Premier Franchise Management
| Position | Name | Biography | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner / CEO | Paul Porter | [email protected] | N/A |
| President | Aaron Gurley | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| VP of Sales | Brian Porter | [email protected] | N/A |
| VP of Fiberglass | Josh Rickaby | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Events & Trips Coordinator | Kristin Porter | [email protected] | N/A |
| Marketing Director | Rebecca Steinbach | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Marketing Coordinator | Becca Rappleye | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Director of Franchisee Recruitment | Bart Zacks | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Construction Director | Kevin Nicklas | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| IT Director | Kyle Porter | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Web Developer | Shaquan Kelly | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Graphic Designer | Chrissy Langston | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Video Producer | Sarah Ramalho | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| CFO | Mike Donovan | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Senior Accountant | Ryan Osterback | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Franchise Development Coordinator | Emily Rivera | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Premier Build Coordinator | Lindsay Brasier | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Administrative Assistant | Julia Chin | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Event Coordinator | Melanie Wise | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| Webstore | Christy Gurley | [email protected] | N/A |
| Processing Manager | Justin Rockwell | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| CAD Technician | JT Borba | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| CAD Technician | Trevor Beeby | [email protected] | Read Bio |
| CAD Technician | Scott Miller | [email protected] | Read Bio |
Sarah Ramalho - Biography
Video Producer
Sarah grew up in Derby, Connecticut, and graduated from Liberty University in Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree in digital media, focusing on video production. Sarah has been producing digital content for the Premier Franchise Management team since July 2020. When she’s not in the office editing video, you can find her shooting footage of local pool builds. She is always looking for new pool footage and encourages franchisees to send her clips of their best pool projects. Off the clock, Sarah enjoys cooking, movies, and challenging everyone she can to a game of badminton.
Fun fact: In 2017, she won an award for Cinematography from Adobe.
Lindsay Brasier - Biography
Premier Build Coordinator
Lindsay grew up in Brentwood, California, and eventually moved to Sacramento for a fresh start. Soon after, Lindsay started working for Premier as an administrative assistant and has since worked her way up to Premier Build Coordinator. Her position allows her to learn new things every day, particularly about the pool industry she loves. Lindsay’s hobbies include playing board games, baking, and spending time with her husband, two kids, and their dogs.
Fun fact: Lindsay is a huge animal lover and would love to open an animal rescue someday.
Becca Rappleye - Biography
Marketing Coordinator
Born in Grass Valley, California, Becca has achieved a lot in her short life so far. After graduating from Sacramento State in 2019 and getting married in August 2020, she moved to Sacramento, where she became Premier’s marketing coordinator, producing leads for franchisees, managing their social media, and creating Facebook ads. Becca considers Premier one of her biggest blessings. Her love of pools also extends to bigger bodies of water–you can find her and her husband spending their free time visiting Lake Tahoe.
Fun fact: She once went skydiving at one of California’s riskiest skydive centers, not knowing about the frequent accidents until after.
Justin Rockwell - Biography
Justin was born and raised in Dolores, Colorado, and has an Associate’s Degree in drafting/CAD technology. Justin is in charge of the CAD/Plans Department, where he supervises redline plans, checks incoming packets, and answers questions regarding the drafting team. Justin and his team have an eye for detail as they work hard to transform blueprints. CAD technology isn’t Justin’s only interest–he also enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and racquetball.
Fun fact: He was a part of a search and rescue team and was featured in Scholastic Reader after raising his German shepherd to be a search dog.
Chrissy Langston - Biography
Graphic Designer
Born in Italy and raised in Colorado Springs, Chrissy graduated from UC Merced and began working for Premier the following year. She’s designed everything from Premier’s business cards and logos to artwork for events and brochures. With her skills and creative mind, Chrissy is a force to be reckoned with. In her own words, she is “sassy, but classy.” When she isn’t busy working her magic, she enjoys rock climbing, playing video games, and photography.
