Episode 308 Pool Nation Podcast - What does it take to grow from a few referrals into a company with 50 employees, three locations, hundreds of service accounts, retail stores, remodels, and new construction? In this special Hayward Spotlight episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus is joined by Ryan Morson from Hayward and special guests Kyle and Stephanie Burns, owners of Emerald Custom Pools and Emerald Pool Care in Fort Worth, Texas. Kyle shares how his career as a firefighter shaped the way he plans for the future, manages risk, builds systems, and prepares his company for challenges before they happen. Stephanie explains how disciplined financial management, detailed job costing, and accountability have helped them build a profitable business while raising four children together. This conversation is packed with practical advice for pool builders, service companies, retailers, and anyone looking to build a stronger business in the swimming pool industry. In this episode you'll learn: • How Emerald Custom Pools grew from a home-based startup into a multi-division company. • Why forecasting and preparation create a competitive advantage. • The lessons learned from the Texas freeze and how planning paid off. • Why service, remodels and retail are becoming the future of the industry. • How to successfully run a family business as husband and wife. • The importance of hiring for character instead of experience. • Why company culture and training outperform talent alone. • The future of pool automation, affordable pool ownership, and industry growth. • How Emerald's Safe2Swim nonprofit is helping prevent childhood drownings. Whether you're a pool builder, service professional, retailer, business owner, or industry leader, this episode is filled with real-world strategies you can immediately apply to your business. Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Kyle and Stephanie Burns 02:00 – Emerald Custom Pools' incredible growth story 05:45 – Pool Nation Awards, Women's Summit & Hayward Training Hub announcements 10:00 – From firefighter to pool company owner 16:45 – Building multiple divisions and scaling a business 21:00 – Lessons learned from the Texas freeze and preparing for the unexpected 26:30 – Launching the service division and investing in training 28:00 – The future of pool construction and affordable pool ownership 31:00 – Sponsor Break 36:00 – Hayward's "Power of Us" initiative 41:30 – Running a successful husband-and-wife business 44:00 – Job costing, profitability and accountability 47:00 – Leadership lessons from managing family in business 49:00 – Creating a wellness-focused retail experience 52:00 – Why remodels are the future of the pool industry 54:30 – Sponsor Break 59:30 – Safe2Swim Foundation and drowning prevention 1:03:00 – Advice for entrepreneurs entering the pool industry 1:06:00 – Final thoughts A huge thank you to our incredible Pool Nation partners for making this episode possible: The SPPA • BluRay XL • AquaStar Pool Products • Natural Chemistry • Raypak • Heritage Pool Supply Group • Hayward Pool Products • EnCore Brands • Poolside Tech • Pool Brain • Nidec / US Motors • OnCore Filtration Because of your continued commitment to education, innovation, and supporting pool professionals, we're able to continue delivering conversations that help elevate the swimming pool industry. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another pool professional. Every share helps us continue our mission of improving the financial well-being of pool pros through education. Pool Nation — Master the Business. Perfect the Craft.
