National Association of Pond Professionals Names President

Mark Krupka was recently elected president of the board of directors of the National Association of Pond Professionals (NAPP) during the recent National Pond Expo and Conference in Savannah, Ga. At that point, Krupka assumed his position and outlined new services and strategies for the recently expanded organization.

Krupka, who served on the steering committee that helped develop NAPP into a more complete organization by absorbing the Water Gardening Manufacturers and Distributors Association, says that NAPP includes manufacturers, distributors, retailers and contractors/installers that share the common goal of promoting and growing the industry in a structured and professional manner.

“I am very excited about the potential for NAPP as a conduit of professional growth, development, establishing best practices and standards and promoting and growing the water feature industry for all involved,” said Krupka, vice president and technical director for Ecological Laboratories Inc.

The newly-elected 2007-08 board of directors for NAPP includes the following individuals,  their respective board title and company of employment:

Mark Krupka, President, Ecological Laboratories, Inc.
Mike Gilliland, Vice President, Little Giant Pump Company
Peter Hedrick, Director, Envision Waterfalls
Tom Tilley, Treasurer, Tilley’s Nursery, Inc.
Valerie Steele, Director, Savio Engineering, Inc.
Lucinda Vela-Wick, Director, Jungle Laboratories Corp.
Gary Jones, Director, Mars Fishcare
Rick Bartel, Director, Autumn Mist Aquatics
Mark Munley, Director, Firestone Building Products Company
Matt Horn, Director, Matterhorn Nursery
Todd Simpson, Director, Simpson Landscape Group
Randy Stewart, Director, Unit Liner
Warren Thoma, Director, Warren Thoma & Associates
Max Hammond, Past President
David B. Duensing, Aquatic Construction Services

As the trade of water features continues to grow, so does the need for a cohesive and all-encompassing professional association to provide leadership, education and standards for the industry. 

Based on a membership survey that was dispersed over 18 months ago, three key initiatives emerged as an important focus for members.  They include:

• Education/training
• Networking
• Regulatory monitoring and liaison development

Based on the feedback from the survey, NAPP has formed the following committees to develop and extend these initiatives.  They include:

• Education Committee:  Rick Bartel, Chairperson (Autumn Mist Aquatics/Savio Engineering)
• Membership Committee:  Todd Simpson, Simpson Landscape Group
• Communications Committee: Lucinda Vela-Wick, Jungle Labs
• Regulatory Committee: Gary Jones, Mars Fishcare
• Standards Committee, Warren Thoma, WTA

As NAPP moves forward, the organization is working to achieve new developments related to education, marketing and communications.  The organization has secured www.nationalpondpro.com as its registered website address and has produced its first newsletter, which will be distributed quarterly.

Its first education event will be help in Shawnee, Oklahoma on February 20-21, 2008 at Unit Liner and will cover many aspects of water feature design, water feature installation, managing the business side of a water feature contracting business, pond maintenance as a business, managing water quality, fish and fish health, and aquatic plants.

“Now that the foundation for NAPP has been established, we invite all interested parties that are involved in the trade to join,” said Krupka.

Membership levels range from student, which is $50 per year, up to Charter, which costs $1,500.  Benefits include a quarterly newsletter; subscription to PONDKEEPER magazine; high-rez NAPP logo used for marketing; discounts on books, videos, CDs and reference material; instructional and educational PDF brochures; listing in NAPP directory; Identity of Certification, such as Certified Water Feature Installation Contractor and higher; discounts on NAPP sponsored educational forums.

The mission of the organization is as follows: NAPP is a not for profit association of businesses providing leadership and education by sharing information and ideas to increase ownership, enjoyment and satisfaction of live water features while maintaining the highest possible standards.