Episode #50, The PHTA's Strategic Action Plan, with Sabeena Hickman

When Sabeena Hickman joined the newly formed PHTA in the fall of 2019, she thought she knew what her biggest challenge would be — continuing to merge two legacy associations. What neither she, or anyone, anticipated was the world being turned upside down by a global pandemic. Sabeena talks to us about how coronavirus changed the PHTA and industry’s year and how that impacted its new strategic action plan.

To become a member of the PHTA/IHTA visit PHTA.org

Episode #145 Hot Tub History with Terry Valmassoi – The SpaRetailer Podcast

In this episode of The SpaRetailer Podcast, host Megan Kendrick interviews Terry Valmassoi, CEO of MasterSpas, as he nears retirement after 50+ years in the hot tub industry and 30 years at MasterSpas. Valmassoi shares his plans to spend more time with his wife in Charleston while remaining a partner and board member, and he addresses persistent rumors by stating MasterSpas has never been in talks to sell. He recounts growing up in Southern California, entering the spa business at 16, starting early retail and manufacturing ventures, working at L.A. Spas, and collaborating with Waterway before moving his family to Tennessee and then Fort Wayne to help launch MasterSpas with Bob Lauter. They discuss building culture through trust, navigating 9/11, the 2008–09 recession (with swim spas helping growth), COVID shutdowns and supply chain strain, rapid hiring expansion and innovation including the Michael Phelps partnership, water-care advances, cold tubs and saunas. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/ Show Notes with Timestamps: 00:00 Podcast Welcome00:46 Retirement Plans04:13 No Sale Rumors06:48 Early Life Background08:33 First Spa Job09:52 Retail to Manufacturing13:25 Hydrospa Boom Years18:30 Hydrospa Exit Lessons23:26 LA Spas Florida Move24:31 Waterway Startup Era27:31 Bill Holmes Legacy31:27 Meeting Bob Lauter34:03 Moving to Fort Wayne34:55 Launching the Factory36:11 Kevin Richards Origin37:27 Partnership with Bob40:30 Building Culture and Team44:41 Early Operations Systems50:26 Hard Times and Rebounds52:36 Pandemic Growth Surge57:22 Swim Spa Factory Deal59:45 Most Fun Moments01:01:23 Michael Phelps Partnership01:06:16 Innovation and New Lines01:10:33 Retirement and Legacy

This episode is sponsored by Marquis.

AQUATIC TRAINING VESSELS HIGH FLOW THERAPY: FASTER, FITTER, FIERCER

Aquatic Training Vessels are much more than a traditional swim spa. Hydrodynamic flow design and control plus a unique range of pumps and jet arrays deliver water flow users can customize for their aquatic workout. The Kona’s exclusive system design uses six Whitewater-4 jets to deliver water flow beyond the volumes created by the pumps, delivering up to 39% more flow than comparably sized competitive jets, plus two mid-vessel Buoyancy Jets that provide mid-to-lower torso lift during swimming. The V150 party/swim tub utilizes Whitewater-4 jets: three swim jets and two footwell jets, plus Directional, Conal and Orbital Jetpods in eight therapy seats.