When it comes to high-end pool construction, Texas is one of the most competitive markets in the country. Standing out requires not only exceptional craftsmanship but also a leadership style that inspires both clients and teams. Few embody this better than Josh Buzzell, Chairman of the Board with Master Pools Guild and co-owner of Regal Pools with partner Edwin Escobar.
Buzzell’s rise in the industry is a story of determination, vision, and culture-driven leadership. In a recent conversation with Pool Magazine, he reflected on what it took to build Regal Pools into one of the most respected names in pool design and construction, while spotlighting a few of the projects and team dynamics that define the company’s reputation today.
Building From the Ground Up
Buzzell never imagined himself as a pool builder when he first entered the industry. “I was in limbo. I was still in college, but I hated school and got a job making $400 a week cleaning swimming pools here in Houston,” he recalled. That early job exposed him to high-end pool construction—and the spark was lit. “I saw all these really cool formations and things they were able to build… the more I fell in love with. I thought, this is something I could lean into.”
Instead of chasing fast profits, Buzzell focused on mastering every aspect of the business. “Everybody says you need to work on the business. Well, no. We learned everything about this business from the inside out. We built the entire thing,” he explained.
Crucially, the vision was never a solo act. “I realized early on that we had to build a strong team—it couldn’t just be me,” Buzzell said. “That’s when I met Edwin, working at the same company, and he was a mechanical genius.” The partnership clicked: Josh focused on the strategy, sales, and systems, while Escobar drove operations in the field and managed relationships with subcontractors. “There’s a vibe there,” Buzzell added. “Edwin holds the standard out there and expects greatness.” That dual-engine approach—office and field in lockstep—would become Regal’s competitive edge.
Thriving in a Hyper-Competitive Market
Houston is crowded with pool builders, yet Regal Pools continues to dominate at the upper end of the market. Buzzell credits that to a relentless focus on quality, culture, and customer experience.
“Our quality and our people—what we deliver is a lot different than everybody else,” he said. “We want to do things that not just anyone else can do. I personally think we should be a top 10 builder… our quality I would put up against anybody in the industry.”
Standards start the moment you walk into the office. “Even when you come to my office, the first thing it says is ‘Set The Standard’. Everybody sees it. That’s what our clients expect,” he noted. With half-million-dollar builds, “clients are going to be on your back about perfection,” so Regal trains for it: project managers are coached to navigate communication styles, expectations, and on-site decision-making at a very high level.
Regal Pools: A Culture of Leadership
Buzzell insists culture is what sustains growth—and that leadership has to be modeled daily. “It starts with me in setting the tone. Everybody here knows that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win,” he explained. Regal’s core values—honesty, accountability, hard work, teamwork, organization, detail, professionalism, and hunger for more—aren’t slogans; they’re hiring and promotion criteria. “I don’t want anybody here who comes in pissed off because they have to come to work. I want them to know that our mission every day is to win. And what is winning to us? Building the highest-quality pools.”
This is where Escobar’s influence is unmistakable. In the field, he’s the force that translates culture into craftsmanship. Buzzell puts it simply: the quality clients see is directly influenced by Edwin’s contributions in managing the day-to-day operations with crews and subcontractors.
Designing for the Elite
The Regal Pools name has become synonymous with projects that push boundaries, where art, engineering, and vision collide. Buzzell lights up when talking about the work that sets his team apart.
One of the company’s proudest achievements is a multi-million-dollar lazy river built for a professional basketball player. “The lazy river’s awesome—super challenging,” Buzzell explained. “We had to take out 250 dump trucks worth of dirt and then bring 50 dump trucks back of fill. We literally had full-size road rollers inside of it compacting dirt. It looked like Armageddon out there, but my designers nailed it, the homeowner was so happy, and my project manager kicked butt.”
Another showpiece is a million-dollar pool engineered to integrate with a luxury residence. “This thing has a million-dollar drainage system. Tons of piers and beams that are engineered with the home, so you get that California vibe where the pool actually runs underneath part of the house,” said Buzzell. The result is a backyard centerpiece that is as much about structural brilliance as it is beauty.
An Investment in Art
Innovation also comes through in the details Regal obsesses over. One client paid extra for a hidden spa designed to disappear seamlessly into the poolscape. “He asked me, ‘Does this get you excited?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, this gets me excited.’ We engineered hydraulics so the water flows like a sheet of glass across granite. It’s like a piece of art, not just a pool,” Buzzell said.
That artistic spirit runs through many Regal projects, and nowhere is that more evident than in Tomball, Texas, where the company is headquartered. As the Houston metro has boomed, Regal has captured a growing share of the luxury market in its own backyard, designing pools that are as much architectural statements as they are places to swim. Negative edges that double as bridges, rain curtains, and entertainment zones woven into the water have become part of the firm’s signature.
Buzzell often explains the value of these investments in simple terms. “I always tell people, you can buy a Ferrari, but only two people can fit in it. You can buy a pool and everybody can use it, and you can look at it all the time,” he reflected.
The Role of the Master Pools Guild
As chairman of the Master Pools Guild, Buzzell sees his role as both student and leader. “It’s a brotherhood. There’s not one question I can’t get answered in the pool world,” he said. “I’ve been able to study their companies, ask any question I want, and then bring it back here and execute it. It’s almost an unfair advantage.” The knowledge compounds inside Regal—through systems, training, and on-site execution—amplified by a partner who can translate ideas into reliable mechanical realities.
Looking Ahead
Despite market ups and downs, Buzzell remains ambitious about Regal’s future. “The next five years? Becoming the best pool company in the world with the highest-quality people,” he said. “I want it to be a company where if I weren’t here, it would still thrive. My goal is that my team could lead the entire company because they care so much about it—because I was able to instill my vision into their dreams.”
Buzzell says that he measures success beyond lists and awards. “Again, we already should be a top 10 builder… but I don’t judge myself on what gets printed in a magazine. I make this statement based on our culture, our reputation, our discipline, and our execution. Being consistently consistent—is not easy.”
With projects that push design boundaries, a culture that attracts top talent, and a two-engine leadership model—Buzzell’s vision and Escobar’s construction know-how—Regal Pools isn’t just thriving in Texas; they’re shaping what luxury pool building looks like for years to come.
Ready to take a deeper dive?
Listen to our entire conversation with Josh Buzzell, owner of Regal Pools, on the Pool Magazine Podcast.
Photography Credits: Jimi Smith Photography
The post Building a Culture Based on Quality: Lessons from Regal Pools appeared first on PoolMagazine.com – Get The Latest Pool News.
