Craig
is a full-time member of our service crew but has been
helping us on a part-time basis since 1995. His easy-going
nature and maturity bring balance to our team while Craig’s
amusing sense of humor is Chicken Soup for the Soul.
In 2005, Craig earned the prestigious Association of Pool
and Spa Professionals TECH I®
Certified Technician accreditation and in 2010 the Certified
Pool/Spa Operator® (CPO) accreditation
from the National Swimming Pool Foundation.
Craig’s 23 years of retail experience makes him
a perfect fit for dealing with our customers and his seven
years in the manufacturing field complement the technical
aspects of our industry. His hobbies include golf and
woodworking--and there isn’t anything Craig can’t
fix.
Mike
is a student at the Community College of Rhode Island
majoring in Business Administration and has been helping
us since 2006. He has earned the Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation from the National Swimming Pool Foundation
with an impressive score of 95. His quick-learning ability,
friendly personality and business education enables Mike
to perfectly complement our sales team. Mike is always
a gentleman, always in a good mood and always patient
and helpful. Customers and staff alike enjoy working with
Mike. His presence helps keep our team focused in the
moment.
Mike has traveled throughout New England for industry
training but his attendance at Bullfrog Spa’s Utah
manufacturing plant remains his favorite.
When Mike is not attending classes or working you will
most likely find him playing sports, keeping busy coaching
youth basketball with the Coventry Basketball Association
or visiting the YMCA.
Bailey,
an American Cocker Spaniel, has been part of Pool &
Patio Center’s family since July 2008. Bailey is
beloved by our entire staff and her presence has had a
tremendous effect on our staff’s spirit.
Every day Bailey greets each of us with an overabundance
of affection and delight. Bailey’s big black eyes,
long curly ears and wispy fur melt your heart at first
sight. Bailey’s favorite activities include greeting
customers at our Water Lab, napping by Annette’s
desk while snuggling with her toy babies, daily walks
around Midtown Square while trying to intimidate any cat
that comes across her path and sun bathing in her private
piazza out back.
Pool
& Patio Center could not function without Paul’s
behind-the-scenes conscientious organizational skills.
Paul is our Shipping and Receiving Manager scheduling
hundreds of pool and spa deliveries each year. His understanding
of the logistics of moving and manipulating a 900-pound
spa is phenomenal. Paul also assists our Service Department.
He has been a member of the Pool & Patio Center family
since 1990.
Paul’s previous work experience includes almost
30 years in the supermarket industry with over 10 years
in management. Even though Paul works mostly behind the
scenes, that doesn’t stop him from attending local
and national training, such as conventions and workshops
in Dallas, Las Vegas and Utah.
Paul’s upbeat personality and great sense of humor
help our entire team endure the dog days of summer. After
work you’ll find Paul enjoying golf, darts and on-line
cribbage—and he plays ping-pong like a pro!
James
has earned an Associates Degree in Law Enforcement from
the Community College of Rhode Island. James is amongst
an elite group of individuals as he is an Eagle Scout,
the Boy Scouts highest advancement rank. Only 5% of Boy
Scouts ever earn this prestigious achievement.
James has been helping our Shipping and Receiving Department
and our Service Division since 2004 and his previous work
experience as a Customer Service Representative along
with his discipline in achieving the Eagle Scout rank
make him an ideal member of our Pool & Patio Center
family.
James is mature, quiet and thoughtful. During his off-time
you will find James camping, enjoying the outdoors or
mentoring his old Boy Scout Troop 11 Coventry.
Rick
is our Spa Service Manager and has been ‘doctoring’
hot tubs and spas for 10 years. His 36 years experience
in the appliance repair industry fine-tuned his electrical
and plumbing trouble-shooting ability which has enabled
Rick to diagnose spa problems thoroughly and quickly.
Rick has attended technical training seminars all over
New England, in New Jersey and at Bullfrog Spa’s
Utah manufacturing plant.
Rick is a true gentleman with a ‘hidden’ sense
of humor--and he truly understands and enjoys the importance
of working as a team.
When Rick is not working he enjoys visiting the zoo and
attending sporting events with his granddaughter, the
apple of his eye Kirsten. Rick is an avid sports fan always
cheering for New England teams.
