High Sierra Pools
High Sierra Pools is a privately held commercial pool management company founded in 1992, managing 950+ pools across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for HOAs, condominiums, and commercial facilities, with integrated lifeguard training, maintenance, and renovation services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What High Sierra Pools does
High Sierra Pools Inc. is a privately held commercial pool management company founded in 1992 by Steve Lavery and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The company provides integrated pool management, maintenance, repairs, and renovation services to HOAs, condominiums, apartment complexes, senior living communities, hotels, and commercial facilities across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States — currently managing 950+ pools across 150+ job locations in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois through five regional offices. Its service portfolio includes certified lifeguard staffing, trained supervisors, regulatory compliance and safety auditing, year-round pool maintenance, and full-scale renovations and capital repairs.
The company's underlying operational platform combines proprietary American Red Cross-aligned training programs (blended learning: 6.5 hours of eLearning plus 22.5 hours of in-person skills) with internal digital systems including the HSP HEROES scheduling platform, a dedicated HR application portal, and an AI-assisted virtual interview tool ("Summer") that supports high-volume seasonal hiring. A defining structural asset is its J-1 visa Summer Work and Travel recruitment program, which sources lifeguards through 30+ authorized partner agencies in 20+ countries and has placed 15,000+ international students historically. High Sierra Pools is the #1 American Red Cross training provider in the United States for five consecutive years and certifies nearly 2,000 new lifeguards annually.
Revenue is generated through recurring managed-services contracts with commercial pool owners, project-based pool repair and renovation work, and consumer-facing lifeguard certification courses and swim lessons (delivered under the USA Swimming Swim Lesson Provider Network). The go-to-market combines B2B direct sales through regional managers targeting property managers and HOA boards, self-serve online registration for training and swim lessons, and a multi-channel international recruitment engine for seasonal labor. Customer concentration is distributed across a fragmented mid-market base, with named clients spanning hospitality, residential, and senior living verticals.
High Sierra Pools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High Sierra Pools
- Legal name
- High Sierra Pools Inc.
- Website
- https://highsierrapools.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- High Sierra Pools is a privately held commercial pool management company founded in 1992, managing 950+ pools across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for HOAs, condominiums, and commercial facilities, with integrated lifeguard training, maintenance, and renovation services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High Sierra Pools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Pool Management Services
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pool Opening & Seasonal Startup (HSAIALAD)
Keywords
Where High Sierra Pools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
High Sierra Pools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Commercial Pool Management Services: Recurring management contracts for commercial and community pools providing certified lifeguards, trained supervisors, pool maintenance, and compliance services. Revenue is generated through service contracts with property managers, HOAs, condominiums, and commercial facility owners.
- Pool Repairs and Renovations: One-time and project-based revenue from full-scale capital pool renovations, structural repairs, leak detection/resolution, pool resurfacing, remodels, safety upgrades, and pump/filtration system repairs and replacements.
- Swim Lessons Program: Group swim lessons ($150 per student per 8-class session) and private instructor-led sessions ($360 per 8-class session) for community residents across Virginia and Maryland locations. Revenue is session-based with registration managed through Jackrabbit Class platform.
- Lifeguard Certification Courses: American Red Cross lifeguard certification courses offered at discounted rates ($100-$175) to employees who commit to working 150+ hours, and at full price ($325) to general public. Recertification courses at $85-$175. Pool operator certification courses free for employees requiring certification, $50 for other employees, $150 for business clients, and $200 for non-employees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time | Employee Lifeguard Certification (Full Course) |
| Subscription | One time | Employee Lifeguard Recertification |
| Subscription | One time | General Public Lifeguard Full Course |
| Subscription | One time | General Public Recertification |
| Subscription | One time | Pool Operator Course - Employee (Required Positions) |
| Subscription | One time | Pool Operator Course - Other Employees |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Group Swim Lessons |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Private/Book an Instructor Swim Lessons |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Lifeguard Positions |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Pool Management Technician - Boston MA |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
High Sierra Pools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High Sierra Pools is a commercial pool management company that supplies certified lifeguards, trained supervisors, pool maintenance, compliance audits, and pool repairs/renovations to HOAs, condominium/apartment complexes, senior living communities, and hospitality/fitness facilities across the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. It complements these B2B contracts with B2C swim lessons and American Red Cross lifeguard certification courses for community residents and aspiring lifeguards.
