After years of struggling with finances, the California Pool & Spa Association is entering an affiliation agreement with the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. With the move comes new funding, a shifting of key positions, and a change in the selection and management of CPSA staff.
At press time, the organizations were still fleshing out exact details for the agreement, which was expected to be signed by end of June. However, it is known that CPSA will essentially function as a region of PHTA. The national organization will provide funding, including the compensation for the executive director position, and will supply other administrative support.
Shortly after the organizations arrived at their initial agreement, two key CPSA leaders resigned — Board Chairman Jerry Wallace and Executive Director Michelle Kavanaugh.
John Norwood, who has managed CPSA’s lobbying efforts since 2009, will continue as director of government relations. He now will work with PHTA Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Hatfield.
Wallace, who had served on CPSA’s board for approximately 30 years, including 4½ as chair, stepped down shortly upon the announcement, saying he wanted to clear the way for a fresh start.
While he believed the affiliation was necessary, he wished it weren’t. “I’m frustrated that the industry in California did not provide enough financial support to keep CPSA going as an independent organization,” he said, later adding: “Finances were always difficult and were becoming more difficult. So we had to find a solution to make CPSA sustainable.”
Kavanaugh continued until the end of June, with her replacement to be employed by PHTA. She cited similar reasons for her resignation, saying she is pursuing other entrepreneurial opportunities and the transition provided an opportunity for a clean break. Regarding the affiliation, Kavanaugh said, “They’ve struggled many years to meet budget … I think it’s a wonderful affiliation and I think it’s necessary.”
APSP, then PHTA, had been working the past few years to regain its presence in California. For PHTA, this seemed like an obvious step, its CEO, Sabeena Hickman, said. “California is important to us, with the number of builders and so much legislation happening out there,” she said. “So it was important for us to maintain some sort of partnership with the California group.”
This move makes for an interesting turn, considering CPSA’s relationships with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals and the National Swimming Pool Foundation — the organizations that merged to form PHTA. The California organization had a brief affiliation agreement with APSP but terminated it early after the national group reduced its financial support. Shortly after, CPSA became part of NSPF, at the time considered to be a competing organization.