E-263 Pool Nation Podcast - Hands-On Training + Financial Mastery (Day 1)

In episode 263 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we break down what to expect at the Pool Nation Conference at the PSP/Deck Expo in Las Vegas (Oct 24–25): a full day of truly hands-on training (pump wiring, automation, heater tear-downs, and variable-speed motor installs) and Day 1 of the Business Track focused on financial mastery (pricing for profit, key metrics, cost of service, cash flow, and exit planning). We also recap the Pool Nation Women’s Summit, shout out the $5K community giveaway, and share key show dates: $10K Pool Pro Challenge qualifiers (Oct 22) and the Pool Nation Awards (Oct 23). Use code POOLNATION for a free Expo Pass. Limited seats per track — don’t wait.

Chapter Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro + show open

• 01:00 – Vegas is coming: Conference dates, 3-track format

• 02:00 – Catching up: glasses, getting older, and feeling human again

• 07:30 – Community spotlight: the $5,000 Instagram giveaway & vendor support

• 10:00 – Wild weather, dust storms, and pool cleanups

• 11:00 – PSP/Deck Expo week overview

  • Oct 22: $10K Pool Pro Challenge qualifiers (at our booth)

  • Oct 23: Pool Nation Awards (voting closes Oct 1)

  • Oct 24–25: Pool Nation Conference (3 tracks)

• 12:30 – Women’s Summit recap: energy, networking, and top-tier education

• 16:45 – Announcing Most Influential Women (2025) & Next Gen Leaders

• 20:00 – What makes our conference different (intimate size, curated tracks)

• 24:00 – Why service pros deserve a seat at the table

• 27:30 – Track design philosophy: a true, step-by-step curriculum

• 37:00 – Hands-On Day (Oct 24): what you’ll actually do

  • Pump wiring & VS pump installs (Aquastar carts)

  • Automation install & programming (Pool Attendant)

  • Heater teardown, troubleshooting & best practices (Raypak)

  • Variable-speed motor retrofit & programming (Nidec/US Motors Neptune)

• 45:00 – “Truly hands-on” explained (tools in hand, small groups, do the work)

• 46:30 – Business Track Day 1 (Oct 24): Financial Mastery

  • Turn Pools into Profits (profit mindset & setup)

  • Turn Metrics into Money (what to track, how to use it)

  • Know Your Cost, Grow Your Profit (real cost of service)

  • Financial Planning & Exit Strategy

  • Profit ≠ Cash: Mastering Cash Flow

• 51:30 – Technical Track Day 1 (Oct 24): Chemistry & Algae

  • Responsibilities of the modern pool pro

  • Precision testing & dosing

  • Choosing the right chemicals for each pool

  • Proactive vs. reactive care (specialty chems & minerals)

  • The science of algae: ID, prevention, elimination

• 55:30 – Why the curriculum is sequenced the way it is

• 57:30 – Day 2 tease (coming next episode)

• 58:30 – Seats are limited (target caps per track) — register early

• 01:05:00 – How to use code POOLNATION for a free Expo Pass

• 01:07:00 – A direct message to service pros: why this training matters

• 01:10:00 – Instructors & announcements coming up

• 01:11:00 – Awards tickets reminder + massive voting turnout

• 01:12:00 – Wrap & what’s next (IG Live with nominees next week)

 

Show Notes

Get ready for Vegas! We’re previewing the Pool Nation Conference at the PSP/Deck Expo (Oct 24–25) and breaking down exactly what you’ll learn.

Hands-On Day (Oct 24)

• Wire and install VS pumps (Aquastar)

• Install and program automation (Pool Attendant)

• Tear down and troubleshoot heaters the right way (Raypak)

• Retrofit a variable-speed motor and program it (Nidec/US Motors Neptune)

Business Track: Day 1 — Financial Mastery

• Build your business to produce profit (from day one)

• The metrics that actually drive decisions

• Calculate your true cost of service

• Plan your finances and exit strategy

• Cash flow > profit: how to never run out of cash

Technical Track: Day 1 — Chemistry & Algae

• Responsibilities of a modern pool pro

• Precision testing, dosing, and targeted care

• Choosing the right chemicals for each pool

• Proactive vs. reactive care using specialty chems & minerals

• The science of algae: identify, prevent, eliminate

Key Dates (PSP/Deck Expo Week)

• Oct 22: $10K Pool Pro Challenge qualifiers (at our booth)

• Oct 23: Pool Nation Awards (voting closes Oct 1)

• Oct 24–25: Pool Nation Conference (3 curated tracks)

🎟️ Register: poolnation.com or poolspapatio.com 🎫 Free Expo Pass: use code POOLNATION (save $60) ⚠️ Limited seats per track (intimate, truly hands-on format)

We also recap the Pool Nation Women’s Summit, announce Most Influential Women (2025) and our Next Generation Female Leaders, and shout out the $5K community giveaway that lit up the industry.

Sponsors — Thank You for Your Support

• SPPA 

• Nidec / US Motors 

• Blu-Ray XL 

• AquaStar Pool Products 

• Natural Chemistry 

• Raypak 

• Hayward 

• Heritage Pool Supply 

• Poolside Tech 

• Pool Brain 

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