Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the area?
I am originally from North Bergen NJ and moved to Harding in 2019.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Christopher 5 and Blake 3
Are you involved in a business venture or corporate world? Please Share!
My husband and I own The Pool Boss and I am the Chief Operating Officer.
When did you decide you wanted to open your own pool design company?
My husband established The Pool Boss in 2015. At that time I was a Literacy Coach at the North Bergen School District. I always helped on the back end. Once Christopher was born in 2017, I took a 2 year child rearing leave. I became pregnant with Blake during that time and eventually resigned from my position. The goal was for me to be a stay at home mom, however, our business grew at such a rapid pace that by 2020 I had to take a daily role in the company overseeing the operations, growth, and success of our small business.
Has landscape architecture and design always been a part of your life?
Not mine, but my husband is a third generation pool builder.
Is it fun to work with your spouse?
In our situation, it really works well because we both manage different parts of the company, which I feel has attributed to our success. He runs the sales and construction division and I run the marketing, design, and permitting division. With that set up, each phase of the client’s experience is carefully overseen by one of us, allowing for the best possible customer experience.
If you could give one tip to fellow Mom Entrepreneurs what would it be?
Take the risk, no matter what your experience is, or how overwhelming it may seem, you can do it if you believe in yourself, or if your partner believes in you. My background is in education. I have a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Masters in Elementary Reading, and a Masters in Educational Administration. In addition to my teaching certification I also hold a Principal certificate. However, here I am working in the pool industry. I took on a daily role interacting with customers in May 2020 due to COVID. My husband needed support to handle the sales leads and he asked me to step in. At the time, I could not imagine selling such a high priced luxury item over the phone. I shared this concern with my husband and he said, “you got this.” I believed in what he said and he was correct, I sold over 50 pools in 2020! Again take the risk, believe in yourself or find a partner who does, and that will lead you to so much success.
One thing people would be surprised to know about each of you…
Chris is a Raiders fan although he was born and raised in Kinnelon NJ. I used to play the piano and actually aired on TV for a youth showcase when I was 13 years old.
Ok 10 Fun LOCAL favorites – ready, go!
1 – Favorite thing to do with your kids? Head down the shore and take our boat out on the weekends
2 – Favorite coffee spot? Jolie in New Vernon
3 – Favorite lunch place? Roots
4 – Favorite farm to go fruit picking? Alstede Farms
5 – Favorite date night restaurant? 1776 and Tabor Road Tavern
6 – Favorite boutique? Willow St in Morristown
7 – Favorite spot to grab a drink? 1776 and Agricola in Morristown
8 – Who has the best bagels in town? Mendham Bagel & Coffee Shop
9 – Best slice of pizza in town? Millie’s Old World Meatballs & Pizza in Morristown
10 – Favorite spot for ice cream? Mendham Creamy & South Street Creamery in Morristown
This interview was done in partnership with The Pool Boss. Be sure to follow them on social media below for tons of backyard transformation inspiration!
