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.

Ben has been working in the pool and spa industry since 2004 helping in the store and in the field. He is a student at the Community College of Rhode Island studying elementary special education, has earned the important Association of Pool & Spa Professional TECH I Certified Technician accreditation (with an impressive score of 90!) and is an American Red Cross Shallow Water Attendant.

Ben is a friendly and calm individual who is computer savvy, a movie buff and is a big family person always doing something with his five brothers and sisters. Their favorite activities are swimming, visiting the zoo and fishing.

Matt is a multi-talented individual. He can install above ground pools, replace liners for both above ground and in ground pools and not only install new pool and spa equipment (pumps, filters, heaters, heat pumps, spa controls) but also repair them. Matt is even a car mechanic buff! His natural mechanical abilities along with his quick learning talent enable Matt to dive right into any task put before him. Don’t let his charming personality or good looks fool you—he’s not afraid to get dirty.

Matt’s industry education includes attendance at local and national seminars and conventions and has traveled to New Orleans, Atlantic City and Utah. Matt has also earned the prestigious Association of Pool and Spa Professionals TECH II® Certified Technician accreditation.

When Matt is not working you will find him skiing, playing billiards and ATVing.

Kali is Bailey’s sister from a different litter, sharing the same mom and dad! Since Kali’s arrival in June 2010, our Office and Water Lab—and sometimes Sales Floor–have never been the same. Though Bailey is older and wiser and tries to maintain the upper hand, Kali is clearly the boss!

As does Bailey, Kali greets us each day with not only that overabundance of affection and delight but also with GREAT energy! Her innocent face is hiding the ability to chew apart the sturdiest of toys. She spends most days trying to convince Bailey that playtime is anytime, enjoying her daily walks and reacquainting herself with her ‘time-out’ cage!

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.

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 well 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.

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!