Product overview
High Sierra Pools is a commercial pool management company offering an integrated suite of services for commercial and community pools. The core offerings consist of Commercial Pool Management (certified lifeguards, supervisors, compliance), Pool Repairs & Renovations, and Swimming Pool Maintenance. These are complemented by Lifeguard Training & Certification programs (American Red Cross certified), Swim Lessons (USA Swimming network), and seasonal/year-round Lifeguard Jobs. The company also runs an International Lifeguard Jobs program through the J-1 Summer Work & Travel visa program, a Pool Manager Internship for career development, and an Employee Scholarship Program. All services are focused on the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions including Virginia, Maryland, DC, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Pool Management Recurring commercial pool management service providing certified lifeguards, trained supervisors, pool maintenance, and pool compliance services for commercial and community pools across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
- Pool Repairs & Renovations Professional pool repairs and complete renovations including pool finishes, deck repair, leak detection, and equipment maintenance for commercial and community pools.
- Swimming Pool Maintenance Routine pool cleaning, equipment maintenance, chemical supply and management, and seasonal opening and closing of outdoor commercial and community pools.
- Lifeguard Training & Certification American Red Cross lifeguard training and certification courses including Blended Learning Lifeguarding, Shallow Water Lifeguarding, Recertification, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, and Pool Operator certification, available to the public and employees.
- Swim Lessons Summer swim lessons program for children offering group lessons and private instructor sessions across multiple skill levels (Nemos, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Sharks), officially part of USA Swimming's Swim Lesson Provider Network.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 2,000 new lifeguards certified annually through American Red Cross programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use High Sierra Pools
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
High Sierra Pools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
High Sierra Pools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- American Red CrosscoreHigh Sierra Pools is the #1 American Red Cross training provider in the United States for 5 consecutive years. The company partners with the American Red Cross to provide lifeguard certification, shallow water lifeguarding, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, and bloodborne pathogens training. HSP certifies nearly 2,000 new lifeguards annually through ARC-approved courses.
- USA Swimming - Swim Lesson Provider NetworkminorHigh Sierra Pools is an official member of USA Swimming's Swim Lesson Provider Network. This affiliation connects the company to national swim safety standards and the broader competitive swimming ecosystem.
- WICE (Wise Foundation)majorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. WICE facilitates the visa sponsorship and cultural exchange program that enables international students to work as lifeguards with High Sierra Pools.
- Janus InternationalmajorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. Enables international lifeguard recruitment for High Sierra Pools through cultural exchange visa sponsorship.
- GeovisionsmajorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. Facilitates international student placement as lifeguards with High Sierra Pools.
- GEC ExchangesmajorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. Supports international recruitment pipeline for High Sierra Pools' seasonal lifeguard workforce.
- IntraxmajorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. Facilitates cultural exchange and international student lifeguard placements with High Sierra Pools.
- CIEEmajorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. One of the largest cultural exchange organizations enabling international lifeguard placements with High Sierra Pools.
- CENETmajorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. Supports international recruitment and visa sponsorship for High Sierra Pools' seasonal workforce.
- LifeTraveledminorU.S. State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsor for the Summer Work and Travel program. Enables international lifeguard recruitment for High Sierra Pools.
- International Recruitment Partner Agencies (30+ across 20 countries)majorNetwork of 30+ authorized agencies in 20+ countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary, Jamaica, North Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine) that recruit and process international candidates for High Sierra Pools' J-1 visa Summer Work and Travel lifeguard positions. Includes partners such as LED Work and Study, Orange BG, SEP Colombia Group, Suncana Vura, Lifeguard.cz, Ace International, INTRAX Macedonia, Viking Travel, Dimi's Adventure, WAT Montenegro, Easy Travel Abroad, GoToSUA, AYUSA, Xace, CKM 2000 Travel, Alliance Abroad, ACADEX, StudyZone, Troy International, UNICS, and others.
