
For Frank Vazquez, it’s about being in the right place at the right time. “Here in Miami Beach, we come across some famous people,” said the owner of Blue Water Pools of South Florida in explaining how he came to have his current clientele.
Vazquez has designed aquascapes for everyone from Latin American rock star Juanes to Anthony Shriver, son of Sargent and Eunice Shriver and founder of Best Buddies International, a nonprofit that finds jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“The clients like more cutting-edge pools – perimeter overflow, infinity edges, no waterfalls,” Vazquez added. ”I call it ‘South Florida Tropical’ because of the landscaping – palm trees and the like – and the finishes, coralstone, travertine.”
His creations come with an average price tag of $65,000, but it wasn’t always that way. The 13-year-old firm used to construct 80 pools annually at $30,000 each. “That market kind of tanked,” Vazquez said. “I had a partner, then bought him out in 2007 and restructured. We sub out the work to specialists – a plumber who only does plumbing, a guy who does the coping and tile who’s really an artist, and so on. I go out for custom, high-end jobs.”
A 24-year industry veteran, he previously worked with two South Florida builders. Now he has his own firm. Vazquez’s work was featured in Perspectives in Design, a coffee-table book by Panache Partners, which came out in 2011 and showcases world-class designs of Florida architects, pool and landscaping professionals, and the like.
Much as he loves his work, Vazquez needs to unwind on the weekends. “I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t go golfing,” he said with a laugh. He added, “I don’t own a boat, but I do a lot of boating and diving with family.” The family includes Carmen Lambert Vazquez, his wife of 22 years, and daughters Alexandra and Gabriella.
Clearly, water is a big part of Vazquez’s life -- on and off duty. Sounds as if he’s definitely in the right place at the right time.