Watkins Celebrates 30th Anniversary of President Steve Hammock

VISTA, Calif., Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Watkins Manufacturing Corporation celebrates the 30 year anniversary of its President, Steven M. Hammock. Hammock is recognized as an influential executive who has led Watkins to sustained success and who has always put people before profits.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111220/LA25426LOGO)

Employees, dealers and over a million Watkins' customers have all benefited from Steve's leadership and what he calls "the Watkins Way"--a philosophy that Hammock summarizes as, "Be honest. Bring it every day. Get better." The anniversary was commemorated at a Watkins event held at the recent International Pool Spa and Patio Exposition in New Orleans.

Steve Hammock has served as President since the retirement of the company's remaining founder Jeff Watkins in 1997. He began his career with the company in 1982 as Promotions Manager and held several other positions before being named General Manager in 1987. Watkins founder (then president) Jon Watkins said of his new general manager, "Steve has been a tremendous resource for Watkins Manufacturing . . . his knowledge and expertise should lead us to even greater success."

Those words proved to be prophetic. In the following years Watkins continued its rise under Hammock's leadership, as it does to this day.  Since the late eighties Watkins has been recognized as the industry leader with the highest volume of hot tub sales world-wide.

"We've always been different than the rest of the industry," said Hammock of Watkins' "put the customer first," business practices. "We've never been afraid to invest in 'invisible' features that improve long-term performance, quality and safety of our products, even if those features might cost more or be hard to demonstrate in the showroom," said Hammock.

In 2011 Watkins celebrated building one million hot tubs, a milestone that is unmatched in the industry. "We promise a lot -- To our dealers and to our owners . . . but we deliver on those promises," said Hammock.

During Hammock's tenure Watkins has developed many innovations that are now hot tub industry standards including: Fully insulated, energy-efficient spas, multiple jet pumps, moving jets (Watkins' patented Moto-Massage® Jet), underwater lighting, titanium heaters (Watkins' patented No-Fault® heater) and locking covers. Watkins has also developed distinctive proprietary technology including 100% no-bypass filtration as well as the ACE® salt water sanitizing system.

In 1999 Hammock led Watkins' purchase of Caldera Spas® as a complement to its flagship line, Hot Spring® Spas. In 2012 Watkins acquired American Hydrotherapy Systems® (AHS) and its brands Freeflow Spas®, Fantasy Spas® and Aquaterra® Spas (sold exclusively through Costco).

In an industry as young as the hot tub industry Hammock believes his company has only just begun its work to engage people in hot tubbing.  "Hot tubs do not belong in the home improvement space; they are personal care items and people are just beginning to discover that," said Hammock. "We have a great product that helps people in so many ways but we are still at the beginning."

Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
Founded in 1977 Watkins Manufacturing Corporation, with its brands Hot Spring® Spas, Caldera Spas® and Advanced Hydrotherapy Systems® (AHS), is the global leader in the hot tub industry and are sold through a network of more than 800 independent dealers across North America and 65 countries globally. Watkins is a division of Masco Corporation, a Fortune 500 company whose products include such trusted brands as Delta® faucets, KraftMaid® cabinets and Behr® paints.

SOURCE Watkins Manufacturing