A series of one-hour power panels will be held at the 2011 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo (IPSPE), each targeting a specific niche with strategies and solutions to help attendees achieve business success.
The retail power panel, sponsored by Evosus Business Management Software, will discuss customer service, advertising and marketing, customer retention, competing with ‘big-box’ stores, consumer trends and new technologies. Penny Johnson, owner of Johnson Pools and Spas (Ala.) will moderate the panel comprising Matt Gohlke, CBP, owner, Gohlke Pools (Tex.); Chris Callanan, CST, owner of North Shore Pool Supply (Mass.); and Shawn Maynard, owner of Bullfrog Spas (Utah).
The builder power panel will focus on emerging technologies, economic trends, the state of the pool/spa industry and growth opportunities. Lew Akins, CBP, president of Ocean Quest Pools by Lew Akins (Tex.) will lead the panel comprising Jeff Fausett, CBP, president of Aquatech Corp. (Calif.); Ron Lacher, CBP, P.E., president of Pool Engineering Inc. (Calif.); and Pam Vinje, director of social media, Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) (Tex.).
Finally, the service power panel will discuss trends, innovative technologies, industry challenges and growth issues and how they affect the service business. Steve Gorlin, CBP, CSP, president of Gorlin Pools and Spas (N.Y.) will lead the panel comprising Dave Hawes, president of H&H Pool Service (Calif.); Michael Love, Love Pool Care (Ariz.); and Tim McCue, Ohio Pool Works (Ohio).
“These select groups of panelists have great insight into the issues facing the industry,” said Bill Weber, president and CEO of APSP, the show’s official sponsor. “These will be very informative and interesting discussions, so I encourage all of our members to register for a power panel.”
The power panels are included in all registration packages. To stimulate discussion and get ‘real’ questions answered, participants will have the opportunity to submit queries while registering to attend the show, as well as during the discussion.
For more information or to register online for the IPSPE and power panels, visit www.poolspapatio.com/attendee.
