Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry Parnell.
Hi Larry, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’d love to and thank you for having me. Twenty-eight years ago, I began designing and selling custom swimming pools in San Antonio. I was having so much fun that I wanted to learn everything I could about how a pool went from a mere concept to a physical backyard addition. I became heavily involved with each and every phase of the construction process for not only residential projects, but commercial ones as well. To date, I have personally designed, sold, and/or built upwards of 1,000 pools. After many years in various management roles with some of the top companies in the business, my wife Susan and I moved to Dallas in 2015. The thing that always appeared to be lacking in this industry, especially from some of the larger builders, was consistent, detailed communication with the customer and attention to the homeowner’s experience throughout the process. I wanted to change that and make pool building exciting and fun again. In 2017, my vision began to take shape and I formed Canyon Oak Pools. But with our two daughters, Katherine and Alex, in college at the time, it would be
another five years of thoughtful and careful financial planning before I was ready to venture out and begin taking on my own clients. Gratefully, that day arrived earlier this year and I launched Canyon Oak Pools with the goal to become a top-tier, small size, referral-based
builder. I once read that the average homeowner thinks about buying a pool for two years before they actually pull the trigger. It is critical to remember that there is not only a significant financial investment being made by the client but an emotional one as well. This is a
responsibility that we take seriously at Canyon Oak Pools. I want to be a part of bringing the homeowner’s dream to reality and creating a space for them to build a lifetime of memories with their families. Who you choose to build with really does matter.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t think anyone goes through this life without challenges and struggles. When I was younger, those obstacles seemed a lot more overwhelming than they do with age. Every challenge, struggle, and bump in the road I have encountered has been a valuable learning
experience that has prepared me perfectly for where I am today. Without exposure to those difficulties, I would not have the knowledge and the skillset required to create the kind of company I envision, nor would I realize the importance of your team members sharing in the
core values of integrity, honesty, and respect for others. Today I can look back and say that my blessings have been many, and my problems have been few.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Absolutely. Canyon Oak Pools is a family-owned and operated custom pool builder based in beautiful Blue Ridge, TX, where we have the most wonderful, supportive neighbors and community. We office out of McKinney and serve the entire Dallas area. The greatest testament to an exceptional experience is the customer’s willingness to recommend you to friends, family, and neighbors. In order to accomplish this and give the first-class service that a client deserves, I have only the most trusted people on my small team. My brother-in-law, David Maia’s lengthy background in pool construction is invaluable as he now designs custom projects for our clients and is able to walk them through the build process and help them understand exactly what to expect through every phase of construction. Our design division is led by Mike Woodfin, a personal friend of ten years, and a man that takes customer service and communication to a whole new level with his genuine care for the client and their family. Mike realizes that people will likely only build one pool in their lifetime, and his focus is on delivering their backyard dream and building a relationship with the homeowner throughout the process. Newest to the team is our most senior consultant, the one and only Ray DiGangi, who literally has decades of pool designing and building experience under his belt. Ray is
incredibly knowledgeable and highly respected by both his clients and peers. My wife Susan manages all the company financials and ensures that our subcontractors and team members are taken care of. You might also catch her moonlighting as our company photographer on
the job sites. Last but certainly not least, we have our Internal Phase Manager, Kristen Wilson, who is the best in the business. Kristen coordinates each phase of construction with me, our subs, and with the respective cities – ensuring, among a million other things, that all
permits and inspections are in order, materials and selections are accurate, and that equipment orders are expedited to job sites. Kristen is the grease that keeps the wheels turning. In addition to new designs and builds, we also remodel existing pools to give dated
backyards a face-lift. Our builds have been featured in D Magazine and shown in the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes in 2021.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Although COVID created a lot of supply chain delays, staffing issues, and material shortages in the pool business, it also opened people’s eyes to the benefits of having a personal vacation spot in their backyard. When traveling was impossible due to all the restrictions, families wished to have a place to relax and unwind that didn’t involve getting on a plane. So, in that aspect, COVID had some positive effects on the pool industry as a whole.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.canyonoakpools.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canyonoakpools/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canyonoakpools
- Other: https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/mckinney/profile/swimming-pools/canyon-oak-pools-llc-0875-91307524
