Business View Magazine | May 2021

23 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MAY 2021 MASTER POOLS GUI LD (MPG) of years and then it went national. It was purchased by what is now Pentair, at that time Sta-Rite, and the group grew and continued primarily for the purpose of exchanging information, ideas, helping each other, and helping the manufacturer. In the mid-1980s they decided to become their own organization, and not be part of a manufacturer. So they made an arrangement with Sta-Rite to buy the name through use of product. And this formed the Master Pools Guild.” BVM: Why would someone want to be invited to join MPG? Covert: “We have been functioning as an organization primarily for education and exchange of information and ideas. We are not a franchise, so we can’t tell our members where they can build, but we have certain qualities and standards that we look for. And when we invite a new member to join – and you are invited to join, it’s not an open organization, as such – we Business View recently spoke with Dick Covert, Executive Director of Master Pools Guild, and Teri Wiltshire, Special Projects Manager, about the purpose of their organization, the many benefits of membership, and what lies ahead for the industry. They had some fascinating insights to share. BVM: What was the impetus behind the formation of the Master Pools Guild? Covert: “The Master Pools Guild is an international organization of quality swimming pool builders that was established in 1962. We have our official 60th anniversary next year in 2022. They formed as a group of builders to help a manufacturer develop their products. They put together a small group of consultants who could help them make their equipment better and provide a better service, and from there it began to grow. “The organization was regional for a number Southwest Pools And Spas - Abilene, TX - www.southwestpools.com