The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, is proud to announce the winners of its 2025 Superlative Awards, including Builder of the Year, Service Professional of the Year, Retailer of the Year, International Hot Tub Association (IHTA) Hot Tub Retailer of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Chapter of the Year.
The 2025 PHTA Superlative Award winners will be recognized during the PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception on October 21 in Las Vegas, NV, as part of the International Pool Spa Patio Expo.
“This year’s PHTA Superlative Awards truly show the breadth, depth, and strength of our industry,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President & CEO of PHTA. “These individuals and organizations understand the importance of raising up those around them, which in turn elevates the pool, spa, and hot tub industry as a whole. I am so impressed by their dedication and commitment to their craft. Congratulations to all 2025 PHTA Superlative Award winners!”
2025 PHTA Superlative Award Winners
This year’s award winners are as follows:
Builder of the Year
Mike Church, Cody Pools
The Builder of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award given annually to one PHTA builder member who has advanced the pool building profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.
Mike Church, President and CEO of Cody Pools, took over the company in 2003, overseeing 19 employees and two offices. Over the last two decades, Church has successfully grown the company and now leads more than 500 employees across three states. Church leads with integrity and transparency, upholding ethical standards and significantly influencing the pool industry as a whole. He believes in the importance of continuing education and has many certified professionals on staff. This commitment to excellence has led to Cody Pools being named the number one pool builder in America for the past 13 years in a row by Pool and Spa News. Church is known throughout the industry as a respected leader and innovator.
Service Professional of the Year
Nicholas LaPointe, Golden State Pools
The Service Professional of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award given annually to one PHTA service member who has advanced the service profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.
Nicholas LaPointe, Owner of Golden State Pools, understands the importance of customer loyalty. Golden State Pools has been a family-run company since 1980 and today has 1,300 accounts—the majority of which are more than 10 years old. LaPointe was born into the business and uses that historical knowledge to build longstanding relationships with vendors, suppliers, and clients alike. He successfully completed the PHTA Leadership Certificate Program powered by Cornell University, a sign of his commitment to elevating his company and his team. LaPointe is a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) and is currently on the path towards becoming a Certified Master Pool Builder & Design Professional (MCBP).
Retailer of the Year
Mike Todd, Rainbow Pools & Living Art Design
The Retailer of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award recognizing one outstanding retailer who has advanced the retail profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry. This award is sponsored by RB Retail & Service Software.
Mike Todd, President of Rainbow Pools & Living Art Designs, is an industry leader with a deep commitment to raising the industry’s standards. Todd leads with positivity and respect, earning the trust of both his staff and his customers. Todd was previously named the BioGuard Retailer of the Year and serves on the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA) Board of Directors. He understands the importance of giving back and supports Step Into Swim, PHTA’s drowning prevention initiative. Todd holds several industry certifications, including Certified Builder Professional (CBP), Certified Pool & Spa Service Professional (CSP), and CPO.
IHTA Hot Tub Retailer of the Year
Scott Clark, The Spa and Sauna Co.
The International Hot Tub Association (IHTA) Hot Tub Retailer of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award recognizing one outstanding hot tub retailer who has advanced the hot tub retail profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the hot tub industry.
Scott Clark, Owner and Operator of The Spa and Sauna Co., exemplifies unwavering commitment and leadership within the pool and hot tub industry. He and his team continually demonstrate excellence through customer care, innovation, and industry advocacy. Clark is an active member of the IHTA Retailer Subcommittee and helps develop training and education for other hot tub retailers. He is known for his humble leadership, commitment to innovation, and deep knowledge of the hot tub industry. Clark believes in the power of collaboration and openly shares best practices with other businesses.
Volunteer of the Year
Steve Barnes, AquaStar Pool Products
The Volunteer of the Year Award is bestowed upon one prominent individual each year who has made distinguished contributions that raise professionalism in the aquatic community through their volunteering with PHTA.
Steve Barnes, Director of Science and Compliance at AquaStar Pool Products, demonstrates a steadfast commitment to advancing the pool and hot tub industry. He has served on countless industry committees, including the PHTA Standards Process Committee, PHTA-16 Standard Writing Committee, PHTA Technical Advisory Council, and International Code Council (ICC) International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) Code Development Committee. Over his 40-year career in the industry, he has worked tirelessly to improve and enhance industry standards that keep swimmers and professionals safe.
Young Professionals of the Year
The Young Professional of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award recognizing a forward-thinking leader under the age of 40 who will be the voice and next generation of pool and spa professionals. In 2025, PHTA recognizes two outstanding young professionals.
Alexa Blanda, Mill Bergen Pools
Alexa Blanda, Service Manager at Mill Bergen Pools, sets an example for all pool professionals with her dedication, innovation, and leadership. She has already had a meaningful impact on the industry through serving on the NESPA Membership Committee, chairing the PHTA Service Council, championing the PHTA Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and collaborating on the PHTA Service Technician Manual used by thousands of certified professionals. Blanda is a Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) and a Certified Pool & Spa Service Technician (CST) who cares deeply about strengthening the entire industry.
Johnathan Nies, Counsilman-Hunsaker
Johnathan Nies, Project Director at Counsilman-Hunsaker, is dedicated to advancing the safety and standards of the pool and hot tub industry. He is a PHTA CPO Instructor, leading all CPO courses at Counsilman-Hunsaker to ensure that his colleagues are well-trained in safety practices and regulatory compliance. He is known for his professionalism, integrity, leadership, and dedication and is deeply committed to advancing the industry through innovation, education, and steadfast dedication to excellence.
Chapter of the Year
Penn-Jersey Pool & Spa Association
The Chapter of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding chapter that has set a stellar example for the organization, advancing and enhancing the industry through strong leadership, community outreach, and providing their members with the highest quality of programs, activities, and services.
The Penn-Jersey Pool & Spa Association has successfully grown into a robust pool and spa industry community, with hundreds of engaged members. From giving pool and hot tub professionals a break during the busy season to enjoy a Phillies game, to launching the Women in the Industry (WITI) Walk to raise funding and awareness for drowning prevention, to hosting a hospitality event at the annual Pool & Spa Show, this chapter knows how to create and sustain a dedicated base. Everything the Penn-Jersey Pool & Spa Association does is in support of making the industry stronger and the community more connected.
For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Director of Content and Communications, at [email protected] or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.
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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.