What does it take to build a thriving company in a competitive industry—and keep it growing for more than a decade? In this episode of Small Business Matters, host Tim Fulton and co-host Taylor Fulton sit down with Zac Nicklas, President & CEO of The Pool Boys in League City, Texas. Zac shares how he turned a small family-run pool service into a trusted, 15-employee operation that’s earned a reputation for professionalism, reliability, and integrity.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Zac’s story is packed with insights about scaling smart, leading well, and finding balance between growth and personal priorities.
Episode Highlights:
• What Matters to Small Business? [03:36]
• Leading Like a CEO [06:32]
• Sustaining a Long-term Business Partnership [10:53]
• A Big Mistake Changes Everything [15:09]
• Building a Loyal, Low-turnover Team [15:36]
• Industry Involvement As a Growth Accelerator [18:37]
• Hiring a Second-in-command [23:09]
• Rapid-fire [25:55]
• Takeaways [29:06]
• Contact Information [30:58]
• SBM News [31:15]
About the Guest
Zac Nicholas is the President & CEO of The Pool Boys, a full-service pool maintenance and repair company based in League City, Texas. Founded in 2011, the company has grown from a two-man operation into a respected local brand known for its commitment to customer care and continuous improvement. Zac’s leadership philosophy centers on integrity, teamwork, and investing in people—principles that have helped him build a sustainable business with strong community roots. Tune in to hear how one small business owner built not just a company, but a culture of professionalism, trust, and purpose.
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What does it take to build a thriving company in a competitive industry—and keep it growing for more than a decade? In this episode of Small Business Matters, host Tim Fulton and co-host Taylor Fulton sit down with Zac Nicklas, President & CEO of The Pool Boys in League City, Texas. Zac shares how he turned a small family-run pool service into a trusted, 15-employee operation that’s earned a reputation for professionalism, reliability, and integrity.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Zac’s story is packed with insights about scaling smart, leading well, and finding balance between growth and personal priorities.
Episode Highlights:
• What Matters to Small Business? [03:36]
• Leading Like a CEO [06:32]
• Sustaining a Long-term Business Partnership [10:53]
• A Big Mistake Changes Everything [15:09]
• Building a Loyal, Low-turnover Team [15:36]
• Industry Involvement As a Growth Accelerator [18:37]
• Hiring a Second-in-command [23:09]
• Rapid-fire [25:55]
• Takeaways [29:06]
• Contact Information [30:58]
• SBM News [31:15]
About the Guest
Zac Nicholas is the President & CEO of The Pool Boys, a full-service pool maintenance and repair company based in League City, Texas. Founded in 2011, the company has grown from a two-man operation into a respected local brand known for its commitment to customer care and continuous improvement. Zac’s leadership philosophy centers on integrity, teamwork, and investing in people—principles that have helped him build a sustainable business with strong community roots. Tune in to hear how one small business owner built not just a company, but a culture of professionalism, trust, and purpose.
Dr. Bernie Mullin is a globally recognized management and marketing consultant and speaker, renowned for his unique approach to sports marketing. Co-author of the book “Sports Marketing,” Bernie's career spans over 30 years as a chief executive or senior director in prominent organizations in professional sports, collegiate athletics, and entertainment venue operations. His focus on start-ups and turn-around situations has led to the development of winning organizations on the field, court, and ice, and the creation of sustained peak-performing organizations on the business side, achieving unprecedented levels of success.
In his distinguished career, Bernie has received numerous additional honors and recognition including being dubbed “The Guru of Ticket Sales” by Sports Illustrated in 1993, “The Pirate of Profitability” in 1986 by the forerunner of the SportsBusiness Journal, and being named the Boy Scouts of America “Peach of an Athlete Award” recipient in 2008. Bernie is also the Founder and Chairman of The Aspire Group which works with its partners to maximize organizational effectiveness and grow revenues and attendance. Under Bernie’s guidance, the firm generates over $200 million annually in revenue and has served 200+ brands and properties across 11 countries and three continents in 17 different sports.
Show Notes:
In this episode, sports guru Bernie Mullin explains how to build a winning brand through effective database development and management. Bernie also shares insights into knowing and activating your customers, how to hire a team of superstars, and negotiating with Pope Francis.
Episode Highlights:
• What Matters to Small Business [0:01:24]
• Discovering a New Career [0:03:50]
• A Typical Engagement [0:04:33]
• Sports vs. Traditional Small Business [0:08:48]
• Segmenting Your Audience [0:14:48]
• WHOPPP Hiring Strategy: Hiring All As [0:15:48]
• Rapid Fire [0:24:35]
• Contact Information [0:27:32]
• Takeaways [0:27:53]
• SBM Announcements [0:30:44]
Small Business Matters
What does it take to build a thriving company in a competitive industry—and keep it growing for more than a decade? In this episode of Small Business Matters, host Tim Fulton and co-host Taylor Fulton sit down with Zac Nicklas, President & CEO of The Pool Boys in League City, Texas. Zac shares how he turned a small family-run pool service into a trusted, 15-employee operation that’s earned a reputation for professionalism, reliability, and integrity.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Zac’s story is packed with insights about scaling smart, leading well, and finding balance between growth and personal priorities.
Episode Highlights:
• What Matters to Small Business? [03:36]
• Leading Like a CEO [06:32]
• Sustaining a Long-term Business Partnership [10:53]
• A Big Mistake Changes Everything [15:09]
• Building a Loyal, Low-turnover Team [15:36]
• Industry Involvement As a Growth Accelerator [18:37]
• Hiring a Second-in-command [23:09]
• Rapid-fire [25:55]
• Takeaways [29:06]
• Contact Information [30:58]
• SBM News [31:15]
About the Guest
Zac Nicholas is the President & CEO of The Pool Boys, a full-service pool maintenance and repair company based in League City, Texas. Founded in 2011, the company has grown from a two-man operation into a respected local brand known for its commitment to customer care and continuous improvement. Zac’s leadership philosophy centers on integrity, teamwork, and investing in people—principles that have helped him build a sustainable business with strong community roots. Tune in to hear how one small business owner built not just a company, but a culture of professionalism, trust, and purpose.
