In Episode 300 of the Pool Nation Podcast Edgar and John sit down with Mike from Quick Shop Pools and Bellafina Outdoors to talk about the future of pool construction, pool design, and pool business mentorship. If you are a pool service pro, pool builder, or pool business owner looking to grow, this is the pool podcast episode you cannot miss.

Mike spent 20 years in law enforcement working federal fugitive task forces, including the team that helped apprehend Whitey Bulger, before going all in on the pool industry. Today, he runs one of the most innovative pool construction companies and pool design showrooms in the country out of Huntington Beach, California. Pool pros who have walked through Bellafina Outdoors are calling it the Disneyland of pool design.

We also welcome Luz, Director of Operations at Bellafina, who brings over 20 years of brand and marketing experience into the pool industry, plus Thomas from PAL Lighting and Michelle from Heritage Pool Supply for a full Pool Nation studio conversation on pool builder education, customer experience, and elevating the pool trade for the next generation of pool pros.

IN THIS POOL NATION PODCAST EPISODE:
- How Mike built a pool construction business from the ground up
- The real story behind the Whitey Bulger fugitive apprehension
- How the 2008 crash shaped a new vision for the pool industry
- Why pool builder mentorship is the missing piece in pool construction
- The Bellafina Pro Academy and the future of pool builder education
- How to deliver a true pool design experience to homeowners
- Why collaboration beats competition in the pool industry
- Heritage Pool Supply's quarterly open house partnership with Bellafina

POOL NATION PODCAST TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast
02:00 Thank you to our Pool Nation sponsors and partners
08:30 Meet Mike from Quick Shop Pools and Bellafina Outdoors
10:30 Heritage Pro Service Academy pool boot camp June 6 in Van Nuys
14:30 From law enforcement to the pool industry
16:30 The Whitey Bulger story behind one of America's biggest fugitive captures
21:30 Surviving the 2008 crash and launching a new pool design model
25:00 Why mentorship for younger pool builders matters
30:00 Inside the Disneyland of pool design showrooms
38:00 Why healthy competition makes the entire pool industry stronger
46:00 Industry tea: big changes coming to the pool industry
47:30 Luz on bringing fresh marketing talent into the pool world
58:00 Thomas from PAL Lighting on pool and landscape lighting design
01:08:00 The Outdoor Plus partnership and the tower of fire bowls
01:13:00 Introducing the Bellafina Pro Academy for pool builders
01:17:30 Heritage Pool Supply quarterly open house at Bellafina
01:24:30 Final thoughts for pool pros

THANK YOU TO OUR POOL NATION PODCAST SPONSORS:
SPPA, Blueray XL, AquaStar Pool Products, Natural Chemistry,
Raypak, Hayward Pool Products, EnCore Brands
Heritage Pool Supply Group, Pool Brain, Poolside Tech, Nidec
OnCore Filtration