Many of you have already heard the news: Pool and Spa News and sister publication Aquatics International have been acquired by Kenilworth Media.
I’ll admit I faced the announcement with a feeling of trepidation. I’ve served as this magazine’s steward for more than a decade, and I’m fiercely protective of both the brand and our staff. We’ve done the best we could with what we’d been given, and I’m proud of the work we’ve produced. What kinds of changes could we expect from our new owners?
I’m quite relieved and happy to say that you’ll see nothing but good things.
Firstly, you’ll still see our earnest faces — Deputy Editor Rebecca Robledo and Sales Directors Gary Carr and Lisa Heitner have all made the move alongside myself to continue to serve the industry at PSN. Combined, we have put in more than 80 years at PSN — you’ll find no one more dedicated, loyal and hard working than our tight platoon.
Secondly, our editorial mission remains the same as it’s ever been: Provide readers with comprehensive, award-winning coverage of the events and trends that are shaping this growing industry. Be a trusted source of education and inspiration, reflecting the vital role our readers tell us PSN plays in their businesses. That role becomes ever more important as consumers continue to recognize the myriad benefits of outdoor living, and to place ever more emphasis on aesthetic refinements and technical innovations. TLDR: We’re here to help you grow your pool and spa business.
“Well, so far, so good — no changes on the horizon,” you might think. Well, it gets better.
We had the opportunity to meet some of our Kenilworth colleagues along with our new CEO, Erik Tolles, at the International Pool | Spa | Patio/Deck Expo in Las Vegas last month. Some of you already know him — Erik had his start in our industry many years ago with Kenilworth publication Pool & Spa Marketing. He knows this industry inside and out, and it holds a special place in his heart. He’s particularly keen to champion PSN to greater heights. Under his direction, you’ll see positive changes as we work to make PSN better and better.
It feels wonderful to feel the energy in adopting a growth mindset. The PSN team is incredibly excited and honored to continue the 65-year legacy of producing the industry’s must-read publication with the same level of dedication and integrity. We want to grow and keep pace alongside the industry’s growth.
That said, we’re bound to experience some growing pains. A small but big one: We all have new email addresses, but because they’re new, we’re getting a significant number of bounce backs. Please be sure to add us to your whitelist: jmcclain@kenilworth.com; rrobledo@kenilworth.com; gcarr@kenilworth.com; lheitner@kenilworth.com
So! It’s onward and upward to a bigger and brighter future at PSN. But before I end this column, I mentioned earlier that we want to reflect the vital role we play in helping pool and spa businesses. One key way we do this is by spotlighting the good work being performed by companies in this industry. There’s no better way to do that than by releasing this year’s Top 50 Service list. Read all about their efforts in this special issue. Congratulations to the companies who made this year’s list!