending quality time with his family. Dan spent multiple years on the local Chapter Board as well as the state Board. He was on the state Board in 1998 and moved into committee chair positions in 2000 with PIPAC and in 2001 in Membership and the Trade Show Committee. He served on the Executive Committee 2002 - 2004 including President in 2003. He spent many years involved in the writing of national standards. He also taught many years at the FSPA trade show and at local Chapters. He was always willing to volunteer and cared about the well being of the pool industry. In 2004 Dan was recognized as Person of the Year and in 2009 was inducted into the FSPA Hall of Fame for his dedication and years of service. He will be missed. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and their daughters Shannon, Amy, and Britany, and 12 grand children and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to SRQ Vets.
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