1. Let’s start with the basics—where are you originally from, and what brought you to this area? How long have you been living here?
I was born and raised in New Jersey. My husband Chris and I currently live in New Vernon, (Harding Township) with our two boys. We were drawn to the area because of its strong sense of community, excellent schools, beautiful surroundings, and the opportunity to raise our family in a place that still feels connected and neighborly. We’ve built both our family life and our business in New Jersey and it’s truly home.
2. Tell us about your family! How many kiddos do you have, and what ages/stages are they in?
My husband Chris and I have two amazing boys, ages 7 and 9. We are fully immersed in the elementary school years, sports, school activities, birthday parties, homework, playdates, vacations, and everything in between. It’s a busy season of life, but also one of the most rewarding.
3. Tell us a little about yourself! Who is Terry outside of The Pool Boss?
Outside of work, I’m first and foremost a wife and mom. I love creating experiences and memories for my family, whether that’s planning trips, hosting gatherings, spending time at our shore house, celebrating holidays, or simply enjoying a summer afternoon together. I’m passionate about community involvement, supporting local schools and organizations, and finding ways to give back. I also appreciate beautiful design, entertaining, and creating spaces where people can connect and enjoy life. I feel fortunate to be in a flexible role in our company which allows me to balance both, as long as I find the time in the day to address my responsibilities, I am able to be present for all the milestones and support the school and many organizations in our community.
4. Before joining The Pool Boss, you had a career in education. What inspired you to make the leap into the pool industry and family business?
Education taught me so many valuable skills that I still use every day, communication, organization, problem-solving, and relationship building. The last 6 years of my role as a Literacy Coach allowed me to interact with teachers of all ages, experience, and personalities. This role not only helped me understand how to best work with our team, but it also provided me with a leadership role that helped me gain confidence in stepping into the role we needed at The Pool Boss. As The Pool Boss continued to grow, there came a point where it became clear that Chris and I could accomplish even more together. I saw an opportunity to help shape the future of the company while maintaining the family first values that are important to us. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, allowing me to balance work and family life on my time.
5. The Pool Boss has become one of New Jersey’s premier luxury pool builders. Can you share the story of how the company got started and how it has evolved over the years?
Chris started The Pool Boss with a simple philosophy: treat every project as if it were being built in your own backyard. He came to realize homeowners’ want more than a giant pool, they want an extension to their home, a lifestyle. What began as a passion for building exceptional pools has evolved into a full-service luxury company, as our company grew. Today, we design and build complete backyard environments, including pools, spas, outdoor kitchens, hardscaping, fire features, and more. While we’ve grown tremendously, our commitment to craftsmanship, customer service, and family values remains unchanged.
6. Your husband Chris is the founder and CEO, and you serve as COO. What has it been like building a successful business together as husband and wife?
It’s incredibly rewarding, but it definitely requires teamwork and communication. We each have different strengths, which helps us balance responsibilities and make decisions together. Building a business as a husband-and-wife team means celebrating victories together, navigating challenges together, and sharing a vision for what we’re creating. At the end of the day, we’re both committed to our family, our employees, and our clients, and that shared purpose makes it work. We have learned to juggle it all and keep boundaries between work and family so that we continue to enjoy all the overlap in our daily lives.
7. For families who may not be familiar with The Pool Boss, what services do you offer beyond just building a pool?
Many people are surprised to learn that we’re much more than a pool construction company. We specialize in designing complete outdoor living environments. In addition to building pools, we design and permit each project, as well as exclusively offer service such as openings, winterizations, and weekly valet to the clients we build for. If we did not build it, we will not service it. This format of accepting clients has allowed us to have readily available customer service, and offer technicians trained on the same expert line of equipment. At the end of the day, our goal is to create spaces where families can gather, relax, entertain, and make memories for years to come, with as little stress as possible.
8. You’ve helped countless homeowners create their dream backyards. What are some of the most exciting trends you’re seeing in luxury outdoor living right now?
We’re seeing homeowners invest more than ever in creating resort-style experiences at home. Outdoor kitchens, swim-up bars, integrated spas, fire and water features, covered outdoor living spaces, and wellness focused amenities are all incredibly popular. More families are viewing their backyard as an extension of their home rather than just a place for a pool. They’re looking for spaces that can be enjoyed year round and bring people together, regardless of the age of their family.
9. Looking back on your journey from educator to COO, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to other moms who may be considering a career change, starting a business, or taking a leap into something new?
Don’t underestimate the value of the skills you already have. So many of the strengths we develop as mothers: organization, multitasking, empathy, resilience, leadership, and problem-solving, translate directly into business and professional success. You don’t have to have every answer before you begin. Be willing to learn, trust yourself, and take the first step.
10. Is there anything else you would like to share with our community of parents?
The seasons of parenting go by incredibly fast. As busy as life gets, I’ve learned the importance of being present and creating meaningful moments with the people you love. Whether it’s a family dinner, a backyard barbecue, a day at the pool, or cheering from the sidelines, those are the memories that matter most. Success is important, but family is always the foundation, because that is ultimately who we are doing it for.
Ok 10 Fun LOCAL favorites – ready, go!
1 – Favorite thing to do with your kids? Traveling to the places their young minds desire to visit.
2 – Favorite coffee spot? General Coffee Co., Morristown
3 – Favorite lunch place? Agricola, Morristown
4 – Favorite farm to go fruit picking? Wightman Farms, Morristown
5 – Favorite date night restaurant? Ristorante MV, Bernardsville
6 – Favorite boutique? Camden Road, Basking Ridge
7 – Favorite spot to grab a drink? Stirling Tavern, Morristown
8 – Who has the best bagels in town? Bagels-4-U, Bernardsville, as per my kiddies 🙂
9 – Best slice of pizza in town? Enzos, Morristown
10 – Favorite spot for ice cream? Mc Cool’s, Madison
This interview was done in partnership with The Pool Boss. Be sure to follow them on social media below and mentions MB MOMS when booking your pool!
