The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals Announce Hayward as First Manufacturer to Certify District Technical Managers Through New Education Course
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) September 23, 2013 -- The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) today announced that Hayward Pool Products, a division of Hayward Industries, Inc., is the first manufacturer to certify all of its district technical managers under the industry’s new train-the-trainer course, “You’re the Teacher!” The course is designed to build training competencies for managers who conduct training activities in the pool & spa industry.
This new certification is the second time Hayward has used APSP education courses for its staff. In 2011, Hayward certified its district technical managers as CST Certified Service Technicians in an unprecedented demonstration of industry professionalism.
The new “You’re the Teacher!” Course will be the baseline experience for a new certification credential from APSP for training specialists. The first part of the course is a self-directed experience utilizing a text book that is specifically written for technical educators and paired with a pool industry workbook that challenges participants to apply the principles to pool and spa industry scenarios. The course is designed for people who want to take training to the next level in their organizations, regardless of size. Individuals who want to become APSP Certified Training Specialists will also have to complete the classroom and evaluation experience which will be rolled out early in 2014.
“From our perspective, the ‘You’re the Teacher!’ Course was a natural fit with Hayward’s tradition and philosophy of training employees and sharing knowledge with customers,” said Scott Wiegman, National Education and Training Manager for Hayward. “The course provided a learning experience that helped our district technical managers focus on the process of teaching, so that they were better able to share their technical expertise with customers.”
Hayward’s leadership team took the experience to a new level by bringing all the managers together to discuss training strategies and practice new skills by presenting to one another. “It was a great team building experience too, as everyone was committed to helping one another get better,” Wiegman said.
“The most important thing for anyone in the industry to realize is that teaching is a set of skills that can be learned and practiced,” explained Michael Reed, APSP’s Director of Professional Development. “This new course is helping presenters find new ways to connect with students. Any company can utilize the program to improve their own knowledge and training competencies.”
Reed encourages manufacturers or other organizations who are interested in improving product training to follow Hayward’s example. “Training teams in a group setting proves to be an economical and valuable way to improve the performance of your employees. People can share ideas and get better by helping one another,” he added.
For more information on purchasing the text book and training contact ci(at)apsp(dot)org.
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About APSP
The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) is the world’s oldest and largest association representing swimming pool, hot tub, and spa manufacturers, distributors, manufacturers’ agents, designers, builders, installers, suppliers, retailers, and service professionals. Dedicated to the growth and development of its members’ businesses and to promoting the enjoyment and safety of pools and spas, APSP offers a range of services, from professional development to advancing key legislation and regulation at the federal and local levels, to consumer outreach and public safety. APSP is the only industry organization recognized by the American National Standards Institute to develop and promote national standards for pools, hot tubs, and spas. For more information, visit APSP.org.
About Hayward Pool Products
Hayward Pool Products, a division of Hayward Industries Inc., is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world. Headquartered in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Hayward designs, manufactures and markets the Totally Hayward® System, a full line of residential and commercial pool equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, sanitization, automation, lighting, safety and energy solutions.
The company, which has built its brand on innovation, energy-efficiency, safety and reliability, includes such brands as Salt & Swim™, EcoStar®, TriStar®, SuperPump®, ProLogic®, AquaConnect®, HeatPro®, ColorLogic®, AquaRite®, Navigator® Pro, PoolVac XL™, TigerShark®, among others. Hayward products are sold through a network of distributors and 3,000 Totally Hayward Dealer Partners throughout the U.S., Canada, Asia, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, contact Hayward at (908) 351-5400 or visit http://www.hayward.com.
Lisa Grepps, The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, http://www.apsp.org, +1 (703) 838-0083 179, [email protected]
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