Joe
has been a member of our team since 2008 working in our
Service Department. He came to Pool & Patio Center
with the experience of maintaining his own family swimming
pool. Joe is a graduate of The Regional Career and Technical
Center at Coventry High with a concentration in carpentry
(he is also OSHA certified in carpentry). Always in a
good mood, Joe is a pensive listener and quick learner.
Joe supplements our service crews with pool openings,
closings and liner replacements where his multi-tasking
skills are needed. During Joe’s off-time you will
find him fishing, camping and dirt-biking.
After
maintaining swimming pools for family and friends for
over 20 years, Joe decided to take the plunge and join
our team in 2004. Joe’s love of sun and water compliments
his working in the pool and spa industry. Our customers
and staff enjoy being in Joe’s presence because
of his patient, pleasant and polite personality.
Joe’s past work experience (CDL licensed truck driver)
along with his industry training throughout New England
and New Jersey has prepared him for the challenge of leading
a service crew. Joe has earned the National Swimming Pool
Foundation Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation in 2010. In 2008 Joe traveled to Las
Vegas, Nevada to attend the prestigious International
Pool, Spa & Patio Expo. Joe is conscientious, perseverant
and always willing to help our team.
During Joe’s off hours you will find him loving
and playing sports—especially softball and hockey.
Theresa’s
industry education has included demanding sales and water
chemistry training in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and throughout
New England along with maintaining her own family pool
since 1986. She has been a member of Pool & Patio
Center’s family since 2004.
Theresa’s personable and energetic personality makes
her a natural for dealing with our customers. Theresa
is always a sweetheart helping customers with a smile.
Being a mother to three daughters has perfected her patience,
listening skills and problem-solving abilities—all
qualities that make life easier when countless customers
converge on our store at pool opening time.
You will find Theresa gardening and nourishing her family
with her cooking during her off hours.
Jay’s
calm, easy-going and personable approach is ideally suited
for our hectic pool season and his youthful energy is
exactly what our Service Department needs.
Jay has been a member of our team since 2003 and his technical
training in Atlantic City and throughout New England has
prepared him to lead our inground liner division while
being versatile in all aspects of pool service. During
2005, Jay earned the prestigious Association of Pool and
Spa Professionals TECH I® Certified Technician accreditation
with an impressive test score of 93; and in 2010 he earned
the National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool/Spa
Operator® (CPO) accreditation
with an impressive score of 90. Way-to-go Jay!
You will find Jay riding his ATV in the Coventry area,
hunting or skiing during his down time.
Greg
has earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration
from the Community College of Rhode Island and is en route
to a Bachelor’s Degree at Rhode Island College.
Greg is our Assistant Store Manager, mentoring our sales
staff and young seasonal help. Greg is a problem-solver
by nature and is very bright, polite and patient. His
personable character makes everyone feel at ease.
Since 2005 Greg has been assisting our customers with
sales, water chemistry and equipment repairs. In 2006
Greg earned the National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified
Pool/Spa Operator® (CPO) accreditation with a test
score of 98 and in 2007 and 2008 traveled to Salt Lake
City, Utah for Bullfrog Spas training. The 2008 International
Pool, Spa & Patio Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada remains
Greg’s favorite industry training.
Coaching children with the Coventry Basketball Association
and playing basketball keeps Greg busy when he is not
studying or working.
Keith
has been helping our Service Department since 2008 and
previously worked as a maintenance mechanic and an electrical
apprentice. In 2010, Keith earned the National Swimming
Pool Foundation Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation. Keith is a very hard worker and his
mechanical and electrical background is a perfect fit
for our industry.
Keith’s loves Rock ‘n Roll and is a Sound
Technician for the band Mirror Image. He is the number
one fan of Katie and Korey, his children, and is an avid
golfer and fisherman and just loves the outdoors. You’ll
also find Keith spending time skiing, hunting or organizing
charitable golf tournaments.
Rick
Rupert is back. Rick—our Relaxation Advisor, our
Fun Maker, our Don’t-Take-Yourself-Too-Serious Therapist—is
at it again. Rick started helping us in 1990 and left
for a few years to work in the distribution sector of
our industry and rejoined our team in 2010. Don’t
let Rick’s playfulness fool you—his experience
and credentials are extensive and versatile from technical
to sales to management. Also, Rick has earned the National
Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation with the not-too shabby test score
of 92.
