Meet the People of Carecraft
The Carecraft staff are pool professionals some of whom grew up in the industry just like their Members. The staff have a combined 200 years of experience in the pool industry. They are dedicated to helping Members achieve success in their businesses.
For over a quarter century Carecraft has provided the best “Members-only supply portal but it has also become a true professional organization focused on improving all aspects of its Member businesses. Carecraft Members attend nationwide continuing education workshops where they learn state-of-the-art techniques and continually upgrade their skills and practices. They network, exchange ideas and learn from their peers, enjoying the camaraderie of some of the best pool professionals in the industry.
Greg Howard
Chief Executive Officer
Greg Howard Chief Executive Officer
Greg Howard is the President of Carecraft. Greg began his career in the swimming pool industry in 1981 when he financed the start up of a company called Spa Wand, which was acquired by Polaris a few years later. Greg became a part owner of Polaris and was part of their management team as Head of Operations and President until he joined Carecraft in 2004. Greg is very active with the Genesis 3 Design Group and has attended their Construction and Design Schools. Greg serves on the APSP Builder’s Council and recently attended a Retail Council Meeting. Greg’s background includes College at Colorado State University where he earned a Degree in Agriculture. Greg’s wife Laurie, is Carecraft’s Corporate Attorney and a Partner at a San Diego Law Firm. They have five children and four grandchildren. Greg was born and raised in New York City, then lived in Colorado for a dozen years before moving to San Diego in 1979.
Christine Guerena
Vice President of Operations
Chief Financial Officer
Christine Guerena Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer
Christine joined Carecraft in December 2006 as VP, Operations and also serves as CFO and Secretary of the Corporation. Her 30 years of operational experience began in the Watercraft Industry in 1980 where she worked as Vice President for the largest US Jet Ski Dealership and aftermarket manufacturer, Performance Jet Ski, Anaheim, CA, building seven distinct departments and growing the company into a multi-million dollar organization. In 1990 she moved to San Diego where she was hired as General Manager for Jet Pilot, a world-wide manufacturer of wetsuits and watercraft accessories. There she strengthened her budgeting and forecasting skills as she ran the US Division and factory across the border in Mexico. In late 1999 she was hired by Greg Howard at Polaris Pool Systems as Director of Strategic Planning where she worked on acquisitions, Operating Plan, implementation of Oracle Enterprise Software Systems, and legal matters including managing over 400 US and foreign patents and trademarks. She was excited to get the call from Greg to come work with him at Carecraft to help reshape and build the company into a profitable, modernized organization.
Ken Rogner
Vice President of Networking and Education
Ken Rogner Vice President of Networking and Education
Ken Rogner is the VP, Networking & Education. In that role he is responsible for social media networking, blogs and Member education at Carecraft. Ken has been active in the swimming pool industry since 1967 when he left a management position with General Motors. He helped to start a swimming pool distribution company in MI (Cinderella Inc) in 1969 and was President of that company until he sold his shares in 1984. With three other partners, in 1986 he purchased Benson Pump Co and spent the next 13 years as President of that company until it was sold to POOLCORP in January of 1999. At POOL he served as the Corporate Sales Trainer until he retired in May 2011 when he accepted the new role at Carecraft. He says the “chlorine in the veins” never comes out so being retired for two days was as much as he could handle. Ken has been married to Pat since 1964 (another thing he says proves his sales ability). They have two children and seven grandchildren.
George Williams
Vice President of Eastern Region
George Williams Vice President of Eastern Region
George Williams joined the Carecraft team as Vice President in July of 2012 after a 40 year career in the Swimming Pool and Spa industry. His responsibilities include Member and Vendor relations for the eastern region of the United States. George began his industry career at Hayward Pool Products in 1971 and served as Vice President of Sales and a company officer for 30 years. While with Hayward he was involved in the design and development of numerous products for the pool and spa industry and participated in the process and integration of several strategic acquisitions, including; Arneson Products (Automatic Cleaners), Comfortzone (Gas Heaters); EMS (Heat Pumps) and Goldline Controls (Salt Chlorination and Automation Systems). He also held positions as President for Astral Products, the U. S. operation for the current Spanish company, Fluidra, as well as Executive Vice President at Aqua Products, where he was directly involved in the sale of the company to Fluidra in 2011. George was an active member of NSPI (currently APSP) serving numerous terms, as well as Chairman, on the Manufacturers Council and Exhibitors Advisory Committee. He also served on the NSPI Board and Technical Council. With a bachelor of science degree in Chemical Engineering George has gained significant knowledge and experience in the technologies of thermoplastics, hydraulics and filtration. In all of his prior positions George has supported Carecraft and its Members and he is delighted to join this fine organization as the "rookie". George and his lovely wife, Claire, have four children and twelve grandchildren.
