What happens to a commercial pool company when ownership changes?

In this episode, Phil Collins sits down with Sunbelt Pools founder Rob Morgan to discuss private equity, employee ownership, company culture, and what these changes mean for aquatic facility owners.

What you'll learn:

• How ownership structure affects project quality and customer service
• Why institutional knowledge matters in commercial aquatic construction
• The differences between private equity ownership and employee ownership (ESOP)

Rob shares lessons from decades in the commercial aquatic industry and explains why long-term thinking, accountability, and customer relationships remain critical to successful projects.

If you manage, design, build, or operate aquatic facilities, this conversation provides valuable perspective on choosing partners that will be around for the long haul.

Choosing the wrong commercial pool contractor can create years of costly problems. In this episode, Phil Collins and Rob Morgan share real-world lessons from more than 40 years in the aquatic industry.

Watch for real-world warnings about subcontracting, design-build risks, and why the right contractor matters for projects that last decades.

In this episode of The Aquatic Perspective, hosts continue their conversation with Drew and Brian from Splashtacular, tracing their career beginnings, early projects, and the company’s shift from product-focused to customer-service-driven work. They share behind-the-scenes stories of designing and testing rides like Slipstream and FlightTime, and how ride path analysis and real-world testing ensure safety and performance.

The discussion also covers practical topics for parks and municipalities—demographics-driven design, theming, electronics, maintenance, warranties, and the impact of staff turnover—underscoring how strong relationships and ongoing support keep aquatic attractions safe, fun, and long‑lasting.