
Background & Introduction
Bill's Resume
Bill Kent, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, holds a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Physics
from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters of Business Administration
from Xavier
University. After graduating from U. C., Bill worked in Ohio for 6 years at
General Electric, designing and manufacturing rocket motor components and cases,
including work on attack missiles and Saturn 5 moon rocket. Bill
has three grown children, all college graduates. In 1972, Bill moved with his
family to South Florida area, and, identifying the swimming pool business as
a growing industry, started a pool service company.
Shortly
thereafter, he bought a part ownership position in a then-fledging
wholesale
distribution company in our industry, HornerXpress, started by Mr. Earl
Horner. Earl sold his share of business to Bill in 1975, and Bill has been
sole owner ever since. Bill has been extremely active in the industry trade
association, the NSPI , including as past President in 1996.
TEAM
HORNER is a family of Companies focused in different areas within
the Swimming Pool and Spa business worldwide. As of February 2001,
the TEAM employs approximately 245 employees, occupies a total
of 123,000 square feet (12,300 square meters) of space, represents
over 140 different manufacturers, repackages pool chemicals and
accessories (Tropi Clear brand), and stocks approximately 6000
inventory items. Three divisions are manufacturers; AQUA CAL (heat
pump pool heaters and chillers) AUTOPILOT (automatic pool sanitizing
systems) and LO CHLOR (a joint venture manufacturer of Algaecide
and Specialty Chemicals). Our manufacturing companies do business
either dealer direct or indirectly through other Distributors.
HornerXpress, a full line wholesale distributor, does business
with about 600 contractors in the swimming pool, spa, solar and
general construction businesses in Florida. HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter exports
to over 700 active customers in about 90 foreign countries throughout
the entire world. Horner Consulting Engineers provides plans for
both residential and commercial swimming pools/spas, as well as
offering other civil/structural engineering services. HornerXpress
offers wholesale distribution franchise opportunities.
A.
THREE MANUFACTURING DIVISIONS
1. AQUACAL, INC.
AquaCal is Americas largest manufacturer of swimming pool heat
pumps. The 60,000 square feet (5,575 square meters) factory is
located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Seven different designs are
produced to meet different market niches. Pool heater brands include
the following:
1)
Tropical -- Economy Series
2)
Sun Tech -- Mid Range Series
3)
AeroTemp -- Mid Range Series
with
Microprocessor Controls
4)
Heat Wave -- High Efficiency Series
5)
Big Bopper -- Commercial Series
6)
Water Source -- Water to Water Series
7)
Riviera, SunTech -- Private Label Series
8)
Kruzin Kool -- Marine Air Conditioning
**
Five of the eight companies are located at the 6 acre Team Horner campus in Fort Lauderdale.
Aqua
Cal offers a factory-training program called HOTSHOT SCHOOL monthly.
AquaCal has full time Sales Engineers throughout the State of Florida.
In addition, Sales Engineers are located in Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Delaware, Virginia and Atlanta, Georgia and Phoenix, Arizona.
2. AUTOPILOT SYSTEMS, INC.
Autopilot
utilizes the electrolytic generation process to manufacture naturally
balanced chlorine sanitizer in swimming pool water. Autopilot offers
a wide range of models which, in addition to sanitizing the pool,
will control the pumps and other equipment related to the pool.
Brand Names include Autopilot, Pool Pilot and AutoLec. The factory
is located in the Ft. Lauderdale Team Horner complex. Autopilot
offers factory-training programs called FLIGHT SCHOOL and GROUND
SCHOOL monthly.
3.
LO-CHLOR, L.C.
This joint venture Company (with Andrew Simons/Lo-Chlor Australia) manufactures
Lo-Chlor, Starver, Miraclear, LA35 and other specialty chemical products for
the North American markets. It is located on the main Ft. Lauderdale campus.
B. DISTRIBUTION DIVISIONS
1.
HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter
HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter is the largest independent Exporter of swimming pool and
spa products in the United States. In addition, HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter International
also exports Water Treatment and Waste Water Treatment equipment.
Twelve sales representatives visit our customers in different parts
of the world at least once, sometimes twice a year. HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter
also offers their export clients complete commercial pool engineering
design services, including field inspection during construction.
HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter also exhibits at Pool/Spa Trade Shows worldwide.
HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter also operates a field office in Shanghai, China, offering
both import and export services.
Areas
proactively serviced by HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter include: The Caribbean, Central
and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Far East, South
East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Africa.
In
addition, AquaCal/AutoPilot has a field sales office in Brisbane,
Australia.
2.
HORNER CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC.
Horner
Consulting Engineers brings a fine reputation of quality engineering
services focused on swimming pools, spa design and structural building
design. Our Engineering services include construction drawings,
engineering analysis, blue prints, and job-site inspections. These
services are available for international projects as well. With
our experienced staff of engineers and swimming pool designers,
we provide our clients with key insights in evaluating new alternatives
in swimming pool and spa design and construction.
3. HornerXpress of South Florida, INC.
HornerXpress is the largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool
and spa equipment and accessories in Florida. Our fleet of 12 delivery trucks services the swimming pool/spa
industry from Vero Beach to Key West.
Our
total warehouse space of 75,000 square feet (7,000 square meters
allows us to stock over 6,000 line items, including parts, from
all major U.S. manufacturers.
Special
offerings include:
· Our Tropi Clear brand of pool chemicals and accessories.
· Six technically competent Sales Engineers visit our Florida customers
regularly, and offer various specialty programs including Truckload sales.
· Our Customer Service Team supports our customers needs, both with product
and technical support, on a daily basis. On-line Computer order entry makes daily
delivery easy.
· Our Advertising and Marketing departments, Swimstuff Marketing, include state-of-the-art desktop
publishing, direct mail programs and other personalized services to assist our
customers in growing their businesses.
· Our "H.I.T.T." monthly educational program (third Tuesday
evening of every month) provides a 3-hour, Florida Certified educational program.
The program is half technical training on the various facets of technology, half
business oriented subjects.
· Team Horner Tile and Coping Center is a department of HornerXpress
offering ceramic pool tile, pool coping, pool decking, finishes and other specialty
construction items to our contractor customers and for export via HornerXpress WORLDWIDE Exporter.
· HornerXpress is a franchiser offering new business opportunities in
the wholesale distribution business.