Debbie Kempe
Controller
Debbie Kempe Controller
Debbie joined Carecraft in July 2013 as Controller. Her Accounting career began at a small government contractor in Pennsylvania where she worked as a Staff Accountant. From there, she moved on to become a Senior Accountant at a division of Westinghouse Electric Company where she was responsible for preparing consolidated financial statements for the domestic and international operations as well as budgeting and forecasting. She moved to California in 1995 when she was hired by Christine Guerena as the Accounting Manager at Jet Pilot where she supervised the accounting department and prepared the financial statements. She worked closely with Christine and the sales staff to prepare budgets and forecasts. She left Jet Pilot in May 1999 and accepted the position of Controller with a family of companies in Bonsall, CA. She was responsible for the Accounting and Human Resources functions at San Luis Rey Downs Enterprises LLC, a golf resort, and Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, a race horse breeding farm. While she loved her job there, she was thrilled when she was contacted about the Controller job at Carecraft. She is excited about starting a new chapter of her career with the Carecraft team.
Heidi Johnson
Accounting
Heidi Johnson Accounting
Heidi first entered into the pool industry back in1999 while working for several years in the accounting department for Polaris. Eventually she left there and went into the Commercial Real Estate industry where she was a portfolio accountant. Additionally, she was the primary accountant for a start-up wine company. Over the past couple of years, she had her own bookkeeping and tax preparation business. In June 2015 she was thrilled to be offered a job in the accounting department at Carecraft and reconnect with some familiar faces. She currently lives a busy life raising 3 teenagers but still manages to spend time relaxing at beach, concerts with friends and going to the gym!
Gigi Iavarone
Vendor Relations
Annual Meeting Administrator
Gigi Iavarone Vendor Relations & Annual Meeting Administrator
Gigi Iavarone is back in the Vendor Relations Department working closely to ensure the Vendor programs, pricing, and communication are up- to date with our Members. She is responsible for setting up New Vendors, the administration of our Year End Rebates, and Accounting duties such as our Vendor Accounts Payables and Member deposits. As the Annual Meeting Administrator, she takes care of getting all our Members and Vendors set-up for our annual trek to awesome destinations. After being a stay-at-home Mom for 13 years, Gigi started with Carecraft back in June of 2007, when Carecraft decided to move their office to San Juan Capistrano in the peak of the pool season. Gigi answered a call for a position as “a temporary summer accounting helper” and has been here ever since. She lives locally in San Juan Capistrano with her husband, John, and their three children.
Darya Wolfe
Web Content Manager
Vendor Relations
Darya Wolfe Web Content Manager
Darya began her pool and spa experience at Polaris Pool Systems in early 2000 holding many positions from Technical Support to Information Analyst, settling into Technical Support and Consumer Call Center Customer Service Supervisor. In 2007 Darya happily joined Carecraft as Customer Service Manager overseeing the Customer Service Team and implementing the launching of Carecraft’s newly developed online ordering system (CBMS). In 2013 Darya accepted a new position, Web Content Manager. Working very closely with Vendor Relations and Carecraft’s IT Team, she oversees the content of Carecraft’s next generation online ordering system, including Vendor Pricing and Programs, product offerings and profiles. Darya is a true San Diego Native living in Fallbrook with her husband and dogs. She enjoys Pilates, weekend river and mountain trips or a relaxing day in the sun. Darya says the Carecraft friendships are irreplaceable and the challenges thrilling - it's the best E ticket ride in town!
Ali Rodela
Customer Service Manager
Ali Rodela Customer Service Manager
Ali Rodela is the new Customer Service Manager at Carecraft. She comes to us with many years of customer service experience. Most recently she managed a team at an operations site for Wells Fargo Dealer Services and prior to that she was a Customer Service Supervisor at a Wells Fargo call center. She enjoys talking to customers and ensuring that their needs are met and that they have a positive experience. After being in Arizona for seven years, she is glad to be living back in California near her family in Oceanside. She enjoys relaxing at the beach, playing soccer, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Heather Rose
Special Projects Manager
Heather Rose Customer Service
Heather Rose is a Customer Service Representative in the Purchasing Department at Carecraft. She is responsible for purchase order processing, answering questions, and general problem solving. She feels her extensive history in customer service with Northwest Airlines and 10 years in the floral event industry has provided her the right tools to be part of such an exciting team. Californian born and raised, Heather enjoys gardening, kayaking, hiking and most recently running. She and her husband Scott have three children and proudly call Oceanside, CA their home.
Ashley Kremer
Vendor Relations
Accounting
Ashley Kremer Customer Service
Ashley joined the Carecraft team in August of 2016 as a customer service representative. She has recently transitioned into a vendor relations role and is assisting with pricing, vendor programs and general system updates. Ashley is Minnesota born and raised, however, she loves living in San Marcos with her husband, daughter and their dogs. Outside of work Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, reading, hiking, and going to the beach.
Jules Vasquez
Customer Service
Daniela Olmos
Customer Service
Ellen Troutt
Customer Service
Jenny Auble
New Member Relations
Kelsi Hollister
Project Coordinator
Deb Ruhe
Customer Service
Clay Sellers
IT Support Specialist