Management Directors Governance Documentation Committees
John E. Stokely
Lead Independent Director
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
Director Since: 2000
POOLCORP Committee Membership(s):
AUDIT COMMITTEE, NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
From 1996 to 1999 Mr. Stokely served as president, chief executive officer and chairman of Richfood Holdings, Inc., a regional Fortune 500 wholesale food distributor and operator of retail grocery stores prior to its acquisition by SuperValu Inc.
Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa
Director
Vice Chairman
Director Since: 2001
Mr. Perez de la Mesa served as our president and chief executive officer from 2001 until his retirement at the end of 2018; he served as our president and chief operating officer from 1999 to 2001. Prior to leading Pool Corporation, he gained extensive general, financial and operations management experience with Watsco, Inc. from 1994 to 1999, Fresh Del Monte Produce B.V. from 1987 to 1994, International Business Machines Corp. from 1982 to 1987, and Sea‑Land Service Inc./R.J. Reynolds, Inc. from 1977 to 1982.
Peter D. Arvan
Director
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Arvan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of POOLCORP. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since joining POOLCORP in January of 2017. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Arvan served as Chief Executive Officer of Roofing Supply Group from 2013 to 2015, and as President of SABIC Polymershapes (formerly GE Plastics - Polymershapes) from 2004 to 2013. From 1988-2004, Mr. Arvan held various management positions at GE Supply, including General Manager of Global Supply Chain and Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Quality Leader.
Andrew W. Code
Independent Director
Chairman, Promus Capital
Director Since: 1993
POOLCORP Committee Membership(s):
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Mr. Code was a founding partner of CHS Capital, a Chicago-based private equity investment firm with five funds totaling over $2.7 billion in assets from 1998 until his retirement in 2012. Since 2012, he has focused on personal and philanthropic investments both individually and in association with a multi-family office.
Timothy M. Graven
Independent Director
Retired, Former President and Chief Operating Officer, Steel Technologies, Inc.
Director Since: 2015
POOLCORP Committee Membership(s):
AUDIT COMMITTEE, NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Mr. Graven is a co-founder and managing member of Triad Investment Company, LLC, a private investment company, since 1994. From 1990 to 1994, he served as president, chief operating officer and director of Steel Technologies, Inc., a former NASDAQ‑listed steel processing company, where he also served in various positions including executive vice president, chief financial officer, vice president of finance and corporate controller from 1979 to 1990.
Debra S. Oler
Independent Director
Senior Vice President / President, North American Sales and Service, W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Director Since: 2018
POOLCORP Committee Membership(s):
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Since 2017, Ms. Oler has served as senior vice president/president, North American sales and service of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (Grainger), a distributor of maintenance, repair and operating supplies used by businesses and institutions. Since joining Grainger as regional sales vice president in 2002, Ms. Oler has held several roles with increasing responsibility. Prior to joining Grainger, Ms. Oler gained extensive sales and leadership experience with Alliant FoodService, Inc. from 1996 to 2002, Kraft Foods from 1986 to 1996 and I. Feldman & Company from 1973 to 1986.
Harlan F. Seymour
Independent Director
Retired, Former Chairman, ACI Worldwide, Inc.
Director Since: 2003
POOLCORP Committee Membership(s):
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Since 2000, Mr. Seymour conducts personal investments in both public and private companies and provides business advisory services through HFS LLC, particularly in the area of strategic planning services for companies in a wide variety of industries. He previously served as executive vice president of Envoy Corporation, a publicly traded provider of EDI and transaction processing services for the healthcare market, from 1997 to 1999 when it merged with Quintiles Transnational. Mr. Seymour has previous general, financial and operations management experience with Jefferson Capital Partners from 1996 to 1997, Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield from 1994 to 1996, and First Financial Management Corporation from 1983 to 1994, serving from 1990 to 1994 as president and chief executive officer of its subsidiary, First Health Services Corporation and previously as senior vice president, corporate development.
Robert C. Sledd
Independent Director
Retired, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Performance Food Group Company
Director Since: 1996
POOLCORP Committee Membership(s):
AUDIT COMMITTEE, COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Since 2001, Mr. Sledd is the managing partner of Pinnacle Ventures, LLC, a venture capital firm, and Sledd Properties, LLC, an investment company. He previously served as chief executive officer of PFG from 1987 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2006.
David G. Whalen
Independent Director
Former President and Chief Executive Officer, A.T. Cross Company
Director Since: 2015
POOLCORP Committee Membership(s):
AUDIT COMMITTEE, STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Mr. Whalen served as the president and chief executive officer of the A.T. Cross Company (subsequently Costa Inc.), from 1999 to 2014 when the company was sold. A.T. Cross manufactured and marketed writing instruments and personal accessories under the Cross brand name and premium sunglasses under the Costa brand name. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Whalen held various senior positions with Bausch & Lomb, Inc., including corporate vice president, president Europe, Middle East, and Africa division and president North America Ray-Ban Division Earlier in his career, Mr. Whalen was vice president business development with G. Heileman Brewing Company and a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton.
Wilson B. Sexton
Other
Chairman Emeritus
Director Since: 1993

Disclaimer:

Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the "Safe Harbor" Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Matters discussed in this website contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements express our current expectations or forecasts of possible future results or events, including projections of earnings and other financial performance measures, statements of management's expectations regarding plans and objectives, and industry, general economic and other financial forecasts of trends and other matters. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts and often use words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "believe," "will likely result," "outlook," "project," "should" and other words and expressions of similar meaning. No assurance can be given that the results in any forward-looking statements will be achieved and actual results could be affected by one or more factors, which could cause them to differ materially. For these statements we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Certain factors that may affect our business and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements include the following:
  • The demand for our swimming pool, irrigation and related outdoor lifestyle products may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic conditions.
  • We are susceptible to adverse weather conditions.
  • Our distribution business is highly dependent on our ability to maintain favorable relationships with suppliers.
  • We face intense competition both from within our industry and from other leisure product alternatives.
  • More aggressive competition by store- and internet-based mass merchants and large pool or irrigation supply retailers could adversely affect our sales.
  • We depend on our ability to attract, develop and retain highly qualified personnel.
  • Past growth may not be indicative of future growth, and while we contemplate continued growth through internal expansion and acquisitions, no assurance can be made as to our ability to:
    • penetrate new markets;
    • generate sufficient cash flows to support expansion plans and general operating activities;
    • obtain financing;
    • maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships; and
    • identify and divest assets which do not continue to create value consistent with our objectives.
  • Our business is highly seasonal.
  • The nature of our business subjects us to compliance with employment, environmental, health, transportation, safety, and other governmental regulations.
  • We store chemicals, fertilizers and other combustible materials that involve fire, safety and casualty risks.
  • We conduct business internationally, which exposes us to additional risks
  • Changes in tax laws and accounting standards related to tax matters have caused, and may in the future cause, fluctuations in our effective tax rate.
  • We depend on a global network of suppliers to source our products. Product quality or safety concerns could negatively impact our sales and expose us to legal claims.
  • We rely on information technology systems to support our business operations. Any disturbance or breach of our technological infrastructure could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, failure to maintain the security of confidential information could damage our reputation and expose us to litigation.
  • A terrorist attack or the threat of a terrorist attack could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The foregoing factors are not exhaustive and new factors may emerge which impact our business. It is impossible for us to predict all such factors. Therefore, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual future results. We cannot guarantee that any future event or result will be realized, although we believe we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Should additional risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

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