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STEWART VERNON

Founder, America’s Swimming Pool Company & Executive Vice President, Authority Brands

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Stewart Vernon, Founder and COO of ASP - America's Swimming Pool Company Franchise

Stewart Vernon

Stewart C. Vernon is the Founder of America’s Swimming Pool Company (ASP), the nation’s largest swimming pool cleaning, repair, and renovation franchise system. Post-acquisition of his company by Authority Brands in 2019, Vernon moved into the role of Executive Vice President at Authority Brands, in charge of their Emerging Brands division. Over his career, Vernon was a founding partner of various other business ventures: Founding startups such as Classic Overland (a car import company), KUDU Outdoor Grills, and Central Piedmont Investment Group. As well as actively investing in many entrepreneurial ventures along the way: VS Investment properties, 428 Second Street, Timber Lane Farm, South River Mist, 4 Eyes Holdings, Splash Investments, and others. In addition, Mr. Vernon is a professional speaker with experience in serving as a keynote speaker for occasions, as well as a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs.

America’s Swimming Pool Company

133

Franchise Territories

163

Franchise Partners

26

States

Stewart C. Vernon is the Founder of ASP – America’s Swimming Pool Company, the nation’s largest swimming pool cleaning, repair, and renovation franchise system.

Founded in Macon Georgia in 2002, the business was born out of the need to provide a higher quality swimming pool company to customers in Vernon’s hometown. Upon launching the business and experiencing rapid growth at the flagship location in Macon, Ga., Vernon looked for a way to expand both the business model and the ASP brand.

In 2005 ASP Franchising, Inc. was formed, and the company had its first two franchise owners in place. Vernon and his company quickly began to fill a void in the swimming pool service sector. The model for franchise expansion was built by partnering with business-minded individuals who wanted to start their own venture, needing a business road map to follow. As the franchise model expanded its training, its support, and its brand, the reach of the company expanded and the Southeast was no longer its boundary. Currently, ASP has 163 franchise partners who own and operate franchise locations in 26 states, covering more than 400 cities Nationwide.

ASP has become a leader in the swimming pool arena, while also rising in the ranks of the national franchise spotlight. ASP’s success has been recognized by its inclusion in the rankings of Entrepreneur Magazine’s prestigious Top 500 Franchise List. Most recently, recognized again with the Entrepreneur 500 list ranking number 197 for 2023.

Stewart Vernon with ASP franchise owners at 2020 Owners Meeting.

View More of Stewart Vernon In The Media
ASP - America's Swimming Pool Company Ranked in 2021 Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500
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Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative

Community Involvement

In addition to the leadership role, Mr. Vernon plays as COO of ASP he has also spoken at various business venues during his career, emphasizing the power of entrepreneurship. Specifically featured: Wesleyan College, College of Charleston, Georgia Tech Business School, Mercer University – as well as delivering the keynote at the annual ASP Owners Meeting for the previous 15 years.

Aside from his business activities, Mr. Vernon also devotes his time to serving the community. Since 2019 Vernon has served on the boards of The Macon Rescue Mission, the College of Charleston Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, and Stratford Academy (his high school alma mater).

Vernon also has a passion for helping drive real-world innovation. In 2013 Vernon formed a 501-C(4) called 478BibbFund, Inc. A non-profit entity that provides micro-grants for new ideas in the Bibb County area, for nothing in return other than the hope that a new business is born. In 2015, Stewart accepted the role of “Entrepreneur in Residence” at the Mercer University Stetson School of Business and Economics teaching an ongoing course titled, Seminar in Entrepreneurship. Further, Mercer has empowered Stewart to help launch the Mercer Innovation Center, which will provide hopeful entrepreneurs and innovators a place to develop ideas and businesses. In 2017, he led the commencement speech for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a program of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. Stewart has held the distinct honor of being a guest lecturer at various academic institutions, including Wesleyan University, Macon, GA.-Women in Entrepreneurship and Business, Georgia Tech Business School-Product Delivery & Entrepreneurship Class, and College of Charleston-Seminar in Entrepreneurship, Tommy Baker Entrepreneurship Hour and Leadership in Entrepreneurship Class. Stewart’s other speaking events include the 2017 Franchise Leadership & Development Conference and the British Swim School franchise conference. He is also a founding partner of Classic Overland, KUDU Outdoor Grills, and Central Piedmont Investment Group, an Angel Investment Firm.

He is married to Shannon Vernon, and they have two children: Stewart Jr, and Sloan.

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