PHTA Announces 2021 Award Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2021

Media Contact:
Janay Rickwalder, CAE
Vice President, Communications & Public Relations
703-357-3918 | jrickwalder@phta.org

PHTA Announces 2021 Award Recipients

(Alexandria, Va.) - The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its 2021 Awards, including Builder of the Year, Certified Service Professional of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and Young Professional of the Year.

This year’s award winners are as follows:

Builder of the Year

Joseph Vassallo, Jr., Paragon Pools
The Builder of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award. It is awarded to a CBP who has advanced the pool building profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.

Joseph Vassallo, Jr. has influenced the advancement of the industry through his commitment to providing pools and spas that exceed the industry and state standards, earning him and the company a multitude of industry and professional awards. These awards and recognitions credit his extensive knowledge of design and building of superior pools/spas as well as acknowledges his integrity as a professional businessman. Beyond that, he has been involved both personally and through his company Paragon Pools in a variety of charity programs and activism over the years. He has provided finances, resources, given of his time, and recruited others to support worthy causes in the community. His involvement shows the residents, fellow businesses, and media how devoted he (and the company) are to the building a sustainable community bringing positive awareness of pool industry professionals.

Certified Service Professional of the Year

Noel Conley, Miracle Pool Service, Inc.
The Certified Service Professional of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award. Each year, it is awarded to one CSP who has advanced the service profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.

Noel Conley served for nine years as a subject matter expert for the industry and was instrumental in creating the North Texas Chapter’s Dive into Recovery program to help disabled veterans. He also teaches PHTA’s certification courses and helps develop testing and training material. He has served on the Texas Pool and Spa Coalition, the North Texas Chapter Board of Directors, the PHTA Service Council, the PHTA Education Committee, and was named a PHTA Fellow in 2016.

Retailer of the Year

Crystal Pools, Elizabethtown, PA
The Retailer of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding retailer that has advanced the retail profession through outstanding achievements and dedication to the industry.

This company’s success is due to the focus it has on training its employees. Each employee working in the store must go through extensive product training so that they can answer questions and assist in product selection based upon their customers’ needs. Beyond that, they are active within their community. They are engaged with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and annually provide and install aboveground pools for very ill children.

Josh Culp accepted the award on behalf of Crystal Pools.

Young Professional of the Year

Allen Jerabeck, Tarson Pools & Spas
The Young Professionals of the Year Award recognizes forward-thinking leaders under the age of 40 who will be the voice and next generation of pool and spa professionals.

Allen Jerabeck is a pool and spa specialist for Tarson Pools & Spas in North Syracuse, NY. Allen is a CPO and a member of WAVE and has received numerous awards of excellence for his service and skill over the past 6 years. Originally from California, Allen spent the past two years elevating his company by not only using better components in his builds, but also focusing on creating better processes and applying new technologies.

“We are proud to honor each of these outstanding pool and spa professionals,” says PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE. “Thanks to the incredible work of these dedicated leaders, our industry continues to grow, evolve, and flourish. Congratulations to all of our 2021 winners!”

For more information, please contact Janay Rickwalder, PHTA’s Vice President of Communications and Public Relations, at jrickwalder@phta.org or 703.357.3918.

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with nearly 3,500 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of 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.