The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance has named the faculty leaders for its most recent educational initiative, the Center for Excellence.
The program was created to support workforce development and practical training for pool/spa professionals.
PHTA assembled the inaugural Faculty Chair team to bring decades of experience spanning across all industry segments, including pool and spa construction, service and repair, technical training, marketing, sales, operations, leadership, and business development.
“The strength of the Center of Excellence starts with the people behind it,” said Sabeena Hickman, President & CEO. “…Their expertise will help ensure the Center of Excellence delivers relevant, real-world training that industry professionals can rely on.”
Their responsibilities include shaping curriculum, recruiting and mentoring faculty, supporting the development of learning pathways, and monitoring the course content to make sure it remains aligned with current industry practices, technologies, standards, and workforce needs.
The inaugural Faculty Chair team includes:
Isaac Keselman serves as Faculty Chair for Building & Engineering. His four-decade industry career has included roles from service technician to President of Aqua Doctor and COO of the consolidation platform Azureon.
Kevin Poe, national accounts trainer at Fluidra, was named Faculty Chair for Maintenance and Operations. He specializes in pool service, repair, and technical training, with more than 30 years of hands-on experience. He has trained professionals across the country on installation, operation, and troubleshooting.
Jamie Novak, director of marketing at POOLCORP, is now Faculty Chair for Business Education. She brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing leadership, brand strategy, and industry engagement, having worked across leading manufacturers and industry brands. She also focuses on customer experience and business growth.
Rick Harvey, senior director of sales at BioLab’s Pro Pool Division, takes the role of Faculty Chair for Retail Education. He brings extensive experience in sales leadership, client relationships, team development, and market expansion.
