Rowdy Gaines Joins PHTA as Vice President of Partnerships & Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2020

Media Contact:
Janay Rickwalder, CAE
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
703-357-3918 | jrickwalder@phta.org

Rowdy Gaines Joins PHTA as Vice President of Partnerships & Development

(Alexandria, Va.) - The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance is proud to announce that Rowdy Gaines will be the new Vice President of Partnerships & Development, starting in January 2021.

Gaines joins PHTA with impressive achievements both in and out of the swimming pool. As a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, he has also been inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame and International Swimming Hall of Fame. Today he is known as the “Voice of Swimming” and will be commentating at his eighth Olympics broadcast for NBC during the Tokyo 2021 Games.

Gaines also serves as an ambassador for the sport of swimming. He is a vocal advocate of learn-to-swim programs and shares the importance of swimming safety with children, parents, and coaches around the world. While leading the USA Swimming Foundation, he raised over $50 million and developed the Make a Splash initiative.

At PHTA, Gaines will be responsible for the Step Into Swim Program, continuing his work of creating more swimmers and more enthusiasm for the aquatic industry. He will also work on partnerships and business developments, as well as serve as a spokesperson for PHTA.

“I am so incredibly excited to join the PHTA family,” says Gaines. “The past 30 years of my life has been dedicated to educating families on how to be safe in and around water. I look forward to working with our members on this mission and to remind everyone that the water is something we can enjoy for a lifetime and respect along the way.”

For the past five years, Gaines was Vice President of Aquatics for the Central Florida YMCA, where he developed fundraising strategies and oversaw fundraising activities. He previously served as Executive Director of both the USA Swimming Foundation and the LIMU Company.

“We are delighted to have Rowdy be part of PHTA,” says PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE. “He has a broad reach amongst our industry and comes with great ideas and energy. We know he will inspire our current and future partners to continue advancing the aquatics industry.”

For more information, please contact Janay Rickwalder, PHTA’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, at jrickwalder@phta.org or 703.357.3918.

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with nearly 3,500 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of swimming, water safety and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.