Six weeks after announcing the start of their new industry-education organization, the former heads of Genesis instruction have made some key appointments, structured the program’s education and credentialing, and set dates for its first classes.
In August, Genesis Education Director Dave Peterson and Deputy Education Director Bill Drakeley left the group to begin their own organization, called Watershape University.
The duo has now hired Lauren Stack as vice president of the group. Before the merger of the National Swimming Pool Foundation and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, Stack served as managing director of NSPF’s residential division, with Genesis oversight constituting a large portion of her duties. She was largely credited with Genesis’ growth after it came under the NSPF umbrella in 2015.
Before Peterson and Drakeley left Genesis, Stack had departed the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, the new association formed by the APSP/NSPF merger and now the parent of Genesis. The founders of the new organization said her departure constituted a good time for them to make a clean break so PHTA could replace all three at once. When Genesis co-founder Skip Phillips resigned from the organization he had built with Brian Van Bower, he cited Stack’s departure as a sign that the group was changing in its values.
Stack has worked in the pool/spa industry for nearly 30 years. Before joining NSPF in 2015, she was employed by APSP for 13 years in a variety of capacities, with her last title being senior director of industry relations. Before that, she served at Aristech Acrylics for 10 years. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, both from the University of Pittsburgh.
“Lauren was instrumental in leading the team of staff and volunteers who grew the Genesis business within the legacy National Swimming Pool Foundation, since the two entities merged in 2016,” Peterson said. “When reorganization under the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance left Lauren unemployed, Bill and I knew she would be a perfect fit for Watershape University.”
The new organization, also going by the abbreviation WU, additionally made its first volunteer appointment, another Genesis alum. Michael Nantz, a long-time instructor for Genesis, will serve as its dean of culture, charged with building a sense of connection and cohesiveness among the organization’s students through events and communication, among other duties. The president of the Dallas-area design/building firm Elite Concepts, Nantz was a long-time instructor for Genesis and had participated in the group from its inception in 1998, beginning as a student in its first class.
Peterson and Drakeley, who plan to keep their announced teaching commitments with Genesis during the convention/conference season, have scheduled their first WU courses. Covering a variety of topics, including “Essential Business Workshop for Contractors,” the sessions are scheduled to accompany events by distributor Bel Aqua Pool Supply, manufacturer Pentair Pool Systems, builder group Master Pools Guild, buying group Carecraft and the Western Pool and Spa Show early next year.
WU is structuring its education program to include five types of credentials, depending on the student’s career path. They include Watershape University Student, Verified Watershape Foreman, Verified Watershape Builder, Verified Watershape Designer, Verified Watershape Professional, and International Watershape Institute. Each requires specific coursework to achieve and minimum continuing education hours to maintain.
Unlike other pool/spa-industry certifications, these can be held by the company as well as the individual, provided certain criteria are met. They will be communicated through digital badging, which credential-holders can place on their resumes or other digital documents, so viewers can click on it to learn details and verify status.
WU officials also said they are on track to receive providership status through the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, which sets standards for continuing education. They expect the designation in approximately 4 months.
