APSP Quarterly - Winter 2008 - (Page 37)

Pace: But the education market is changing. “A few years ago, one employee from a company would go to get education at a class somewhere— and bring it back to the workplace to pass along information to other employees,” says APSP Chairman of the Board Penny Johnson of Johnson Pools & Spas (Huntsville, Alabama). “Now, employers send entire upper-level management teams to get trained each year.” The industry has come to realize that success requires ongoing education. “Ten years ago, employers really didn’t invest enough in educating their employees,” Johnson says. “Those workers sometimes wound up leaving their companies—and our industry. All that expertise was lost to other industries.” These may have been hard lessons for some. But, as a result, more and more bosses now appreciate the value of education. “As a retailer, I’m excited about certification opportunities and online education,” Johnson says. But she also recognizes that examinations are scary for some people. “People are petrified of taking exams,” she points out. “We need more refresher courses to help people review all that information—and overcome that fear.” That is exactly what APSP is doing. During the past year, for example, refresher courses about pool and spa construction have been BY K E N SUZ U K I Staying on the Cutting Edge With Lifelong Learning offered from coast to coast. Many veterans of the industry have years of work experience. But some have not studied for an exam in a long time. The refresher courses helped them review the APSP Builders Manual, prepare for the builder exam and earn the industry’s top certification for builders: CBP Certified Building Professional®. While being knowledgeable about pools and spas is an asset, being certified can be an even greater advantage. Certification recognizes the achievement of demonstrating a high level of knowledge on a standardized exam. Those who earn the certification can use it to promote their business to customers—and gain a competitive edge. “I use my certifications to promote my business,” says Guy Larsen, CBP/CSP of All Seasons Pools & Spas, Inc. (Orland Park, Illinois). “If you’re certified and you know how many other certified professionals are in your region or state, your promotional literature can play on that,” he says. And if you happen to be the only professional in your state to have two APSP certifications—that’s even better, says Larsen. As part of the APSP Service Technician Certification Program, Tech Schools across the United States train entry-level and veteran employees about pool and spa service. Those APSP government relations panel helps to educate APSP volunteers. From left, Paulette Pitrak, Rick Woemmel, Jennifer Hatfield and Carvin DiGiovanni. who successfully complete all three levels of the program earn the CSP Certified Service Professional® credential. Getting certified isn’t the end of the story. Even certified professionals need continuing education to keep up with the latest advances in technology—and to keep their certification current. APSP Councils have developed the Advanced Pool Builder Program, the Advanced Service Program, and the Advanced Retailer W INTE R 2008 | 37

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of APSP Quarterly - Winter 2008

APSP Quarterly - Winter 2008 Contents President's Message Guest Editorial APSP Annual Report Hot Tub Council Initiative to Speak with One Voice Suction Safety Challenging the Process Industry Update Keeping Pace: Staying on the Cutting Edge With Lifelong Learning APSP News & Resources Advertisers' Index

APSP Quarterly - Winter 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.