Jana Auringer
Director of Education, National Plasterers Council

A 40+ year veteran of the swimming pool industry, Jana has owned a swimming pool plaster company, a weekly pool service company, and a third-party independent plaster consulting company in which she has compiled a vast knowledge of swimming pool plaster research and science to resolve plaster problems. She has promoted the industry through her affiliations with the National Plasterers Council, previously on the Board of Directors and various committees, as well as the Advisory Board of the National Pool Industry Research Center. She served on the PHTA Board of Directors & was Chair of the APSP Service Council for two terms, volunteered on the Service Education Committee and was an IPSSA member for 32 years. Jana was recognized as the APSP Region 3 Volunteer of the Decade in 2012, selected as the NPC Member of the Year 4 times by her peers and was honored as an “PHTA Fellow” in the 2012 inaugural Fellows class. She currently serves as a Subject Matter Expert on the PHTA Recreation Water & Air Quality Committee and a member of the PHTA/TPSC – ASR Task Force. Jana is a certified instructor of the NPC Start-up Certification course as well as a faculty member of Genesis. A native Texan, she is currently the Director of Education for the National Plasterers Council.

Joey Chavez
POOLCORP

Raised in a plaster family and compiling 20+ years in the swimming pool business, from new builds to complete remodels as well as pool service. Joey has direct experience in sales and construction, from design to oversight to management. Joey’s very active in the National Plasterers Council and teaches numerous classes in all facets of our amazing business. He works for POOLCORP/NPT as a National Trainer for the complete line of NPT pool finishes and building materials. He approaches all interactions with a simple ‘what did I learn and what did I teach?’ approach as well as challenging students in his classes by asking ‘are you going to be a Crow or an Eagle’ (per Greg Garrett) to encourage them to bring out the very best of themselves.

Tom Engel
POOLCORP

Tom was born in New York and grew up between there and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Tom earned his degree in Business Administration in 1987 from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. After college, he began his professional career in New York working for a large tire retail and wholesale company starting in export sales and attaining the title of Vice President in charge of export, private label products, and distribution. Tom joined PoolCorp in 2002, moving with his wife and two children to Florida. Working closely with PoolCorp branches, customers, and vendors, Tom earned many team and individual performance recognitions. Over the years Tom developed a passion for the Building Materials side of our business and helping customers and employees to achieve success with these product categories. Tom now serves as a National Building Materials Trainer with responsibilities to work with vendors, and train and assist PoolCorp employees and customers with building materials product knowledge, industry-standard best practices, and installation techniques. He is Certified in Residential Pool Chemistry and an NPC Certified Start-Up Technician.

Blake Greeves
US Pool Plaster

In 2022, Blake joined US Pool Plaster, bringing his financial expertise and disciplined approach to an entirely new field. Embracing the industry with a hands-on mindset, he quickly immersed himself in both the technical and operational sides of the business. During this time, US Pool Plaster now completes more than 4,000 pools annually nationwide. Blake plays a central role in developing and implementing training programs for the company’s hundreds of employees, ensuring consistent quality and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Beyond his work within the organization, Blake is actively involved in multiple industry councils and committees, where he collaborates with peers to advance standards, promote innovation, and support the long-term growth and professionalism of the pool plaster industry. His commitment to giving back and helping move the industry forward reflects his belief in strong leadership and responsible stewardship.

Jeff McGalliard
JMK Associates dba Premier Pools and Spas

Jeff is President of JMK Assoc. dba Premier Pools and Spas in Souderton, PA. He was a plastering contractor from 1975-2010 and a pool builder for over 40 years. Jeff is a long-time member of NPC, is Chair of the Technical Committee, several PHTA committees, and is past president of the Northeast Spa and Pool Association.

Matt Sharp
PebbleTec, CBP; CPI; CPO; Genesis Student; Watershape University Student

Matt Sharp is the Western Regional Sales Manager for PebbleTec, the industry leader in premium swimming pool finishes. He is a seasoned industry veteran with 22 years of hands-on field experience as a swimming pool contractor including service, repair, renovations and new construction. A lifelong learner, Matt strives to continue his education through industry-leading organizations like Genesis, Watershape University, and the NPC. In addition, he is passionate about improving the pool industry by advocating for following prescribed industry standards from leading standards setting organizations. He lives in Phoenix, AZ with his two children, his wife and 5 dogs.

Brad Mead
Poolside Plastering

Brad Mead began his journey in the pool plastering industry at just 13 years old, starting out as a deck hand and tile cleaner. He continued working throughout high school and spent his college summers in the field, gaining hands-on experience and developing a genuine passion for the craft. After earning his degree in Construction Management, Brad set aside his plans for law school and committed fully to the industry he had grown to love. In 2005, he and one of his closest friends took over the company where they had spent so many summers learning and working.

