SpaRetailer’s Hot Tub Hall of Fame

Rich Werber was passionate about hot tubs and the benefits of hot water therapy. In fact, his was one of the first retail businesses to exclusively sell hot tubs when it started in 1978. Werber, who died in 2021, used that passion to serve his customers and the industry at large. He was a founding member and eventual president of the National Spa and Pool Institute’s retailer council. He also served as NSPI’s president. He joined a visionary group of retailers to form pools.com, an early e-commerce site for pool supplies. Werber is also heralded as being instrumental in introducing The Gemini Effect to Hot Spring dealers.

Learn more about Rich Werber at HotTubHallofFame.com.

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Chris Robinson
Retired
President, spa division, Lucite International

As head of the spa division at one of the largest suppliers of acrylic sheet to the industry, Chris Robinson’s influence was widespread, but he may be best remembered for his work to unify the hot tub industry. Robinson helped implement an annual Lucite ski trip for manufacturers in 1989, giving competitors a way to get to know each other on a personal level. He also served as the spa council representative to the NSPI board of directors for nine years and helped the association reorganize as The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. Robinson was also instrumental in bringing the International Hot Tub Association under the APSP in 2013. Under Robinson, Lucite produced innovations like the Microban antimicrobial sheet, Gemstone sheet, Celestial granite sheet and the Serenity series.

Learn more about Chris Robinson at HotTubHallofFame.com

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Steve Hammock
Retired
President, Watkins Wellness

Steve Hammock ran Watkins Wellness, one of the largest hot tub manufacturers in the world, for 40 years before he retired in 2021. While there are many accomplishments specific to his work at Watkins, Hammock and his team may be best remembered for elevating hot tubs into a mainstream category and improving overall professionalism across the industry. But if you ask Hammock, he’s most proud of the culture he cultivated at Watkins. 

Learn more about Steve Hammock at HotTubHallofFame.com