Episode 308 Pool Nation Podcast - What does it take to grow from a few referrals into a company with 50 employees, three locations, hundreds of service accounts, retail stores, remodels, and new construction?

In this special Hayward Spotlight episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus is joined by Ryan Morson from Hayward and special guests Kyle and Stephanie Burns, owners of Emerald Custom Pools and Emerald Pool Care in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kyle shares how his career as a firefighter shaped the way he plans for the future, manages risk, builds systems, and prepares his company for challenges before they happen. Stephanie explains how disciplined financial management, detailed job costing, and accountability have helped them build a profitable business while raising four children together.

This conversation is packed with practical advice for pool builders, service companies, retailers, and anyone looking to build a stronger business in the swimming pool industry.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How Emerald Custom Pools grew from a home-based startup into a multi-division company. • Why forecasting and preparation create a competitive advantage. • The lessons learned from the Texas freeze and how planning paid off. • Why service, remodels and retail are becoming the future of the industry. • How to successfully run a family business as husband and wife. • The importance of hiring for character instead of experience. • Why company culture and training outperform talent alone. • The future of pool automation, affordable pool ownership, and industry growth. • How Emerald's Safe2Swim nonprofit is helping prevent childhood drownings.

Whether you're a pool builder, service professional, retailer, business owner, or industry leader, this episode is filled with real-world strategies you can immediately apply to your business.

00:00 – Introduction & Meet Kyle and Stephanie Burns 02:00 – Emerald Custom Pools' incredible growth story 05:45 – Pool Nation Awards, Women's Summit & Hayward Training Hub announcements 10:00 – From firefighter to pool company owner 16:45 – Building multiple divisions and scaling a business 21:00 – Lessons learned from the Texas freeze and preparing for the unexpected 26:30 – Launching the service division and investing in training 28:00 – The future of pool construction and affordable pool ownership 31:00 – Sponsor Break 36:00 – Hayward's "Power of Us" initiative 41:30 – Running a successful husband-and-wife business 44:00 – Job costing, profitability and accountability 47:00 – Leadership lessons from managing family in business 49:00 – Creating a wellness-focused retail experience 52:00 – Why remodels are the future of the pool industry 54:30 – Sponsor Break 59:30 – Safe2Swim Foundation and drowning prevention 1:03:00 – Advice for entrepreneurs entering the pool industry 1:06:00 – Final thoughts

A huge thank you to our incredible Pool Nation partners for making this episode possible:

The SPPA • BluRay XL • AquaStar Pool Products • Natural Chemistry • Raypak • Heritage Pool Supply Group • Hayward Pool Products • EnCore Brands • Poolside Tech • Pool Brain • Nidec / US Motors • OnCore Filtration

Because of your continued commitment to education, innovation, and supporting pool professionals, we're able to continue delivering conversations that help elevate the swimming pool industry.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another pool professional. Every share helps us continue our mission of improving the financial well-being of pool pros through education.

Pool Nation — Master the Business. Perfect the Craft.

How a Former SWAT Officer Built One of California's Most Successful Pool Companies | Featuring Obie Rodriguez

What happens when a 30-year law enforcement veteran and 15-year SWAT officer decides to build swimming pools instead of chasing criminals?

In episode # 307 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus and Ryan Morse from Hayward sit down with Obie Rodriguez, owner of Majestic Pool Construction, to share one of the most inspiring business stories in the swimming pool industry. After two frustrating experiences hiring pool contractors, Obie decided to learn the trade himself. He earned his contractor's license, built his own company from the ground up, and today completes more than 200 custom swimming pool and remodeling projects every year across multiple locations.

This conversation goes far beyond swimming pool construction. It's about leadership, building systems, growing a company, creating a culture that thrives without the owner, using social media to generate qualified leads, and believing in yourself enough to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

Whether you're a pool builder, pool service professional, swimming pool contractor, retailer, distributor, manufacturer, or business owner, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately to grow your business.

