We did it, folks — we’ve made it to the end of another successful year! And that means we celebrate our achievements by introducing you to a special group: this year’s Best of Aquatics honorees.
This year’s roster of winners all addressed challenges their facilities faced and, in looking for solutions, demonstrated a certain can-do attitude fueled by resourcefulness, creativity and moxie, resulting in a clear road map for future success.
One of the standouts in the group is the Ronald J. Parks Community Recreation Center in Temecula, Calif. Aquatics management saw a need to help young aspiring lifeguards develop the skills and mindset needed for supervisory roles and, in response, created a week-long Leadership Academy. The program has become a strong leadership pipeline, with about 80% of current lead lifeguards emerging from the Academy and entering their roles with clearer expectations and stronger professionalism.
Another standout is Liquid Lifestyles, an Ohio-based swim school recognized in this program for their strong social media strategy, which was designed to build trust within the community, maintain a unified, genuine online presence and fuel enrollment and engagement. Their transparent, mission-centered approach turns followers into advocates, consistently driving referrals and growth across its locations, all without relying on heavy paid advertising.
But sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones. A few of our winners this year saw a need within their communities and fulfilled them in simple but creative ways. For example, Queen Creek Recreation and Aquatic Center in Arizona built a float in the town’s Christmas parade to recruit lifeguards for its brand new facility, and Epic Waters in Grand Prairie, Texas organized a school supply drive, filling three giant school buses with much needed supplies.
Please enjoy reading about these nine special facilities. I also invite you join us in celebrating them at our session during the Association of Aquatics Professionals Expo and Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo. next February. This annual, must-attend educational event and tradeshow draws everyone who is anyone in the field of aquatics — meaning you, our reader! — and I look forward to seeing you there.