When not plastering pools, Brad enjoys cycling, cars and traveling the world with his wife and two sons. Brad has been attending NPC conferences for over 20 years and is a strong advocate for continued education within the pool plastering community. He is dedicated to elevating industry standards and helping the next generation of pool professionals succeed.

Natalia Guzman

Nadia Beane
Jack’s Magic Products

Nadia Beane is Chief Operating Officer of Jack’s Magic Products, Inc., a chemical company based in Largo, Florida. During her years in high school and college, she has worked in all aspects of the company, learning the business from the ground up – in roles from receptionist to trade show coordinator, to production and administration. In addition to running all aspects of the business, Nadia serves on the National Plasterers Council Board of Directors. She values the importance of education and teaches Jack’s Magic classes and is involved in technical writing. Nadia has a degree in recreation and event management from the University of Florida. During her time at the University of Florida, Nadia received multiple swimming pool industry scholarships and hopes to ‘pay it forward’ by supporting and contributing to scholarships to help educate others in the industry and in her local community. She was featured in PoolPro magazine’s “30 under 40” article in November of 2019. She is committed to her company’s brand, products, programs, and customers through training, education, and support.

Jonathan E. Dongell
Pebble Technologies International

He is the current Director of Research & Development at Pebble Technologies. He is past president of Whitestone White Cement and Universal White Cement. He is a fellow of the American Concrete Institute. He has worked in the construction trade spanning 45 years, as a tradesman, journeyman, superintendent, manager, contractor, residential and commercial builder, consultant, mediator, lab technician, failures analysis, and construction materials expert. Jon has held residential and commercial builder licenses in three states. He is an inventor, having three patents, and is a designated expert witness. He is a voting member of numerous committees within American Concrete Institute and American Society of Testing Materials and is a board member and committee member of the NPC. He is a speaker and author of numerous articles and technical papers. Jon is the author of several books and was the principal author of NPC’s – ‘Technical Manual’, ACI’s – ‘Guide to Plastering’; and ICC/ANSI/APSP – ‘American National Standard for Swimming Pool Plastering’.

Yvette Gammon
Gammon Pools, Inc.

Yvette Gammon is a respected leader and educator in the pool and spa industry, known for her commitment to craftsmanship, education, and raising professional standards across the trade. Born and raised in San Diego California, Yvette graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration, specializing in Marketing. As the owner of Gammon Pools in San Diego, Yvette brings decades of hands-on experience in renovations and surface applications. In addition to running a successful swimming pool remodeling and pool surfacing business, Yvette serves as Past President, Board of Directors, and Conference Education Co-Chair for the National Plasterers Council (NPC), where she plays a pivotal role in shaping training programs, research, and technical resources that support swimming pool contractors nationwide. Her passion for knowledge-sharing and industry advancement has made her a trusted voice on best practices, sustainability, and professional development within the pool community. Yvette’s leadership reflects her belief that excellence in the field begins with education She continues to dedicate her time to ensuring the next generation of pool professionals are well-equipped to uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity.

Brent Lane
Artistry in Mosaics

Brent Lane has been an active member of the National Plaster Council for over 15 years. He is a current member of the board of directors and chairs the Marketing committee as well as participating in many of the other committees. He has been a vendor to the industry with his current role as Director of Operations and Market development for Artistry in Mosaics, Inc. and prior role as National Sales Manager for SGM, Inc.

Scott McKenna
CEO, Gardner Pool Plastering

Scott got his start in the pool industry at the age of 24 working for California Pools, a pool builder, digging ditches for plumbing. Over the years, he slowly moved up in business and became superintendent. After working with them for 4 years, he opened, with his father and brother Mike, their own pool construction company called Trimac Pools. They built high-end pools in the San Diego area. Having decided to stay in the industry but to change focus slightly from building pools to remodeling them, they bought Gardner Pool Plastering. His dad has since passed away. Over the years, they built Gardner from a small plastering company to a complete remodeling business with three branches in Southern California. Personal Touch: Scott has been playing basketball 3 days a week at 5:00 in the morning for more than 40 years.

Ryan Schilli
Schilli Plastering Company

With a career that began at just 16 years old on job sites, Ryan Schilli learned plastering from the ground up. Those early years gave him a close understanding of the craft—its challenges, its precision, and the teamwork it demands. That foundation still influences how he approaches problems today, grounding his leadership in practicality, clarity, and genuine support for his crew. Now serving as President of Schilli Plastering Co., Ryan combines his field experience with a steady focus on building a more efficient, well-coordinated operation. He works to keep field and office processes aligned, supporting a team of more than 40 and strengthening project coordination, logistics, and supply chain workflows. Founded by Elmer Schilli in 1951, Schilli Plastering Co. has been a family business for three generations.

Rob Romano

Dave Moe