The Northeast Spa and Pool Association holds its first meeting i…
The Northeast Spa and Pool Association holds its first meeting in 1958, where Edward P. Wagner (standing) was elected the first president.
NESPA
A view of the previous venue for the convention, the Historic At…
A view of the previous venue for the convention, the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, now known as Boardwalk Hall, at the 1983 show. In 1998, the show moved to the then-brand-new Atlantic City Pool and Spa Convention Center.
NESPA
APSP "spokesfish" Gus and Goldie visit the Atlantic Ci…
APSP "spokesfish" Gus and Goldie visit the Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show while it was at its old venue.
NESPA
Three officials shake hands at the 1988 Atlantic City Pool &…
Three officials shake hands at the 1988 Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show. Pictured left to right are NESPA Past President Lester Kowalski, former director of the Atlantic City Convention Hall Howard Persina, and NESPA’s first full-time executive director, Joel Caesar.
NESPA
NESPA holds its first Quarter Century Club breakfast in 1990.
NESPA
A NESPA representative presents a Gus and Goldie puppet show in …
A NESPA representative presents a Gus and Goldie puppet show in 2014.
NESPA
The Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show is renamed The Pool and Spa …
The Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show is renamed The Pool and Spa Show: Powered by the Northeast Spa and Pool Association in 2014.
You need to know where you came from to help you see where you’re going.
That’s the approach that the Northeast Spa and Pool Association took to commemorate its 60th anniversary. The organization, incorporated in May, 1958, gathered its best historic photos to create a timeline gallery of sorts at its main event, the Pool & Spa Show Powered by NESPA in Atlantic City.
“When you take a step back and realize all that we’ve done, it’s pretty incredible,” says Kelly McKelvey, NESPA’s director of communications and marketing.
The display also reminded attendees just how much of a family business the pool/spa industry is. “We had so many people come up and either recognize themselves or identify their great-grandparetnts,” McKelvey said. “I think a lot of people enjoyed being able to remember back to how their companies got started or how their families grew in the business.”
Rebecca Robledo is deputy editor of Pool & Spa News and Aquatics International. She is an award-winning trade journalist with more than 25 years experience reporting on and editing content for the pool, spa and aquatics industries. She specializes in technical, complex or detail-oriented subject matter with an emphasis in design and construction, as well as legal and regulatory issues. For this coverage and editing, she has received numerous awards, including four Jesse H. Neal Awards, considered by many to be the “Pulitzer Prize of Trade Journalism.”
