High-Tech Pools

 Six Decades of Expertise

Advancing the Next Generation of Aquatic Design

For more than sixty years, High-Tech Pools has quietly reshaped the aquatic landscape of Ohio and the surrounding region. Now entering a new chapter, the third-generation, family-owned company is pairing its long-standing craftsmanship with a forward-looking, innovation-driven approach to residential and commercial pool construction. Leading this evolution is President and Operations Manager Jerry Hammerschmidt, who balances deep respect for the company’s roots with a clear, practical vision for its future.

Hammerschmidt’s voice carries equal parts pride and precision as he reflects on how High-Tech Pools continues to stand out in a crowded, increasingly competitive industry. “We do everything in-house,” says Hammerschmidt. From design to excavation, steel, plumbing, shotcrete, tile, plaster, and long-term maintenance, every phase of a High-Tech Pools project is carried out by full-time employees rather than subcontractors. Hammerschmidt emphasizes that this singular choice defines the company’s identity. He says it allows High-Tech Pools to “control the quality and the production as much as possible and create an excellent product.”

Three Generations of Growth

High-Tech Pools’ roots run deep into Ohio soil, back to 1958 when Hammerschmidt’s grandfather entered the pool-building business. The years that followed saw the company transform from a modest operation into a trusted regional builder. When Hammerschmidt’s father took the reins, he expanded both the business and the brand, strengthening its commercial capabilities and reputation for engineering-driven excellence.

By the time the third generation stepped in, the business was poised for reinvention. After completing college, Hammerschmidt immersed himself in every corner of the operation, starting in the field and gaining firsthand experience before taking on management roles. One of his early observations was that the company had outgrown its traditional, informal workflows. “We were too big for how we were operating,” he says. The company had tremendous potential but lacked the systems needed to support long-term expansion.

Hammerschmidt spearheaded a sweeping modernization effort, building internal systems that would enhance efficiency, improve communication, refine scheduling, and unify operational processes. “Those systems are what really enabled us to get to where we are today,” he notes. They touch every facet of the company, from purchasing and equipment to management structures and job costing.

These changes were not surface-level improvements but foundational reinforcements that continue to shape the company’s culture of accountability and performance.

Resilience Through In-House Expertise

In the face of market pressures facing the construction trades—labor shortages, supply challenges, and rising material costs— High-Tech Pools has continued to grow. The company has increased its operations by roughly 20 to 30 percent year over year, a testament to both strong demand and resilient internal systems.

A defining factor in this success is the longevity of its workforce. In the company, there’s about 80 people and more than 5 families make up 60% of the total. These long-term relationships reinforce consistency in craftsmanship and cultivate a culture of deep trust. When sudden industry surges occur—as happened during COVID-19—Hammerschmidt says the company’s in-house structure became its greatest strength. “We weren’t competing with other companies to try to get their time,” he explains. Their team was fully committed and fully available, allowing High-Tech Pools to continue building even as much of the industry struggled to secure reliable tradespeople.

The company pairs its legacy talent with new hires who learn directly from experienced craftsmen. This intergenerational mentorship helps High-Tech Pools preserve the unique techniques, engineering acumen, and jobsite practices that set its builds apart.

As Hammerschmidt acknowledges, continued growth relies on human capital. The company is actively seeking to expand its team, looking for individuals who align with High-Tech Pools’ commitment to quality construction and continuous improvement. He says they currently “could use five or six people immediately,” and they remain focused on finding the right individuals to join the company’s next chapter.

Reinventing the Workflow

One of the most transformative changes under Hammerschmidt’s leadership has been the adoption of Monday.com as the company’s fully customized project management platform. Originally tested as a simple scheduling tool, the software evolved into the digital backbone of High-Tech Pools’ operations.

“It spread like a weed,” Hammerschmidt says, describing how various departments began integrating and customizing the system to meet their specific needs. Today, Monday.com tracks every stage of a project—from the first phone call to the final service appointment decades later.

A pool project moves through a series of meticulously designed stages: sales inquiry, site visit, design, permitting, excavation, plumbing, shotcrete, finishing, startup, warranty, and ongoing maintenance. Each phase includes dozens of detailed steps, all documented, photographed, and updated in real time across the platform.

