The 2025 Greg Garrett Scholarship Awards were presented to Chad Bland, Owner of Pool Certs, and McKenna Paschell, Aquatic Facilities Designer at Absolute Pool Care, LLC.
Each winner was honored with a $5,000 check during an awards ceremony at the 2025 International Pool Spa Patio Expo in Las Vegas, NV, on October 21, 2025. Thanks to a matching sponsorship from Periodic Products, Inc., two winners were recognized this year.
“Chad Bland and McKenna Paschell truly stood out among the applicants this year with their clear dedication to continuing education, not only for their individual careers but to help improve the industry as a whole,” said Joe Laurino, Ph.D., President & CEO of Periodic Products, Inc.
Bland has been a PHTA member for 5 years. Through his involvement with the association, he became a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Instructor and has already trained more than 6,000 new professionals entering the industry. This role has led to Bland becoming a trusted leader committed to safety and excellence in aquatics.
Bland was also personally mentored by Greg Garrett, whose approach to continuing education made a lasting impact, and Bland understands the value of learning directly from those who have shaped the aquatics industry.
With this $5,000 scholarship, Bland plans to earn both his Certified Pool & Spa Service Technician (CST) and Certified Builder Professional (CBP) designations through PHTA. He sees professional certifications as not just personal milestones, but tools to better serve his students, his clients, and the industry as a whole.
McKenna Paschell, who also received the scholarship, has always been drawn to aquatics. She spent her childhood summers by the pool and her winters designing waterparks on her computer. At 15 years old, McKenna became a lifeguard and was managing more than 40 aquatic facilities by the time she was 22.
At Absolute Pool Care, Paschell plays a key role in taking clients’ visions and turning them into reality. She understands that the importance of the more technical aspects of our industry, such as hydraulics and construction, are key to client satisfaction and help to create efficient, sustainable, and innovative aquatic facilities.
With this $5,000 scholarship, Paschell plans to earn her CBP and further develop her skills in pool construction and design. She is committed to ensuring the highest standards of pool construction quality and raising industry standards throughout New Jersey and beyond.
The scholarships are given each year in memory of Greg Garrett, who dedicated 45 years to the pool and hot tub industry and served in many leadership roles. This $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually by the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance’s Recreational Water & Air Quality Committee (RWAQC) to PHTA members in the builder or service sector who show extraordinary desire in furthering their career through education. The scholarship funds may be used towards PHTA educational or certification fees to increase professionalism and provide an opportunity for continuing education.
For more information about the Greg Garrett Scholarship Award, visit https://phta.org/garrett-award or contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Director of Content and Communications, at awiller@phta.org or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.
