Episode 137: The Future of Swimming - Healthy Water Meets Cutting Edge Swim School with Bob Hubbard & Mike Geyer
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Episode Summary
Bob and Kathy Hubbard spent their early professional lives in the corporate world but, because of their love for swimming and the ocean, they were led to run a competitive swim program called the Phoenix Swim Club during the economic downturn of the late 1980s.
Frustrated by the lack of profitability, they narrowed their focus to giving swim lessons in the summer of 1993. At last, they had found their passion, and in the spring of 1998, they ventured out of the PSC to teach swim lessons wherever they could—a “guerilla swim school”, they called themselves. The Hubbard’s opened their first swim school in North Phoenix in October 1999, their second in Peoria in 2007, their third in Mesa in 2010, and their latest in Goodyear in 2020.
Joining us today alongside Bob is Mike Geyer, President of Exceptional Water Systems. The two talk about their current partnership and how Hubbard Family Swim School has benefited immensely thanks to Mike’s expertise, incredible systems, and meticulous approach to health and cleanliness.
We discuss the Hubbard Family Swim School philosophy, the importance of water and air quality, their ideal turnover rate, the operations side of running the school, and safety standards. Mike also gives us a full breakdown of the equipment room that you don’t want to miss!
Topics Discussed
01:07 - How Bob became involved in the swim school business
06:24 - What exactly goes into building a swim school?
10:26 - Bob’s expectations for the business in 2021 with COVID-19 in mind
12:40 - The Hubbard Family Swim School Philosophy
15:52 - The importance of prioritizing water & air quality
22:41 - How Mike evaluates water safety and the health aspect of water
27:36 - Philosophy to kids get comfortable underwater, not just on top of the water
29:45 - Operations side of the school and preparation for accidents
32:35 - How Bob and Mike met and how they do business today
35:35 - Mike walks us through his pump room
55:33 - Hubbard’s safety standards and how their staff is trained to stay vigilant
1:00:28 - Mike’s love for working with people who truly want to make a difference
1:04:14 - Mike’s testament of Bob’s commitment to his employees and clients
1:08:58 - How Mike communicates with Bob’s maintenance team
1:10:23 - Bob and Mike’s parting thoughts on the industry in general
Sponsors
Key Quotes from Episode
One of the things we pride ourselves on is we run our business, financially, very soundly, and with good financial monthly reports so we don’t get surprised. ~Bob
Water quality is important for the kids—our students—but it’s more important for the teachers. ~Bob
Instructors, in my book, are the number one people in this industry, across the board, that suffer the most from being in the water. That’s due to all the chemicals, but also due to all the new people using the pool on a daily basis. ~Mike
Most of the time, what we do is research and develop systems of ozone, oxygen, and CO2. Those are the main elements we use. We add very few other products to the water to keep it fresh and clean. ~Mike
We want the kids to be comfortable under the water, not on top of the water. We talk about being one with the water so that they’re engaged with the water and not fighting it. ~Bob
If you could do anything with your child under the age of six, you should put them in the water on a regular basis. There’s no question they will become smarter, brighter, and faster. ~Bob
If you’re running a swim school, keep in mind the three-legged stool: It’s your water, it’s your teachers, and it’s your service. ~Bob