In This Episode:

• How two bad pool-building experiences changed Obie's life forever

• Transitioning from SWAT officer to successful pool builder

• Building a swimming pool company that completes more than 200 projects per year

• Creating business systems that allow your company to grow without you

• Leadership lessons from law enforcement that apply to every business

• Why delegation is one of the hardest skills for business owners

• Expanding into multiple locations

• Surviving COVID without sacrificing profits

• The social media strategy that doubled qualified leads

• Why transparency creates better customers

• The future of pool automation and smart technology

• Advice every entrepreneur needs to hear before starting a business

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Pool Nation

01:30 – Meet Obie Rodriguez

04:00 – Family, RV life, and fishing stories

08:45 – Becoming a police officer at 19

10:00 – Fifteen years on SWAT

15:00 – Two terrible pool-building experiences that changed everything

18:00 – Learning the pool industry by working for free

20:00 – Building pools while serving as a police officer

22:30 – Retiring early and betting on himself

24:00 – COVID, supply shortages, and protecting profits

32:30 – Expanding to multiple locations

35:00 – Building systems that allow the business to run without you

41:00 – What today's pool buyers really want

46:00 – The social media strategy that doubled qualified leads

49:00 – Why transparency creates better customers

55:00 – Final advice for entrepreneurs

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Thank you to our incredible partners for helping Pool Nation educate, inspire, and elevate the swimming pool industry:

• OnCore Filtration

• Hayward Pool Products

• Heritage Pool Supply Group

• The SPPA

• BluRay XL

• AquaStar Pool Products

• Natural Chemistry

• Raypak

• Poolside Tech

• Encore Brands

• Pool Brain

• Nidec / US Motors

The Pool Nation Podcast is the premier podcast for the swimming pool industry, delivering weekly conversations with the industry's top pool builders, service professionals, manufacturers, distributors, educators, and business leaders.

Master the Business. Perfect the Craft.

Subscribe today and join thousands of pool professionals who are growing stronger businesses through education, leadership, and community.

In Episode 306 of the Pool Nation Podcast - The Pool Nation Awards are officially back, and nominations are now open!

In this episode , Edgar and John "JJ Flawless" dive deep into the story behind the Pool Nation Awards, why recognizing pool professionals matters, and how these awards have become one of the most anticipated celebrations in the swimming pool industry.

The guys break down the 2026 award categories, discuss recent changes based on pool pro feedback, explain the nomination and voting process, and share what it takes to stand out as a nominee. They also reflect on the origins of the awards, the legacy of Bob Lowry, the importance of celebrating industry leaders while they're still with us, and why the Pool Nation community continues to elevate the swimming pool industry year after year.

Plus, Edgar and John tease a major industry announcement coming August 7 that they believe will be a game-changer for pool professionals nationwide.

Whether you're a pool service professional, builder, retailer, trainer, manufacturer, distributor, or industry leader, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a reminder of why community matters.

👉 Nominate a deserving pool professional today. 👉 Get involved in the Pool Nation Awards. 👉 Celebrate the people who make our industry stronger every day.

00:00 Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:00 Today's Topics: Pool Nation Awards & Industry Announcement Tease 02:00 Thanking Pool Nation Visionary Partners 03:00 Baby Watch 2026 with JJ Flawless 08:00 Women's Summit 2026 Update & Sold-Out Event 12:00 August 7 Industry-Changing Announcement Teaser 14:00 Why August 7 Could Change Pool Industry Education 17:00 Hayward Training, Boot Camps & Upcoming Events 18:00 Pool Nation Awards 2026 Overview 20:00 New Award Categories & Industry Feedback 23:00 Trailblazer, Trainer of the Year & Pool Guy/Girl of the Year Discussion 24:00 How to Submit Nominations 26:00 Voting Process & Important Dates 27:00 The Story Behind the Pool Nation Awards 29:00 Bob Lowry's Legacy & Lifetime Achievement Award 32:00 Why Pool Nation Gives Pool Pros a Voice 35:00 Celebrating the Service Industry & Aftermarket Professionals 37:00 Sponsor Break 43:00 Looking Back at the First Pool Nation Awards 46:00 Growth of the Awards & Industry Support 48:00 HASA After Party & Award Night Experience 49:00 Favorite Award Categories & Why They Matter 52:00 Why Pool Guy & Pool Girl of the Year Are Special 55:00 The Brotherhood & Sisterhood of Pool Pros 57:00 Sponsor Break 01:01:00 New Orleans, PSP Expo & Pool Nation Awards 2026 01:02:00 $25,000 Pool Pro Challenge Updates 01:05:00 More Prizes, Bigger Competition & What's Next 01:06:00 Final Thoughts & August 7 Reminder 01:08:00 Industry Talk: The Washington Memorial Pool Project 01:10:00 Closing Remarks

A huge thank you to our incredible Pool Nation partners and sponsors for supporting education, training, and the future of the swimming pool industry:

• BluRay XL
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech (The Attendant)
• Nidec / US Motors
• OnCore Filtration

Thank you for helping Pool Nation fulfill its mission of helping pool professionals master the business and perfect the craft.