NPC “Smooth Finish” Podcast

Join Smooth finish as the crew bends the knee to Royalty in the pool plaster community. Laura Eaton already held the crown as the sole heiress to the reigning kingdom of plaster companies and now unifies the masses with her upcoming role as National Plasterers Council Chairwoman.

Welcome to The Smooth Finish Cast, where we dive deep into the exciting world of the 2024 Tradeshow season! Join the gang redording live during the 35th Annual Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Start Up Technician Certification Classes available now!

Stay tuned to The Smooth Finish Cast for exclusive insights, interviews, and all the excitement surrounding the 2024 Tradeshow season. We can’t wait to see you at an industry venue near you!

Welcome to The Smooth Finish Cast, where we dive deep into the exciting world of the 2024 Tradeshow season! Join us as we explore NESPA’s “The Pool and Spa Show,” the Southwest Pool and Spa Show, and our very own 35th annual NPC conference. We’re your go-to source for what’s happening, where to find us, and the must-not-miss events in the pool and spa industry.
NESPA’s “The Pool and Spa Show” (January 22-24) – Atlantic City Convention Center

Get ready for an unforgettable experience as we navigate through the show led by the industry legend himself, Mr. Rob Romano. With a heavy NPC contingent, this celebration of leadership and industry alliance is not to be missed. Join us on the 22nd for a startup certification course and swing by our booth #2548 to discover the latest innovations. With a massive array of classes, a huge show floor, and an incredible vibe, NESPA’s show promises excitement at every turn.

Southwest Pool and Spa Show (February 14-17) – Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio

Love is in the air as Mrs. Jana Auringer kicks off Valentine’s Day with a startup certification course you won’t want to miss. Visit our booth #627 to explore the NPC’s role in the industry and dive into a growing show with 85 topics, 112 exhibits, and 10 certifications. Hear Chris share feedback and highlights of our first-time experience as exhibitors. Plus, discover the charm of San Antonio, from the Riverwalk to delicious eats, surrounded by fellow industry enthusiasts.

NPC 35th Annual Conference (February 21-23) – The Worthington Renaissance, Ft. Worth TX

Join us in the heart of Texas for the NPC’s 35th annual conference! With three teaching tracks offering 18 educational options, roundtable discussions, and captivating outings like golf, wine tastings, or bikes and BBQ, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the live opening reception podcast featuring three amazing hosts, an industry auction, and the symbolic passing of the gavel. We’ll reflect on Robbie’s legacy and the contributions of Mr. Shaun Goldberg. Get ready for unparalleled networking opportunities and secure your Early Bird spot by January 19th.

Stay tuned to The Smooth Finish Cast for exclusive insights, interviews, and all the excitement surrounding the 2024 Tradeshow season. We can’t wait to see you at an industry venue near you!

Join Smooth finish as they share the recent resources and opportunities being provided to members and the industry. Explore the article rich membership directory, Investment in our future with the Rey Perales Scholarship and Register to join the group at the NPC’s 35th annual conference in Ft. Worth TX this coming February 21st -23rd

Smooth Finish crew chat with Joey Chavez, “Interior Surfaces Specialist for POOLCORP, about his usage of NPC provided resources in his daily task of “Guy who sees crappy pools”. Joey will be sharing a master class on how to best present and reference the resources in the field at our upcoming 35th annual conference February 21st-23rd 2023 in Ft. Worth TX.

The Smooth finish crew talk with Wayne J. Ivusich an industry veteran and impactful and published educator that continues to contribute and oversee that proper chemistry and methods are gospel in the reference materials to the trade. Wayne is active as CPO, PHTA CPO instructor and sits on several committees, an admin to several social media groups and contributes to the Talking Pools Podcast as host to Testing Thursdays with Wayne.

Smooth Finish and Company discuss the use of Cyanuric Acid in the swimming pool industry. Also known as CYA, and yes “Cover your Ass” is somewhat relatable to this conversation. Although a useful/necessary tool in the treatment of water there are some side affects and adjustments to be considered with it’s use and how in particular it can create issues for Cementous Pool Plaster finishes. For more information on Cyanuric acid, please visit: www.nationalplastererscouncil.com/technical-resources/

The Smooth Finish crew mix it up about what some consider the most important position on the Plaster Crew. The Mud man, mixer man, hottie, what ever you may call the person mixing your plaster for the project. Why and what is so important about this job in regards to the finished product.

This week a new episode, recorded live at the NPC 34th Annual Conference in San Diego, is available. If you have never attended an NPC conference, you will want to hear what our hosts learned from conference attendees about what they get out of the Annual Conference, the excellent networking and educational opportunities, the camaraderie displayed at the conference and more.

