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Top 10 Finalists Named for 2025 Mentor of the Year Award

Rudy

Top 10 Finalists Named for Talking Pools Podcast 2025 Mentor of the Year Award

🔍 Behind the Process: How We Chose the Top 10 Mentors of the Year in the Pool Industry

See Nomination Guidelines Here

When we created the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Award, we knew this couldn’t be just another accolade. Not in an industry where mentorship can mean the difference between burnout and breakthrough.

So, here’s a transparent look at how the Top 10 Mentors of 2025 were selected—and why the process matters just as much as the outcome.

“I completely removed myself,” says Rudy Stankowitz, host of the Talking Pools Podcast.
“I had to. I know every single one of the 67 nominees personally.”

From the beginning, nominees couldn’t self-nominate. They had to be nominated by mentees—the very people whose careers they helped shape. And many of them were nominated by more than one.

From there, Rudy compiled the full list and created a custom scoring program designed to evaluate each nominee on what really counts:
✔️ Mentorship impact
✔️ Mentee success
✔️ Industry contributions
✔️ Community engagement
✔️ Educational presence
✔️ And more…

All identifying information was removed—names, locations, companies. The judges were looking only at contributions and outcomes, not reputations or resumes.

That anonymized list was handed off to the eight other Talking Pools Podcast hosts and a panel of sponsors. The result? A fair, unbiased, and metrics-driven ranking that gave us the Top 10 finalists—the very best of the best, chosen by peers, evaluated on substance.

“At that point, I became a curator,” says Rudy.
“No one knew who they were evaluating.”

The same process will be used to determine the Mentor of the Year, who will be surprised in person in a first-ever doorstep award reveal later this fall.

This is how we honor real mentorship—by doing the work behind the scenes to ensure the recognition is earned, not handed out.

Because in a trade that’s navigating labor shortages, rising costs, and a changing generation, mentors aren’t a luxury—they’re a necessity.

To those who teach, guide, and lead from the trenches: this one’s for you.

#MentorshipMatters #SwimmingPoolIndustry #Leadership #TalkingPoolsPodcast #MentorOfTheYear #SkilledTrades #ProfessionalDevelopment #FairJudging #IndustryExcellence

Winner to Be Surprised On-Camera in First-Ever Doorstep Award Reveal

See Press Release AQUA Magazine Press Release

United States – August 1, 2025 – The Talking Pools Podcast has announced the Top 10 finalists for its inaugural Mentor of the Year Award, a bold recognition honoring the unsung heroes of the swimming pool and spa industry—those who build skills, nurture growth, and help others rise through generosity, grit, and guidance.

Selected from nearly 70 nominations submitted by peers and mentees across the country, these individuals exemplify the best of what mentorship means in the trades. In an industry facing technician shortages and generational turnover, these mentors are the glue that holds knowledge, professionalism, and passion together.

In a unique and heartfelt twist, the Talking Pools Podcast will conduct an unannounced, on-location surprise reveal in November 2025. One finalist will be met at their home or workplace by host Rudy Stankowitz—and awarded a custom championship belt in front of a rolling camera crew. The reveal will be released in a special video episode and distributed across podcast and social media platforms.

“There’s no ballroom. No stage. Just a knock at the door and a belt for someone who’s been quietly changing lives,” said host Rudy Stankowitz.

“This industry is only as strong as the people willing to teach others how to thrive in it. That’s what this award is about—spotlighting the quiet champions who lift others up.”

2025 Mentor of the Year Finalists

Finalists were selected based on peer nominations, mentorship testimonials, and demonstrated impact across a range of roles, regions, and company sizes. Each one represents a powerful commitment to professional growth and community-building.

Each finalist will receive a limited-edition Top Ten shirt recognizing their achievement. One will be awarded the Mentor of the Year Championship Belt, custom-built by Wildcat Belts—the same company that creates championship titles for WWE and UFC.

Sponsors Champion Mentorship

The 2025 Mentor of the Year Award is made possible through the generous support of leading companies in the swimming pool and spa industry, each of whom champions mentorship as vital to long-term success and sustainability.

Blueray XL serves as the Title Sponsor of this year’s award.

“When Rudy first told me about the Mentor of the Year Award, I blurted out straightaway: ‘YES!!!’ We didn’t hesitate—we jumped on board as Title Sponsor immediately,” said Chris Galvin, CEO of Blueray XL.

“This isn’t just a trophy for the shelf. It’s the kind of recognition a real mentor deserves—someone who shows up day after day, poolside or in the pump room, pushing others to be better. Mentorship is the Rocky Balboa of professional development—it’s raw, relentless, and built on grit,” Galvin said. “It’s about leaning in when others might walk away, celebrating the little wins, and making someone believe in their own potential. That’s what Blueray XL stands for: helping po

ol pros level up—not by giving them shortcuts, but by standing beside them, offering tools, knowledge, and belief.”

LaMotte Company, a Gold Sponsor and long-standing leader in water analysis technology, echoed the importance of investing in mentorship.

“Mentorship is incredibly valuable to our team at LaMotte, because it helps share the wisdom we’ve gained by providing water analysis solutions for more than a century,” said Michael P. Smith, Director of Marketing at LaMotte. “It strengthens our community by guiding the next generation of pool and spa workers to uphold high standards and innovate responsibly. We believe mentoring fosters growth, builds trust, and keeps our industry thriving. Congratulations to all the nominees in the Mentor of the Year award!”

Revdup Apparel, the event’s second Gold Sponsor, emphasized mentorship as a cultural cornerstone.

“Revdup Apparel is proud to support the inaugural Talking Pools Podcast Mentorship Award, recognizing the vital role mentorship plays in shaping the future of the pool industry,” said Don Douglas, Co-Founder of Revdup. “We believe that experienced leaders guiding the next generation strengthens the entire community and drives excellence, safety, and innovation across the board.”

📣 Media Invitation

Industry media are invited to attend and cover the surprise award reveal in November 2025. For access details or to coordinate press participation, contact Rudy Stankowitz at rudy@cpoclass.com.

The moment will be captured and released as a special video episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage available on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

About the Talking Pools Podcast

The Talking Pools Podcast is a leading voice in the swimming pool and spa industry, delivering daily episodes focused on education, innovation, and the people behind the pools. With tens of thousands of listeners globally, the podcast is a trusted resource for pool service professionals, builders, retailers, and manufacturers alike.

The show features a diverse team of hosts:

Together, they bring unmatched expertise, diverse perspectives, and real-world insight to the mic—helping elevate conversations and communities across the pool and spa industry.

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