Rick is a people person and there’s not a shy bone
in his body! Whether serenading our water testing customers
on a hot summer day with “Let It Snow, Let It Snow,
Let It Snow”, splish splashing in a hot tub during
the Home Show singing “Heaven—I’m in
heaven…” or wearing a goofy pink flamingo
hat while waiting on customers, Rick’s job is to
put a smile on everyone’s face and does he ever.
During Rick’s off time you’ll find him fishing,
hunting and barbecuing.
With
over 20 years of industry experience along with working
as a corporate executive assistant, Annette is the person
responsible for our ‘We Make It Easy’ mind-set,
promotions, fun and excitement. Annette has earned the
Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation from the National Swimming Pool Foundation
with a test score of 98.
Annette is clearly a mother figure to our younger staff
members (and sometimes to customers). It’s these
maternal instincts that motivated Annette to donate her
bone marrow to a 14-year old leukemia patient. These maternal
instincts along with her playful sense of humor have made
us famous for entertaining children and providing outstanding,
outrageous and unexpected customer service. So don’t
be surprised to find Pool & Patio Center staff members
wearing pink flamingo hats or children ‘quacking’
on their duck whistles!
You will most likely find Annette cooking, reading or
spending time with Bailey during her off hours.
Eric
has earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree
with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Legal Studies
from Bryant University and, like his brother Joseph, has
been learning the business from the bottom up. He has
also earned the Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation from the National Swimming Pool Foundation
with a test score of 97. Eric's versatility and multi-faceted
experience supports both our retail and service teams.
Eric has traveled throughout New England for industry
training but his favorite pool and spa industry conference
and seminar training was the 2004 AQUA Conference and
the 2008 International Pool, Spa & Patio Expo--both
held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Eric brings youthful energy
and a witty sense of humor to our customers and staff
every day.
During the winter months you will find Eric skiing on
the slopes of the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains.
Joseph
has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration
with concentrations in Business Management, Computer Information
Systems and Legal Studies from Bryant College. Joseph
has many years of industry knowledge after wading into
the business from a very young age. He is our Operations
Manager, our in-house computer tech and is an Eagle Scout.
Joseph has traveled to New Orleans, Las Vegas, Salt Lake
City, New Jersey and throughout New England for industry
training and has also earned the prestigious Association
of Pool and Spa Professionals TECH I®
and TECH II® Certified Technician
accreditations along with the National Swimming Pool Foundation
Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation (with test scores 95, 95 and 97 respectively).
Joseph is a Jimmy Buffet Parrot Head, hockey fan and the
owner of Bailey--our resident Cocker Spaniel. During the
winter months you will find Joseph perfecting his skiing,
traveling and watching football and hockey games.
Ken
opened Pool & Patio Center in 1986 with the belief
that customers should be treated with respect. After spending
almost 15 years with national retailers in management
positions, he knew the customer deserved better.
Before 1986, Ken worked as a retail store manager, retail
district manager and swimming pool store manager. Most
individuals who enter the retail swimming pool industry
do so in quite the opposite manner than Ken did--they
accumulate the service industry experience then open a
retail store. Ken assembled the retail, corporate and
business knowledge first, the industry knowledge second
and then opened a retail store. His past work experience
has created a retail environment that is ‘customer
focused’. Ken knows exactly where each piece of
the ‘puzzle’ should go so that Pool &
Patio Center functions cohesively.
Ken has earned the Certified Pool/Spa Operator®
(CPO) accreditation from the National Swimming Pool Foundation.
You will find Ken enjoying hunting, fishing and computer
games during his rare off hours.
Invisible
to all our customers, Amy is our Administrative Assistant
and Bookkeeper working behind the scenes. Amy is a master
at multi-tasking, extremely intelligent and makes a GREAT
lasagna!
With three years experience working for an accounting
firm and attending college-level accounting courses, Amy’s
conscientiousness and thoroughness makes Ken, Annette
and their accountant’s life EASY! Amy manages to
keep our staff on track and run our office efficiently
no matter how chaotic the season.
Amy has endless energy! You’ll find Amy scrapbooking,
reading, baking, cooking, gardening and hiking when time
permits. Being the proud mother of Lily and twins Ava
and David, Amy comes to work to rest!
POOL
& PATIO CENTER, INC.
MIDTOWN
SQUARE53
SANDY BOTTOM ROAD
COVENTRY,
RI 02816