AUSTINTOWN -- When Steve Bayer and his wife, Tammy, arrived at his business after hours one day in

AUSTINTOWN -- When Steve Bayer and his wife, Tammy, arrived at his business after hours one day in February, a fax caught their attention.
"I was absolutely stunned and elated," Bayer said about the fax from Aqua magazine.
The monthly publication named Caribbean Pools & amp; Hot Tubs as a recipient of its Aqua 100 Award and said the Mahoning Avenue business would be featured in its April edition.
Bayer received the award last month after submitting an 18-page report detailing the company's portfolio, including its store setup and advertising strategies.
Bayer got his feet wet in the pool industry while balancing a part-time job at Litehouse Pools with taking engineering classes at Youngstown State University.
However, after his freshman year, Bayer couldn't get the necessary classes he needed toward his electrical engineering degree and didn't want to spend twice the time and money pursuing it.
In 1983, he traded college life for full-time work at Litehouse, while discovering that his interest in sales and having his own business were growing.
Bayer said that even after several years at Litehouse Pools, he realized he wanted to bolster his business acumen. In 1991, he took a job at Burnett Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs to learn more about marketing and advertising.
"I wanted to work for a chain," he said. "I lacked the business side -- how to run a store, from buying merchandise to negotiating prices."
In 1997, Bayer became the sales manager for all three Burnett stores. Three years later, he knew he was ready for another move.
"In early 2000, I decided it's time for the next step. My plan to open my own business was born out of a 20-year journey," he said.
Bayer pointed out that since opening in February 2001, he has wanted to keep his business limited to pools and hot tubs only. He has three full-time employees, including his 20-year-old son, Joshua, and all three bring their areas of expertise to the table, he said.
"When you diversify [too much], you become less of an expert in any one area," Bayer said.
The four sell above-ground pools and hot tubs of varying sizes to meet what Bayer says is a radical shift in people's attitudes toward backyard pools -- they are no longer considered luxury items.
It's difficult to walk into the store and not notice the ubiquituous Caribbean music playing and the display pool that is 24 feet in diameter and holds 13,500 gallons of water.
Bayer said he initially held back in pursuing his own business until he could strike the right balance between family and work commitments.
"I didn't want to miss my kids growing up," he said. "It's a lot of hard work, but I try not to let it consume me."