Meet Andrew Harkins | Pool Designer/ Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Harkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Necessity. It always seemed that I was using my skills to accumulate wealth for other people, but never myself. I was always too busy working. I started new job as a Project Manager in June of last year. After working there a couple of months, I noticed things just weren’t adding up. I couldn’t get material, none of my jobs were getting finished. We kept starting new jobs, but not finishing others. I had worked for several reputable companies, and I could tell something was off, but didn’t know what. After two and half months the company closed. The man I was working for had swindled $834,000 from 28+ families. Leaving many of them with concrete holes in the ground, no deck or equipment or anything. So here I am out of work and out of money. One of my clients, asks me if I could help him finish. So I obliged and got contractors to finish out his pool. And The Industry was born.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We design and build luxury pools. I started as a complete outsider 7 years ago. After being a structural fitter for several years. The only thing I knew about pools was chlorine and water. Pulling from my tenure as a fitter and years of working construction jobs, it came smoothly. The difficulty came in learning water chemistry and troubleshooting. As well as the difficulties of learning how to give reassurance to clients when issues arise. A few lesson I’ve learned, is always communicate. And, surround yourself with people who have more knowledge than yourself. There’s nothing wrong with admitting what you don’t know. I would want the world to know that Industry Pools brings perspective and elegance to every project, and that they’ll be clients when they come to us. Not just another customer.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d probably take them to my projects. Work would still have to be done. Could slip away for a float down the Guadalupe River for a day and then back at it. Food? Anywhere BBQ or Mexican. I am from Texas after all.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are too many to name. First and foremost thank you to the Most High God, for blessing with the talent, skills and determination. Secondly would be my wife, she has carried us when things weren’t going so well. Her selflessness in the process is amazing. Thanks to my mother for teaching how to speak in a manner to get my point across. And last but not least my friend and mentor in the pool industry Jon Holland. Iron sharpens iron sure enough, and knowing him challenges me to be better.

Website: industrypoolsanddesigns.com

Instagram: @industrypoolsllc

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