The second MasterMind Summit, hosted by PTHA and GENESIS, took place September 23-25 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., offering opportunities to learn from industry experts, network with likeminded peers, and uncover innovative strategies to grow the industry.
The leadership Summit showed significant growth from year one, and broadened its program of workshops, keynotes and leadership training.
Neil Tarallo of Cornell University led the Purposeful Growth Workshop: A Leadership System for the Pool & Spa Industry, sharing how leaders can guide growth every day through the choices they make and how they run their business. Basically, the workshop showed industry leaders how they can help their team work smarter and how to develop a system to help hire, train, and reward employees in ways that support growth.
“Running a pool and spa business takes more than just hard work — it takes a clear direction, strong teams, and the ability to adjust when things change,” says Tarallo. “Whether you oversee retail, service, sales, or installs, this workshop will help you lead with purpose, align your team, and build a business positioned for the future.”
Philipp Beckermann of IMP Digital was the second keynote speaker. AI was a theme throughout the conference, and Beckermann’s keynote, “AI That Works: Inside the Toolbox of Tomorrow’s Pool & Hot Tub Company,” was a hands-on session that reveals how top-performing companies in the industry are leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline operations, supercharge marketing, and automate repetitive tasks. Beckermann shared real scripts and workflows, as well as a clear vision of how to scale a business with less stress and more automation.
“Artificial intelligence is not replacing the personal touch in our industry — it’s enhancing it,” he says. “For pool builders and hot tub retailers, AI means smarter marketing, instant follow-up, and data-driven insights that help us understand exactly what customers want before they even step into a showroom. This technology is going to shorten sales cycles, create more personalized buying experiences, and ultimately help us grow stronger relationships with our clients. The businesses that lean into AI now will set the standard for the next decade of our industry.”
The 2025 MasterMind Summit also featured an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, all the way to the edge of its massive 27-meter dive tower platform. It is the first installation of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, and contains advanced filtration systems and innovative infrastructure.
The industry party was enlivened by the tight, professional instrumentals and vocals of The Fit, which featured Andy Kaner of Aquatic Consultants, Inc. on drums, and frankly, kicked ass.
This article first appeared in the November 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