- Association of Aquatic ProfessionalsminorIndustry association for aquatic professionals. High Sierra Pools participates in this organization and partners on water safety education initiatives, including the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. water safety campaign.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
High Sierra Pools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- SafeSplash Swim School: Franchised swim school brand owned by Streamline Brands, providing swim lessons at scale. Comparable to HSP's swim lessons line and certified-instructor training approach.
- Big Blue Swim School: Multi-location franchised swim school offering lesson programs for children. Competes with HSP's swim lessons business and USA Swimming-affiliated instruction.
- Goldfish Swim School: National franchised swim school focused on children's swim lessons, paralleling HSP's swim lessons program (part of USA Swimming's network). Comparable on instructional offering and parent customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Leslie's Poolmart: Largest U.S. specialty retailer of pool supplies and a broad incumbent in residential pool care. Adjacent rather than direct competition with HSP's commercial pool management, but serves overlapping end-customers and signals the size of the U.S. pool services market.
Others
- American Red Cross (Aquatic Programs): National partner and certifying body for lifeguard training. Not a competitor but a strategic ally whose standards govern the entire U.S. lifeguard training market; HSP's #1 provider status with ARC is a defining competitive asset.
Direct peers
- Premier Aquatics Services: Full-service commercial and residential pool management company providing lifeguards, maintenance, and renovations. Comparable business model and target customer segments to HSP.
- American Pool Enterprises: One of the largest commercial pool management and lifeguard staffing companies in the U.S., operating in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Directly comparable to HSP on services, customer base (HOAs, communities, commercial facilities), and labor model.
- SOS Pool Management: Commercial pool management and renovation services provider serving community associations and resorts on the East Coast. Direct competitor on pool operations, repairs, and lifeguard staffing.
- Pool Management Inc. (PMI): Regional commercial pool management company offering lifeguard staffing, maintenance, and repairs to HOAs and apartment communities. Comparable service mix and customer profile to HSP.
- Neptune Swimming Pool Company: Pool management and aquatic services firm serving HOAs, condos, and commercial pools in the Eastern U.S. Overlaps with HSP on commercial pool operations and lifeguard staffing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
High Sierra Pools social profiles
Digital presenceHigh Sierra Pools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High Sierra Pools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
High Sierra Pools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High Sierra Pools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about High Sierra Pools
What does High Sierra Pools do?
High Sierra Pools is a commercial pool management company that supplies certified lifeguards, trained supervisors, pool maintenance, compliance audits, and pool repairs/renovations to HOAs, condominium/apartment complexes, senior living communities, and hospitality/fitness facilities across the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. It complements these B2B contracts with B2C swim lessons and American Red Cross lifeguard certification courses for community residents and aspiring lifeguards.
Is High Sierra Pools a public or private company?
High Sierra Pools is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was High Sierra Pools founded?
High Sierra Pools was founded in 1992. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is High Sierra Pools based?
High Sierra Pools is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does High Sierra Pools make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commercial Pool Management Services are the primary driver. The others are pool Repairs and Renovations, swim Lessons Program and lifeguard Certification Courses.
Who are High Sierra Pools's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are SafeSplash Swim School, Big Blue Swim School and Goldfish Swim School. Leslie's Poolmart is listed as a broad incumbent. American Red Cross (Aquatic Programs) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Premier Aquatics Services, American Pool Enterprises, SOS Pool Management, Pool Management Inc. (PMI) and Neptune Swimming Pool Company.
Does High Sierra Pools have an API?
No public API is recorded for High Sierra Pools.
What industry is High Sierra Pools in?
High Sierra Pools's product category is Commercial Pool Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIALAD, Pool Opening & Seasonal Startup. Its NAICS code is 713940 and its SIC code is 7900.