The NPC 34th annual conference is being held in the “do not miss” location of the Loews Coronado Bay resort. The conference as always will have second to none industry specific education highlighted by the first ever NPC Start up Certification in Spanish. Networking as always will be available in conference, at the Opening, new member and young professionals’ receptions and at any of the 3 tour options being offered. Catch a deal in our annual auction and chat with pool plaster specific vendors during the exhibitor reception. Come to learn, come to bond, come to play…The NPC looks forward to seeing you in Sunny San Diego.

Love when I get the chance to do a new Episode of Smooth Finish with New Depths Podcast with our friends at NESPA! Here all about all the great things coming up at both of our annual shows!

The team talks about what the NPC considers a quintessential part of the startup process with the use of a sequestering agent. Listen in as we explore the chemistry, function and benefit of this practice. Further learn when and why to use these products as a part of your normal maintenance regiment.

Smooth finish covers the often-escalated “hot” topics of “Smoothness, Levelness, Thickness and Mottling” in an attempt to marry the misunderstood expectations from the consumer level and the industry standards prescribed and adopted due to materials and application limitations.Shaun Goldberg has been in the pool plastering industry for over 35 years. He’s been a mixer man, finisher, crew foreman, and operations manager. Since starting in 1985, Shaun has finished or overseen over 50,000 residential and commercial pool projects. Shaun has served on the Research, Technical, and Educational Committees for the National Plasterers Council as well as being a current Board member and vice chair.

Listen in as Smooth Finish highlights the technical bulletin #7 “Is my Pool Supposed to be “Waterproof” or “Watertight”. These are two entirely different standards within the building industry. What is required and what is important to understand for each standard. Let us know how we are doing and share other topics you would like to explore.

The Smooth Finish cast talk with industry and NPC veteran Andrea Campbell, National Sales Manager for Mesa Industries, about the newly released Technical Bulletin #4, “The Most Common Reasons for Loss of Color”. Listen in to hear the cause and affects associate with Swimming Pool Plaster color loss and the well published preventative solutions the NPC provides to the industry and consumers alike to avoid these common issues. Visit npconline.org to get your copy of Technical bulletin #4 and all of the other helpful resources mention in the show.

The crew from Smooth Finish chat with conference attendees at the opening reception at the 33rd annual conference.

Hosts Brent Lane, Chris Marcano and Rob Romano talk with NPC Chair Yvette Gammon of Gammon Pools, Inc. about the first in-person Annual Conference since 2020. Listen as they discuss highlights of the program at the 33rd Annual Conference, February 9-11, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. Get insights into the all-new Thursday classes with one-track for the whole day – The Remodel Primer. The Friday education program will offer the traditional format of three tracks of excellent learning opportunities. Hear more about what you can expect at this year’s Conference – from the networking events, exhibit hall, the auction with Jay Eaton, and more. Everyone talks about their experiences at past conferences and why you should attend the Annual Conference in Atlanta this year!

NPC’s Smooth Finish and NESPA’s New Depths collaborate for a joint podcast to discuss how the two Organizations have worked together throughout the last several years, their joint taskforce concerning winter effects and each share about their upcoming tradeshows in early 2021.

Participants from Smooth Finish- Brent Lane, Chris Marcano, Rob Romano

Participants from New Depths- Dom Mondi and Chas Bogardus

Smooth finish speaks with Chas Bogardus and Dom Mondi of NESPA to discuss the various practices of winterization of swimming pools, share experience with some traditional methods, drill down on the winter effects task force and hear a new theory practiced for winter pool maintenance and early results.
Smooth Finish Participants: Brent Lane, Chris Marcano and Rob Roman

Why are swimming pools in such demand and why are lead times so long – in some cases two years? The Smooth Finish hosts speak with Mark Warsaw, CEO of Bel Aqua Pool Supply Inc., an independent distributor serving the Northeastern U.S. for some answers. From the catalyst of the COVID pandemic to skilled labor shortages to materials supply, Mark shares his perspective on purchasing, inventory customer service impacts and what the market may have in store for the future.

The NPC has launched an awareness campaign to help build the public’s knowledge about the proper initial start-up of cementitious interior pool and spa finishes and the importance of proper maintenance thereafter in relation to the aesthetic, functionality and lifespan of their plaster pool surface. Also, NPC is currently in production on our online education version of the start-up class as a foundation for several pool industry certification and apprenticeship programs and required curriculum.

Special Edition Podcast for Pool Owners: The NPC has launched an awareness campaign to help build the public’s knowledge about the proper initial start-up of cementitious interior pool and spa finishes and the importance of proper maintenance thereafter in relation to the aesthetic, functionality and lifespan of their plaster pool surface.

