Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Van Bower and Andrew Kaner.
Brian has over 45 years of professional experience in the swimming pool, spa and water feature industry. Starting out as a “beach boy” at the Suez Motel on Miami Beach then working in the pool maintenance industry for several years until he decided to start his own business, Van Bower Pool, Patio and Spas. Starting with one service account and eventually building up to over 500 accounts, 20 employees and two retail pool stores. Spa and pool construction followed. He then saw a need for greater design abilities and set out to learn the art of scale, proportion, placement and balance. He started Aquatic Consultants to provide design services in 1989. After selling Van Bower Pool Patio and Spas he was able to focus on the design side. Seeing a need for credible and detailed design and construction education, he formed Genesis 3 with two other industry members as the resource for an emerging industry, pool and waterscape design. Next year Genesis will celebrate their 20th Anniversary. He is currently active with two companies: He is C.E.O. of “Aquatic Consultants Inc” a Miami, Florida based international consulting / design firm specializing in upscale and unusual pool and waterscape designs; Brian is also Ambassador and co-founder of “Genesis”, an international company specializing in instructional and educational progressive schooling for those involved in the design, engineering and construction of swimming pools, spas, water features and outdoor living areas.
He was a contributing editor for Watershapes Magazine with his regular column, “Aqua Culture” for the entire 13 years of publication and was also Senior Contributing editor for Waves Magazine in India.
He holds a Florida State Commercial Pool Contractors license (inactive). He has achieved the Society of Watershape Designers (SWD) certification through Genesis 3. He has served the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI) in various capacities since 1979 including President of Region VII (Florida, currently FSPA), NSPI National Vice President, Region VII and he was inducted into the NSPI, Region VII “Hall of Fame” in 1994. He chaired the NSPI International Design Award Committee from 1997-1999. He owned and operated Van Bower Pool Patio and Spas on Miami Beach, FL for 20 years until he sold it in 1991.
He has won well over 100 industry design awards. He and his company’s work have been featured in many national periodicals, magazines and television shows including Bob Vila’s Home Again television show, Florida Home and Garden magazine, CNN News, Florida Lifestyles TV show, NBC News, CBS News Sunday Morning Show 8/2007 & 8/2008, CNBC On The Money 2006, PBS National Television “Spotlight on Safety” segment, Homebuilding Digest show on Home & Garden Television, Architectural Digest, Florida Architecture (front cover), Tycoon Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Miami Herald, The Orlando Sentinel, Millionaire Magazine, Pool and Spa Living and Florida Trend Magazine. His expertise and projects are regularly featured in the industry trade publications, Home Magazine’s TV show, Ambiance Piscines Magazine (France) and Aqua Magazine. He has contributed to SPLASH magazine in Australia. His work was prominently featured in the tabletop book, “Dream Pools” by Deborah Dietsch in 2002. For four years, he was host of his own weekly radio show, “All About Pools and Spas” in South Florida. Aquatic Consultants, Inc. is currently featured in a hardback publication, Perspectives on Design South Florida (Released in March 2012). Aquatic Consultants design projects have been featured on the front cover of Luxury Pools four times, including the fall 2014 issue. The projects of Aquatic Consultants include designs in Gabon, Africa; Ani Villas in Dikwella, Sri Lanka; Athens, Greece; Colombia, SA; throughout the Caribbean including St Vincent, Jade Mountain in St Lucia, Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Croix, St John, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ani Villas in the Dominican Republic; multiple projects on Moskito Island for Sir Richard Branson in the BVI; throughout the Bahamas including Bakers Bay in Great Guana Cay, Schooner Bay Abaco Bahamas, Lyford Cay New Providence Bahamas, Albany New Providence Bahamas, Norman’s Cay Bahamas, One and Only Ocean Club Paradise Island Bahamas, Marsh Harbour Bahamas; new main pool for the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Hamilton Bermuda; Front Entry Water Feature for 141 Front Street, Hamilton Bermuda; Toronto Canada and all across the United States of America.
He is known for his public speaking ability and as a popular seminar leader for many organizations and has given seminars and keynote speeches around the country and abroad. In 1998 he was a speaker at the International Pool Show in Lyon, France. In 2000 he was the keynote speaker at the Pool Industry Show in Australia and a featured speaker for the SPLASH Pool Industry Conference in Bali, Indonesia in 2001. He gave the keynote presentation for NSPI Region III in Houston, Texas in 2003. He delivered the keynote address to the Texas Pool and Spa Show in Ft. Worth, Texas in January 2008 and for the Canadian Pool and Spa Show December 2009. He delivered the Keynote address for Carecraft, an industry buying group, with over six hundred attendees at their annual conference in 2010 and again in 2012. He is an accredited Continuing Education instructor for the State of Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. Brian and Genesis are responsible for the design/build educational programs for the International Pool Spa Patio Expo show each November. This year, he gave the Keynote address for the Florida American Society of Landscape Architects in Boca Raton.
The Miami office of Aquatic Consultants is in the capable hands of the company president, Andy Kaner, while he focuses on their new office in the growing Tampa/St. Petersburg market. The team at Aquatic Consultants continue to explore and expand their design capabilities and carry on the company’s motto, “Specializing in the Unusual!”
His passion for his life’s work and dedication to elevating the level of performance of the industry are matched only by his gusto for life.
Has it been a smooth road?
By rights, the company should have never made it. Van Bower had no business experience, no professional training and didn’t have the financial resources to support a long, drawn out, learning curve. Somehow they persevered. The pool service and construction company provided the field knowledge that still today influences the functional side of Aquatic Consultants designs. As important as the aesthetics are, proper, efficient design is paramount for lasting beauty. Forging a market for swimming pool and water feature design, when none existed, was a huge challenge.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Aquatic Consultants story. Tell us more about the business.
Aquatic Consultants is most proud of the growth of our team members. Their burgeoning design creativity and understanding of the importance of quality design principles is an unsurpassed joy! Andy Kaner’s 16-year journey has brought him to the top echelon of waterscape design. The dedicated staff members of the ACI team are all involved in the growth and success of the business.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Onward and upward! Our primary repeat clients are architects and landscape architects while we continue to attract homeowners the world over. The stability of our business model is enhanced and maintained because of over global perspective. Currently, about half of our projects are outside the United States. This mitigates any market-based fluctuation impact. We are optimistic about the future and cherish our reputation for detailed, well thought out plans
Contact Info:
- Address: Miami Office: 13775 SW 145 Ct., Suite A, Miami, FL 33186
Tampa/St. Petersburg Office: 17340 Rosa Lee Way, N. Redington Beach, FL 33708 - Website: www.aquaticconsultantsinc.com
- Phone: 305 383-7266
- Email: andy@aquaticconsultantsinc.com brian@aquaticconsultantsinc.com
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