Gary Heath is a veteran of the swimming pool and spa industry and owner of The Pool Doctor, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 223-7537 or by email.
Gary Heath: Diving into a New Business
By James Florence, Senior Writer
EL SOBRANTE — Gary Heath was selling construction and mining equipment when the Great Recession hit in the late 2000s. “It was my fourth time going through a major building dip, and I realized I didn’t want to keep working in a sector that was going up or down 80 percent every few years,” he says. Gary decided to step away from the rollercoaster of heavy equipment sales and started searching for a service-oriented company to purchase, which would have a more regular revenue stream. In 2010, he bought The Pool Doctor, which he currently runs with his wife, Kelly.
Gary says his background in sales gives him a unique perspective on how he operates his business. “Kelly spent years working in pharmaceutical sales, so we both have a lot of experience in professional sales and customer service. Compared to the average person who comes and cleans your pool, we’re much more focused on customer satisfaction.” Gary takes pride in helping his clients make the most of their outdoor spaces, and he also enjoys developing strong relationships with his employees. “It’s been great watching the growth and cohesion of my team over the years and seeing the strides they’ve made both personally and professionally.”
Gary grew up in Pinole and currently lives in Danville with Kelly and their daughter, Ashlan. “After going away to college, I never thought in a million years I’d be living and working back here in the East Bay, but my office is actually only a few miles from my childhood home,” he says. “It’s been like a homecoming. I’ll run into people I grew up with and now they’re our clients.” Outside of work, Gary enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his daughter’s softball team and traveling to his vacation home in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Gary and his team treat each pool they care for as if it were part of their own home. “That’s our business philosophy,” he affirms. “Taking this approach means we’re providing the same advice and level of service that we’d give to our own families.”
Dedicating so much time to his business and family has had one negative consequence for Gary. “I can never find time to play golf anymore!” he says. “I used to play competitively in high school. Now, I’m lucky if I can play four times a year.” If he could retire tomorrow, Gary says the first thing he would do is book a tee time.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Sakura Japanese Cuisine in San Ramon.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird.
Q: Do you prefer the city or the country?
A: The country.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Wine. My favorite winery is Merryvale Vineyards in St. Helena.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: When the sun shines, I’m usually not in the office, so on rainy days I finally get to clean my desk and catch up with office work.
