Richard (Rich) Young has been involved in the public, institutional, resort and high-end
residential swimming pools and water parks for most of his adult life.  Prior to 1983, Rich
worked in both the public and private sector as an aquatic director and facility manager.  Rich operated several public and commercial facilities with programming, training and maintenance responsibilities. Rich coached age group swimming and was an assistant coach at Grossmont Community College.  Rich also worked as an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Instructor trainer.
 
Rich worked for a major public/institutional equipment supply company and started his own equipment supply and contracting firm in 1985.  Rich has worked on hundreds of public, institutional and commercial pool, water park and high-end residential facilities.  In 1992, Rich began to consulting for the pool and water park industry and has completed dozens of facility 
need assessments, safety assessments, staff training, aquatic program development, as well as many mechanical equipment evaluation and design projects.  Rich has consulted on many dozens of public and commercial pool facilities throughout the western states. He also evaluated and consulted on many prestigious residential pools. Rich has worked with dozens of attorneys on pool and water park cases as a consultant and expert witness.

BACKGROUND:

Rich studied community recreation at Grossmont College, recreation administration at San Diego State University.  Aquatic Commercial Industries (ACI) was founded by Rich in 1983 as a swimming pool equipment manufacturer and specialty swimming pool contractor.  As requests for special design work and facility evaluations by various agencies, contractors, designing engineers and architects increased, Rich developed the Aquatic Commercial Consulting (ACC) endeavor in 1992.  Since then, he has consulted on hundreds of public, institutional, commercial pool and water park facilities as well as many prestigious residential pools throughout the nation and abroad. Rich retired from ACI in early 2118 work full time in the ACC endeavor. 

Rich continues to pursue educational opportunities to stay on the cutting edge of the pool industry and continues to study and expand his expert witness skills. He is well versed in California and other state Health & Safety and Building Codes (related to pools), OSHA, Uniform Fire Code (Article 80), Federal VGB and ADA laws, American Red Cross lifeguard guidelines and industry standards, Federal Pool and Spa Safety issues (Virginia G. Baker). 

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In addition, Rich worked as a sales, installation and service technician for pool mechanical systems and worked as a mechanical equipment supplier and is a licensed contractor. 

INDUSTRY TRAINER: He has been an instructor for both the National Swimming Pool Foundation’s “Certified Pool Operator Course” (CPO) since 1985 and helped develop and teach the National Recreation and Park Association’s “Aquatic Facility Operator Course” (AFO). He was the managing editor of the 6th edition, NRPA, Aquatic Facility Operator Training Manual.  He has co-authored a new book for the World Water Park Association, “Advanced Water Quality”. Rich is has most recently developed a new industry course and book for county and state health officials “The Aquatic Facility Inspector”.   Rich is also technical adviser and board member for the Professional Pool Operators of America. He also carries the National Swimming Pool Foundation "Pool Facility Inspector" certification.

Rich often speaks at regional and national aquatic, swimming pool and recreation association conferences and has been published over thirty times in various pool industry

periodicals and training texts on swimming pool/spa water chemistry and treatment, safety and construction issues.  See resource section for a complete list of writings.

Richard Young is a State of California licensed contractor with thirty-five years of experience. He is not a licensed engineer or architect.  However, ACC has available for consultation:  Pacific Engineering (electrical), Pool Engineer’s Inc. (structural), Kukuchi & Associates (landscape) and Patrell Engineering Works (mechanical) and Swimming Pool Engineering (structural) for special problem engineering and approval and sign-off on plans when appropriate or necessary.  He often works supporting architectural and engineering firms  with drawings, details and specifications. ACC has two administrative assistants and additional outside pool professionals to aid in both field and office work loads.

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Partial List of Speaking Engagements at Regional & National Conferences Include:

            World Water Park Conference, Annually 2009 through 2023

            National Recreation and Park Association Congress, 2007, 2012

            National Aquatic Conference: (6 times) 2000 through 2010

            Association of Aquatic Professionals, 2023, 2024

            National Travel Park Conference 2002

            California Park and Recreation Conference (3 times) 2000 through 2009

            California Environmental Health Conference 1998

            California Regional Environmental Health Conference, 2013

            International Associate of Amusement Park and Attractions (4 times) 1998   - 2005    

            Independent Pool and Spa Servicemen’s Conference 2000, 2005

            National Swimming Pool Institute National Conference: 1997

            Bay Area Pool Operator’s Association, Regional Conference: 2014, 201, 2017

Affiliations/Memberships:

            World Water Park Association

            International Association of Aquatic Consultants

            National Recreation and Park Association

            Western Regional Master Builders Association

            National Travel Parks Association

            independent Pool and Spa Servicemen’s Association

            Professional Pool Operators of America (board member and technical adviser)

            California Pool and Spa Association

            Pool and Hot Tube Alliance

            Model Aquatic Health Code Committee

             Association of Aquatic Professionals