Automations link different boards and departments, ensuring immediate updates when milestones are reached. Managers can pull up project histories from anywhere, something especially valuable as the company now builds pools across more than five states.

This system has accelerated communication, minimized delays, standardized quality, and empowered managers with instant access to project data. It also serves as a long-term service archive, allowing High-Tech Pools to track decades of maintenance for every pool they have ever built.

By reengineering its internal workflow, the company has positioned itself as a leader in construction technology within the pool industry.

A New Era of Water Quality

While operational innovation has fueled High-Tech Pools’ growth, the company is equally focused on advancing the science of pool design—particularly in water sanitization.

The company is one of the first in the region to implement Hyper-Dissolved Oxygen (HDO) and nano-oxygen systems, a groundbreaking approach that replaces chlorine with oxygen-based sanitization. Hammerschmidt describes it as “the clearest, cleanest water that we’ve ever experienced in three generations of building pools.”

These patented systems infuse water with oxygen, CO2, and ozone at an ultra-small particle size—around 70 nanometers—allowing the bubbles to penetrate the skin and combat contaminants at a molecular level. The result is a chemical-free pool environment with exceptional clarity, fewer maintenance requirements, and potential wellness benefits that researchers are currently exploring.

High-Tech Pools has already installed several of these systems, including pools that have been operational for up to six months with remarkable results. These innovations align with broader industry trends favoring sustainability, health-conscious products, and simplified pool ownership.

The company is positioning itself at the forefront of this movement, with the potential to reshape expectations for water quality across both commercial and residential markets.

A Network of Valued Partnerships

Though High-Tech Pools completes all construction work in-house, strategic partnerships remain integral to its operations. Two suppliers, in particular, play essential roles in the company’s growth.

The first is Exceptional Water Systems of Arizona, the provider that introduced High-Tech Pools to the advanced HDO and nano-oxygen sanitization technology. Their expertise has enabled the company to become an early adopter of this emerging system.

The second is Fluidra, a global leader in pool and spa equipment. The long-standing relationship between Fluidra and High-Tech Pools is built on mutual loyalty and technical trust. Hammerschmidt recognizes Fluidra as essential in helping the company create innovative, customized pool systems that meet the demanding requirements of high-end residential and commercial installations.

In addition to these supplier relationships, the company remains an active member of the Master Pools Guild and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). Hammerschmidt is a certified Master Pool Builder, and the company’s network provides ongoing access to education, technical resources, and forward-looking industry insights.

These partnerships deepen the company’s capabilities while reinforcing its commitment to craftsmanship, safety, and engineering excellence.

Focused on Quality, Ready for Any Market

As High-Tech Pools looks toward the next two years, its priorities reflect both ambition and grounded stewardship. Hammerschmidt says the company’s focus is not on aggressive expansion but on continuing to improve the things that have always mattered most: quality, people, and customer experience.

“If we could grow, then we’re blessed to grow,” he says. “And if the economy requires us to shrink, then God willing, we’ll shrink and be successful. But the key is that we want to increase our quality and increase the ability to take care of our employees and our customers.”

Capital investments continue to flow into new equipment, fleet vehicles, tools, and technology upgrades. The company is also evaluating adding another plaster pump to meet the demands of both commercial and high-end residential clients.

With its refined internal systems, strengthened workforce, advanced technology integrations, and trusted partnerships, High-Tech Pools is well-positioned for the future—whether that future brings continued rapid growth or a period of stabilization.

Steady Evolution for a Changing Industry

After 66 years in operation, the company continues to balance the strengths that have defined it from the beginning with the systems and technologies required for modern construction. Generational craftsmanship remains at the center of the business, supported by digital tools, engineered processes, and a commitment to consistent, in-house execution.

Under Hammerschmidt’s leadership, the company is moving confidently into its next phase—not by chasing trends, but by strengthening the practices that deliver reliable quality. With integrated project management, emerging water-quality solutions, and long-standing industry partnerships, the company is well-positioned to meet the increasing expectations of today’s residential and commercial clients.

AT A GLANCE

Who: High-Tech Pools

What: A third-generation family-owned Ohio firm that designs, builds and services custom residential and commercial swimming pools

Where: North Olmsted, Ohio

Website: www.hightechpools.com