This recipient was specifically honored for bringing national attention to the benefits of warm-water therapy. The company is said to have produced the industry’s first infomercial and has a hot tub education package that it sends free to all interested consumers. Shown: ThermoSpas President Andrew Tournas.

Changes at NSPI's Hot Tub Council

In addition, Diane Leiter was promoted to vice chairperson, and Larry Giles moved to secretary. During the same meeting, held last month in New Orleans, the council gave its Eagle Award to Lauren Stack, who has been assisting with the marketing of HotTubLiving.com. The following updates were given by the council’s committees:
• The deadline to find a researcher for the lower back pain study the council is funding was extended to Jan. 15.
• The Energy Star Committee is stalled in its efforts to work with the Environmental Protection Agency. According to Committee Chair Bob Lauter, “The EPA is overwhelmed. They don’t have enough people to work on [getting the Energy Star on hot tubs].”
• Renee Henze, chair of the Therapeutic Benefits Committee (formerly the Diabetes Committee), said her efforts, too, have gained no new information. She said there has been little research on the benefits of hot tubs for people with diabetes. She suggested that the committee’s purpose be broadened to look into other health benefits. The Council agreed, hence the name change as well.

Howard Joins Carecraft

He also said that his new post at Carecraft is not a prelude to current President Bill Galuhn’s retirement, contrary to popular belief. “Bill is in good health and plans to stay with the company for quite sometime. My addition to the company does not mean I am replacing him. If somewhere down the line he decides to retire, then maybe I will end up with [the position]. But that is not in the current plan.”

Howard cited membership growth as his first priority for the organization in the coming months. “First, we’d like to increase our membership nationally — most notably, within the states that currently have no members,” he said. Carecraft’s presence extends through 35 states, but the company has no members in certain key markets, including New Jersey, Nebraska, Missouri and Louisiana.

“We’d also like to improve the educational part of the group,” Howard said. “I know of builders who want seminars on how to build more sophisticated pools and retailers who’d like advice on building a better business.” He added that creating an integrated Web site program is another goal the group is actively pursuing. “We’d like to offer our members online ordering, price look-up and account management,” he said.

The firm nearly doubled its capacity, from 21,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet in the new, state-of-the art facility. Brett Thompson, president/CEO, cited substantial growth within the company for the upgrade. “We experienced 50 percent growth within the last year and will debut 18 new products in 2004. The move served as an excellent growth expansion opportunity for us,” he said.

A form is available on the Conference page at www.PoolandSpaExpo.com for any professional wishing to apply. Submissions must be received by Feb. 15, 2004. Information: conference manager Tracy Beaulieu, (972) 536-6366. Shown: John Romano, past NSPI Board chair and president of All American Pools & Spas, Norwalk, Conn.

The honor was presented to Lawrence D. Yeager II (left), the company’s quality assurance manager, by Lon McDaniel, CEO of the World Safety Organization. Fort Wayne Pools received the award for development and implementation of its consumer safety program.