From the moment attendees arrived, there was a buzz of anticipation. Contractors, distributors, retailers, manufacturers, and educators converged with a shared mission—learn something new, strengthen relationships, and leave inspired to build bigger, smarter, and better than ever.
An Inspiring Start: Andy Core’s Message on Community
The conference opened with a powerful keynote from Andy Core, whose delivery was equal parts motivational, heartfelt, and deeply relevant to the world of pond and water-feature professionals. Andy spoke candidly about the importance of resiliency as well as collaboration in an industry where challenges often require creative thinking, adaptability, and the support of peers. His message landed with unmistakable impact: you are never alone in this industry. When you hit a wall, someone in this community will lend a hand, share a tool, or offer the guidance you need to move forward.
His talk set the tone for the entire event. The pond world is full of generous people who want to see each other succeed, and Andy reminded us just how rare—and how valuable—that kind of culture truly is.
Classes Designed to Elevate Every Professional
From foundational principles to advanced techniques, each session was designed to strengthen professional skills, expand industry knowledge and deliver practical takeaways that could be applied immediately. Attendees gained insight from experienced professionals, engaged in meaningful discussions and explored proven strategies that supported long-term growth.
Product Innovation & System Advancements
The conference kicked off with Built to Rock: The 2026 Product Drop, where Frayne McAtee, Todd Rosendahl, and Kyle Weemhoff unveiled Atlantic-Oase’s newest technologies and filtration solutions. Attendees explored the upcoming 2026 product line firsthand, including the highly anticipated ProfiClear Premium XL systems. This session set a strong tone for the conference, giving contractors a forward look at the tools and equipment that will shape next year’s builds.
Biological Filtration, Bogs & Swim Pond Engineering
Filtration-focused education took center stage with Rock the Bog: The AO Way, led by Jim Chubb, Brandon Dwyer, and Demi Fortuna, who broke down the science and strategy behind Atlantic-Oase bog construction. The trio covered essential components, pump sizing, proper placement, and maintenance recommendations for creating high-performing, low-maintenance bog systems.
Building on this, Rock Solid Regeneration—taught by McAtee and Dwyer—provided a deeper dive into regeneration-zone sizing for swim ponds. Attendees learned how to design filtration areas based on pond volume, layout, and one of the five primary swim pond styles, ensuring clear, healthy water and long-term system stability.
Installation Mastery & Jobsite Efficiency
Technical training continued on day two with Install Like a Rockstar, where Chubb, Sean Bell, and McAtee demonstrated the differences between pump-fed and gravity-fed ProfiClear installations. Their tips on system layout, troubleshooting, and water-level adjustments gave installers practical insights they could apply immediately in the field.
In a parallel track, Daniel Kelley led back-to-back sessions of Toolbox Talks, focusing on jobsite efficiency, tool setup, logistics, and organizational strategies. His “work smarter, not harder” philosophy—rooted in decades of excavation and water garden construction experience—offered attendees a blueprint for improving workflow, profitability, and team performance.
Marketing, Branding & Consumer Communication
For professionals looking to expand their customer reach, BJ Linger’s session, Play to the Crowd, delivered a highly actionable roadmap for local marketing. Contractors learned how to strengthen their online presence through targeted advertising campaigns, optimized Google Business listings, stronger website structure, and best practices for AI indexing to improve search rankings.
Brand identity and reputation management continued with Isaac Mashman’s two sessions of Own Your Market. Mashman helped attendees define their brand voice, position themselves as local authorities, and leverage social media to expand influence and credibility. His framework emphasized consistency, clarity, and strategic storytelling—key elements for modern contractors navigating an increasingly digital marketplace.
Communication training reached new depth with Eric Triplett’s two-part class, Confidence Under Fire, which focused on emotional intelligence, leadership presence, conflict navigation, and the ability to stay composed during high-pressure sales conversations. His approach emphasized securing the right jobs—not every job—by communicating with confidence, clarity, and healthy boundaries.
Troubleshooting, Problem-Solving & Technical Support
Field problem-solving took center stage in Installer Insider, a panel discussion with James Lavery and Tyler Fisher who shared real-world installation insights and answered contractor questions on the spot. That theme continued with Thank You for Calling Tech Support, where Sean, Patrick, and Andrew Bell walked attendees through pump, filtration, and ProfiClear troubleshooting scenarios based on years of direct customer support experience.
For contractors facing complex or seemingly impossible on-site challenges, Rock, Wrench & Roll—led by Sean Cudmore and Demi Fortuna—offered clever strategies for leak detection, difficult repairs, and moving heavy or awkward materials. Their combined expertise encouraged installers to approach tough jobs with creativity, confidence, and an expanded problem-solving toolbox.
Livestock, Pond Preparation & Aquatic Health
Fish-focused professionals benefited from New Fish, Who Dis?, an in-depth session led by Connie Piteo and Ashley Darocha. They covered koi selection, disease identification, quarantine procedures, and best practices for preparing existing ponds to safely welcome new fish. Their blend of ecological understanding and hands-on experience offered clarity for contractors who work closely with livestock and long-term pond health.
Artistic Design & Water Feature Aesthetics
The curriculum concluded with Rock the Install, a design-driven session taught by Jeff Michaels of Pondering Waters. Michaels demonstrated how thoughtful stone placement, water movement, grade manipulation, and visual flow can transform a standard installation into a truly artistic landscape feature. His focus on aesthetics encouraged contractors to elevate their work beyond function—embracing water feature design as a form of craftsmanship and sculpture.
Industry Leaders and Key Vendors on Display
The vendor showcase brought together a strong lineup of brands and organizations that support the backbone of our industry. Companies such as Carlisle Liner, Outdoor Network Services, the PPA (Pond Professionals Association), and POND Trade Magazine connected with attendees to provide hands-on product education, material demonstrations, technical guidance, and marketing support.
Seeing vendors and contractors engage in meaningful, solution-driven conversations underscored how integral these partnerships are. From liner materials to systems design to business tools, this network helps move our industry forward.
A Community That Truly Rocks
As the conference came to a close, I was reminded once again that the greatest strength of this industry is not found in products or techniques — it is found in the people. The conversations in the hallways, the shared stories over dinner, the willingness to teach, guide and support one another… these moments reflect an extraordinary culture built on collaboration rather than competition.
This sense of unity carried seamlessly into our final evening together at the iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Surrounded by legendary instruments, historic stage costumes and the stories of artists who shaped generations, we had the chance to “rock out” together and experience the true heart of Cleveland. Exploring the exhibits, taking in the electric atmosphere and celebrating the innovators who transformed music provided an energizing and memorable cap to the week.
The night concluded with a fantastic dinner at Nuevo Modern Mexican, where everyone gathered once more to share laughs, reflect on the sessions and enjoy one last moment of camaraderie overlooking the lake. It was the perfect blend of great food, great company and a great city.
The 2025 Atlantic-Oase Professional Conference didn’t just showcase innovation, artistry and education — it showcased heart. And that, more than anything, is what makes this industry built to rock.
I’m already looking forward to next year.
Learn more about the AO Award winners here.