The ultimate goal of pool surface preparation is a uniform, clean, porous surface profile. Donnie Gammon of Gammon Pools, David Cooke of David Cooke Plaster Company, and Ryan Schilli of Schilli Plastering Company join hosts Brent Lane, Chris Marcano and Rob Romano to discuss three recognized tried and proven methods for pool surface finishing.

Listen in with the Smooth finish crew talks with Jeff Henderson, Director of NPC and Laura Eaton- administrative assistance at Cal Plastering and legacy member of the NPC auction family extraordinaire, about the 2021 virtual conference.
Learn how the NPC is working hard to capture the essences of the live event and bring to you on the virtual platform.
We hope you will join to hear more about the conference and better yet join us at the conference.

In November, NPC announced a new addition to the NPC staff. Listen in as the Smooth Finish cast talks with Kent Westfall the new Director of Technical services and learn about his many ventures in the pool industry and the qualifications he gained along the way.
Kent Westfall, of Kent Westfall Pool Inspections, Bermuda Dunes, California, has 44 years of experience in the pool industry, developing his extensive career spanning 36 years of mastering every aspect of pool construction, pool plastering and remodeling. He has been licensed with the Contractors State License Board during that 36-year time. As an industry entrepreneur, Kent has run his plastering and remodeling business for 26 years and has been a licensed Pebble Tec applicator for 25 years. In addition, he has become Operations Manager for Purified Pool Water since 2016, doing reverse osmosis treatments for pools. Kent is a member of the California Pool and Spa Association (CPSA) and is a member of the National Plasterers Council (NPC), for which he conducts cementitious coating inspections and is a Certified NPC Start-Up Technician.

Join us for the next NPC “Smooth Finish” podcast episode introducing a new educational series inspired by Mr. NPC, Greg Garrett. Brent Lane, NPC Marketing Chair, ​along with co-hosts Rob Romano of David Cooke Plaster Company and Chris Marcano of Natural Chemistry, welcomes Jana Auringer of Pebble Technology International, a veteran of the pool industry for more than 30 years to discuss the recent announcement by the NPC that the Annual Conference will be moving to a virtual event, the progress on the NPC distance learning program through a Learning Management System, and the efforts of the Education Task Force. They will give listeners a preview of a new educational podcast series focusing on information from the technical manual, white papers, and research. Five core classes will be highlighted, including:
• Start-up and maintenance
• Surface preparation
• Materials standards
• Plaster Placement, and
• Trouble shooting and repair.
Speaker: Jana Auringer is currently Quality Control Technician at Pebble Technology International. She has promoted the industry through her affiliations with the National Plasters Council on the Board of Directors and several active committees, as well as the National Pool Industry Research Center, PHTA (in several capacities), and IPSSA.

In this episode, Brent Lane of Artistry in Mosaics, and Chair of the NPC Marketing Committee, leads our panelists in a discussion of how the swimming pool industry is recruiting the next wave of professionals to the trade. Jeremy Hausbrouk shares his experience as a business owner to promote the industry to students from primary school and up. Mary Anderson describes the Florida Swimming Pool Association’s efforts partnering with their members to achieve a steady stream of professionals into the pool industry through an apprentice program.
Panelists: Jeremy Hausbrouk is owner of Hasbrouck Pool and Spa Inc. in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania and active member of the Penn/Jersey chapter of the Northeast Spa and Pool Association (NESPA).

Mary Anderson is Education Program Manager for the Florida Swimming Pool Association, which serves as the coordinating organization for 16 local FSPA Chapters.

“Staycation”, dare we say the used car salesmen term in the industry, turned into the personified need for isolated activity for families in their own backyard. Host Brent Lane of Artistry in Mosaics, and Chair of the NPC Marketing Committee, leads a discussion on how the ‘Staycation’ has impacted the pool industry.
Listen as our panelists share their thoughts on how things have changed in the wake of the pandemic Panelists include Jeff Smith –Sales and Marketing Director of Alan Smith Pool Plastering, specializing in plastering and remodeling; NPC member and PSN Top 50 Builder and Sarah Bess- Marketing Director of Lyon Financial Underwriter, specializing in the financing of swimming pools across the US

This first NPC podcast features host Brent Lane of Artistry in Mosaics, and Chair of the NPC Marketing Committee, leading a panel of pool industry professionals in an informative conversation covering a variety of issues related to how the pool industry is responding to the coronavirus pandemic and the unique challenges faced by the industry. Conflicting information from the Federal, state and local governments and suggestions on how companies can stay informed is covered, as well as other topics. Panelists include Chris Marcano of Natural Chemistry, Rob Romano of David Cooke Plaster Company, Rudy Stankowitz of Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants, and Dominick Mondi, Executive Director of The Northeast Spa and Pool Association (NESPA).