EPISODE 241: BUZZ GHIZ: HOW LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE BUILT DECADES OF SUCCESS IN POOL CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING

Greg and Justin sit down with Lewis “Buzz” Ghiz, Owner of Paramount Pool & Spa Systems. The Phoenix-area pool and spa equipment manufacturer was started by Buzz’s father George in 1964 as a research-and-development arm to builder-retailer Paddock Pools.

Buzz, alongside his brothers David and Edward, took over both companies once George stepped down, and, in 2005, decided to sell Paddock Pools to be able to put all their energies into developing Paramount.

In 2017, Buzz heavily deliberated on the painful decision to sell the family business after losing his brother Edward and sister Jazelle. He ultimately decided to pass the reins of the company to Hayward CEO Clark Hale.

Listen in as Buzz discusses how he’s keeping busy in retirement, fully believing that as long as he’s still around, he needs to engage himself in projects that give him a sense of purpose and excitement to get out of bed every single morning.

Buzz talks about his biggest lessons learned from his entrepreneurial father George, especially the importance of developing genuine and sincere relationships if you want your business to succeed long-term.

He also gives his thoughts on the current state of the pool industry, and his best practices around training your team, testing product viability, and maximizing the “wow” factor when unveiling a pool to your client.

Topics Discussed:

• [01:37] Buzz talks life in retirement

• [03:18] About the Ghiz family business and why Buzz wanted to stay in the pool industry

• [12:28] The Paramount story

• [17:35] Why George dedicated to establish Paddock

• [22:39] PACE (Paramount Advisory Committee Enterprise)

• [30:54] Buzz’s thoughts on the franchise model

• [37:43] Developing Paramount products

• [43:38] Buzz’s mentors

• [48:58] Creating a memorable experience for your client

• [56:36] Buzz’s current and upcoming projects

• [59:52] Thoughts on the pool industry today

• [1:04:46] Buzz’s book recommendations

• [1:09:56] Buzz’s favorite pools

Connect with Buzz Ghiz:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/buzz-ghiz-aa312524/

Connect with Pool Chasers:

• Website - https://poolchasers20.com/

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poolchasers/

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/poolchasers/

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIcnqHms_PEu8AAPafxdVA

• Twitter - https://twitter.com/poolchasers

• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/poolchaserspodcast/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@poolchasers

• Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/poolchasers

Key Quotes by Buzz Ghiz:

• I’m a firm believer that you have to have a purpose in life, and that when you get out of bed you have to be laser-focused on something.

• Anybody can be transactional; but, a strong business is built on sincere, genuine relationships.

• Surround yourself with rainmakers: At the end of the day, your business is built on people.

• Market safe, market wise, and you’ll get your share.

People & Resources Mentioned:

• George Ghiz

• Paddock Pools

• Paramount Pool Products - https://www.1paramount.com/

• Paramount Leisure Industries

• John Goettl

• John Goettl Patents - https://patents.justia.com/inventor/john-m-goettl

• Turbo Clean (Stubbies)

• A&A - https://www.pentair.com/en-us/products/residential/pool-spa-equipment/pool-in-floor-cleaning-circulation.html?categories.lvl0.hierarchical=Residential

• Caretaker - https://www.jandy.com/en/products/in-floor

• Les Mathews - linkedin.com/in/les-mathews-a4b8b38/

• Toro Sprinkler Heads - https://www.toro.com/en

• PV3 - https://www.1paramount.com/in-floor-systems/pv3-automatic-pool-cleaning-system/

• Steve Jobs (It’s about leap frogging) quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/steve_jobs_416863#:~:text=Steve Jobs Quotes&text=Please enable Javascript-,What we want to do is make a leapfrog product,and super-easy to use.

• Episode 240 with Dan Waters - https://poolchasers20.com/blogs/podcast/240creativeenvironments

• PACE Event - https://www.pacepool.com/

• Structure Studios - https://www.structurestudios.com/

• Pentair - https://www.pentair.com/

• Pebbletech - https://pebbletec.com/

• WetEdge - https://wetedgetechnologies.com/

• Fluidra/Jandy Symposium - https://www.poolchasers.com/blog-1/2018/3/8/reflections-2018-zodiac-business-symposium-expo

• Who Moved My Cheese (Justin book recomendation) -

• Phoenician Hotel - https://www.thephoenician.com/

• Charles Keating - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Keating

• Premier Pools & Spas - https://premierpoolsandspas.com/

• The Founder (Movie) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4276820/

• How I Built This with Guy Raz - https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this

• Day One Letter by Jeff Bezos - https://youtu.be/fTwXS2H_iJo

• Eat That Frog - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=eat+that+frog&hvadid=322299601879&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9029968&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6512466470720965180&hvtargid=kwd-295394277340&hydadcr=22532_10353775&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_56jiebm2vv_e

• SDX Drain - https://www.1paramount.com/debris-removal/sdx2/

• MDX Drain - https://www.1paramount.com/debris-removal/mdx-r3/

• Ultra UV - https://www.1paramount.com/ultraviolet_ozone_sanitizers/ultra-uv2/

• Paralevel Automatic Water Leveler - https://www.1paramount.com/pool-spa-features/paralevel/

• Paraskim - https://www.1paramount.com/debris-removal/paraskim-v/

• Hayward - https://www.hayward-pool.com/shop/en/pools

• Vance Gillette - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vance-gillette-b2a8796/

• TCTE (program, total Commitment to Excellence.) Paddock Pools

• Garden Town

• Farm Fresh

• Smitty’s Markets

• Shasta Pools - https://shastapools.com/

• Presidential Pools - https://www.presidentialpools.com/

• Noah Nehlich with Structure Studios - https://www.linkedin.com/in/structure/

• Technicolor - https://www.technicolor.com/

• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/

• Steve Jobs Biography (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537

• Delivering Happiness Zappos Story (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/Delivering-Happiness-Tony-Hsieh-audiobook/dp/B003QADCNS/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=241656136720&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9029968&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=8338675849184802881&hvtargid=kwd-20278959567&hydadcr=21935_10172345&keywords=delivering+happiness+by+tony+hsieh&qid=1680134535&sr=8-1

• Shoe Dog. A Memoir by the Creator of Nike Phil Knight (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Phil-Knight-audiobook/dp/B01CRJA470/ref=sr_1_2?hvadid=598613730192&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9029968&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8017094070226861363&hvtargid=kwd-390647558820&hydadcr=22564_13531239&keywords=the+shoe+dog+phil+knight&qid=1680134584&sr=8-2

• How I built This Podcast: Lululemon Athletica: Chip Wilson - https://www.npr.org/2018/06/14/620113439/lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson

• Favorite Commercial Pool: Phoenician - https://www.thephoenician.com/pool-area/

• Aman Giri Resort Utah - https://www.aman.com/resorts/amangiri?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=G+-+US+-+NAM+-+ENG+-+Brand+-+Resort+-+United+States+-+Amangiri&utm_term=amangiri+hotel&utm_content=&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4-hBhCtARIsAC9gR3Y6yw3dQYKCm1-Jss5_0SBtAyFct5wiAhXZf096e6pYazhQKtPXX0YaAmyPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds