Built on Relationships: Pentair Pool’s New Sales Structure and the People Who Make It Work

How a third-generation pool professional embodies the relationship-driven future Pentair is building.

Since the very beginning, the pool industry has always thrived on craftsmanship and connection. From backyard memories to multi-generation family businesses, success in this industry runs deeper than equipment – any pool professional can tell you that it’s all built on trust. Pentair Pool’s newly expanded sales organization reflects that same belief: that supporting partners isn’t just about products. It’s about people, structure, and long-term relationships.

A Stronger Structure for Stronger Partnerships

As part of Pentair Pool’s continued commitment to partner growth, the sales organization has been expanded and clarified to offer a more streamlined, accountable experience for its distributor and dealer partners.

At the national level, Pentair has introduced additional roles, including a team of dedicated National Account Managers for distributors, supported by a team of Zone Account Managers, each laser-focused on strategy and execution across key regions.

To drive that support even closer to the backyard, Pentair has strengthened its regional framework as well. Each of the seven regions is led by a seasoned Regional Sales Manager, backed by more than 20 sales and service professionals per region – over 150 team members nationwide. This team is dedicated to elevating dealer experience and identifying new opportunities across local markets.

At the core of this strategy, Pentair Pool is really building a sales structure that very much mirrors how the industry itself works – through personal connections, regional insight, and the shared goal of helping families create lasting memories in their backyards.

No one understands that better than Scott Bushey, Pentair Pool’s National Account Manager for Inside Sales.

A Legacy Three Generations in the Making

Scott didn’t just grow up around pools… He grew up inside the industry. His grandfather, formerly from a construction background, entered the business in the late 1950s after deciding to build a pool in his Massachusetts backyard. He didn’t know how, but a manufacturer in California did. They flew out, taught him the craft, and built a lifelong relationship that would define a family legacy.

“That’s the thing about our industry,” Scott said. “It’s not a transactional-type relationship. It’s not just selling a pump or filter. We’re helping build memories. And those relationships – those moments of someone showing up for you – are why so many of us never leave.”

From those first backyard lessons, the Busheys became a pool family. His grandfather passed the torch to Scott’s father, who would spend decades in the field. When Scott was considering his next step in 1999, it was his father who convinced him to make the leap and enter the industry. This, however, came with a word of warning.

“Scotty… You know how this industry is. Once you’re in, you can’t get out.” Scott laughed, explaining that it felt like an Al Pacino movie. But it was more of a welcome than a warning, and now, the family boasts three generations of proud pool guys.

“The industry has been good to our family,” Scott said. “It becomes your community. Your friends. In a lot of ways, it becomes your extended family. So many people in this industry have known each other for ages, it’s like a big reunion when we all get together.”

Why Relationships Still Matter More Than Ever

In his 25+ years in the industry, Scott has seen change, but he’s also seen what hasn’t changed.

Competition has sharpened, consolidation has grown, catalogs have ballooned from a handful of pages to hundreds. But beneath all that? The industry still revolves around trust.

Scott has seen the impact firsthand – helping dealers sell their business when health concerns overwhelmed them, attending customers’ weddings, and offering guidance on everything from equipment to succession planning.

“A lot of times, customers don’t just buy a product because of all the features and benefits,” he said. “That’s important, sure, but they buy because of the relationship. They trust you. Because they know you’ll help them solve problems, whether it’s troubleshooting equipment or something bigger. The pool industry is all about the people. Talk to any person in pool sales; they’ve all got a story about attending somebody’s wedding. About helping somebody with their business.”

For him, that’s the heart of the industry. And it’s one reason he’s excited about Pentair’s strengthened sales organization.

“When you have a structure designed to touch more customers, more often, it means more relationships,” he said. “It means we can support dealers in a deeper way and better support the industry.”

What Makes Pentair Pool Special

When asked directly, Scott doesn’t hesitate.

“It’s the people,” he said. “The culture. And our commitment to the homeowner and the dealer. Those things are crucial. Whether you’re talking about creating the best product when it comes to quality, innovation, making sure that the dealer and the homeowner is taken care of… It all goes back to people who make Pentair Pool stand out.”

He also believes the next five to ten years will show just how far that commitment goes.

“We are the industry leader. And you’re going to see a huge difference in how we show up, how we support customers, how we shape the dealer experience, and how we help families make memories. It’s always been about relationships, and I believe we’re taking that concept one step further.”

The Industry Is Growing. Pentair Is Growing With It.

If there’s one theme that defines both Pentair’s new sales organization and Scott Bushey’s three-generation story, it’s that foundations matter.

The foundation of a backyard pool becomes part of a family’s story. The foundation laid by manufacturers and mentors, as demonstrated by Scott’s grandfather, can become a career. And the foundation of strong support teams? That becomes successful dealer partnerships.

Pentair’s expanded sales structure is designed to honor that philosophy, bringing strategy, connection, and hands-on expertise to every level of the field.

And with leaders like Scott championing the human side of the work, the future looks like what the industry has always done best: creating spaces for families to gather, dealers to grow, and relationships to endure.