Swimming Pool Biopic
I cleaned my first pool in 1965. My good friend and Jax Beach lifeguard buddy, Glenn Hayes, and I were riding around in Atlantic Beach and decided to go by my old girlfriend, Susie Voges, house in Selva Marina. Susie wasn't home, but her Mother, Rosemary, was outside cleaning their swimming pool. After chatting briefly, Mrs. Voges suggested we help her clean the pool, so we did.
Fast forward to 2000, and I am lifeguarding at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra. My boss, Tim Majure, a really nice guy, informed me that part of my duties included cleaning their 3 swimming pools on the regular cleaner's 2 days off. They cleaned their pools daily due to heavy use. He also sent me and the regular cleaner, Nick, to a 2 day school to get certified as a pool operator by the National Swimming Pool Foundation.
In 2001, I went to work for the Batts Company, full time as a cleaner. I worked for Jimmy Batts for a year, and then went into business for myself. Although Jimmy did not have a non compete agreement at that time, I did not solicit any of his customers for myself when I left. Initially, I only had 1 cleaning account, so I also went to work for the city of Jacksonville Beach as a lifeguard. By the end of the season, I had 15 accounts, which got me through the winter. Over the course of the next few years, I built up to 60 accounts, and in 2004 let go 13 or so to Jerry Pilcher. I was overloaded, and Jerry had just quit working for Plantations, having a route of 15 or so pools he had been cleaning after work. Jerry and I still work together sometimes. He is a nice guy and a good pool cleaner.
I held steady at @ 50 pools for the next few years. Holly Hershberger and some of the Jax Beach lifeguards helped me, after my Father passed away in January of 2005. While caring for my Mother, I sold my route to Paul Taylor in August of 2008. I was Mother's full time caregiver and it was overwhelming to do that and run a business.
I used the money from the sale of my route to start a website design business, A1A Web Services. That business never really took off, so I returned to the pool cleaning business in 2010, after a brief 4 month return engagement, working for Jimmy Batts. Jimmy had a 1 year non compete agreement by then, though I wouldn't have solicited his customers anyway. Mother passed away in November of 2008.
That pretty much brings us up to date, May 21, 2011. My goal is to build back up to a 50 pool route, working mostly by myself. If I could find someone(s) really qualified and motivated, I would expand to a 2nd or 3rd route or more. I like cleaning pools and I am pretty good at it. My Dad, who was a salesman, taught me to take care of the customers first and the money will follow. I like being appreciated by my customers, many of whom I have become friends with. When I get back up to 50 pools, I will not get rich, but can make a decent living.
In 2017, I sold the business to Gene Calhoun, and retired, hopefully for good.
