Elise McHugh, 36

Retail team lead
Patio Pleasures
Madison, Wisconsin

In February 2022, Elise McHugh joined Patio Pleasures, keeping the shelves stocked and running water tests for customers. Although she started with routine tasks, McHugh’s curiosity and eagerness to learn set her apart. 

“In my downtime, I followed Adam, our parts guru, around like a puppy and asked about a million questions — thanks for your patience, Adam,” she says.

By the summer of that year, McHugh’s responsibilities expanded to include receiving shipments, organizing the warehouse and setting aside parts for upcoming jobs. As fall approached, she began placing purchase orders and assisting customers in finding the right replacement parts. Her ability to grasp complex information and dedication didn’t go unnoticed. In fall 2023, she became a retail team lead, a position that made her the primary person responsible for ensuring the showroom was always presentation-ready and helping solve tricky customer issues. She also began providing chemical training to the public and new team members at Patio Pleasures.

McHugh thrives on solving complex problems, particularly where water chemistry and parts or equipment intersect. 

“There’s always something new to learn, some new puzzle to try to solve,” she says. “The industry is both wide and deep, and I love that I’ll never plateau with my knowledge or in my role. The more I can take the mystery and magic out of hot tub care and make it understandable for both customers and coworkers, the better.”

McHugh sees a gap in knowledge for front desk workers, salespeople, service office workers and others who could benefit from a deeper understanding of hot tub systems but may not have the time or resources to learn. 

“Learning as you go is frustrating and takes a lot of time,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be this way, and I’d love to be that person who helped develop a resource library, training program and/or expertise network to alleviate this issue.”