Fun fact: Chrissy is the youngest of 10 siblings.
Bart Zacks - Biography
Bart was born in England but spent most of his life on this side of the pond, living in Canada and Florida. For the past 27 years, he has called California his home. Since April 2018, he’s been with Premier Franchise Management as Director of Franchise Development. Bart assesses over 100 potential franchisees each month to find those fit to own a Premier franchise and assists them with onboarding. If you need help with franchising, Bart’s your guy.
Fun fact: Bart doesn’t have an English accent.
Trevor Beeby - Biography
CAD Technician
Trevor was raised in Antelope, California, and after attending Center High School, he graduated from Sierra College with a Certificate in General Engineering. He has been a part of Premier’s small but mighty CAD team since February 2021. His workday consists of drawing up pool plans for franchise locations. When he isn’t at work, you can find him participating in various outdoor recreational activities, such as golfing, snowboarding, traveling, and photography.
Fun fact: You can catch Trevor in a few Top Golf advertisements and even a TV documentary.
Mike Donovan - Biography
Mike was born in Lompoc, California, but was raised in Fremont, CA. His educational background is impressive, attending San Jose State University, National University, and Golden Gate University. His education led him to a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Science degree in Taxation. While he started working at Premier Franchise Management as a CFO in April of 2019, his time with the company dates back to 1990. He currently oversees all financial and tax matters of the company, including many franchisees. As a family man, his interests outside of work include spending time with Kim, his wife of 44 years, his children, and his 11 grandchildren. He also plays tennis, a hobby he’s had since high school.
Fun fact: Mike and Kim have worked together on humanitarian projects that include helping hospitals with newborn care and providing villages with fresh water supply.
Aaron Gurley - Biography
Aaron was born in Mason, Michigan, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Hillsdale College. He has been President of Premier Franchise Management since October 2018. His journey with Premier, however, started with him managing the Sacramento location for almost five years. His day-to-day responsibilities include working closely with those at HQ, working with the company’s national partners, and supporting the needs of each franchise. He’s also been an active member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for over 15 years, currently serving as President of the Northern California Chapter Board. His wife, Christy, and their two daughters also take part in this foundation. Aaron is passionate about anything sports-related (Michigan State, to be specific) and enjoys boating with his family.
Fun fact: He became an ordained minister after being asked to officiate a wedding for a PFM co-worker.
Ryan Osterback - Biography
Ryan was born and raised in San Jose, California, and attended CSU Chico. He has been with the company since July 2020 and works closely with Mike. You can find Ryan working on various accounting projects in the office, including monthly reporting, invoicing, and distributing rebates–each day brings something new for Ryan. When he isn’t working hard, he’s spending time boating, biking, and skiing in the great outdoors.
Fun fact: He once rode his bike around Lake Tahoe.
Rebecca Steinbach - Biography
Director of Marketing
Rebecca was raised in Redwood City, California. She has been with PFM for four years and handles all aspects of the company’s marketing. From managing lead flow to helping each territory grow, Rebecca helps with the success of each franchise. Her time in the pool industry started long before Premier, working alongside her husband for 11 years. If you are looking for marketing guidance for your office, Rebecca has got you covered. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys hiking, swimming, and camping. She, like most of PFM, enjoys the great outdoors.
Fun fact: Her first job was giving swim lessons to the children of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana.
Rebecca Steinbach - Biography
IT Coordinator/Multimedia Director
Kyle grew up in Folsom, California, and ventured into the digital world at 18 after teaching himself web design. In 2017, he began working for PFM, responsible for web design, graphic design, and videography. His position evolved to multimedia director, becoming the company’s tech wizard. His skills have allowed him to perform various tasks, including working on the company’s website and backend systems, working with SEO, and coding for Premier’s mobile apps. He also works alongside the marketing department. Outside of work, you can find him making music, going to shows, brewing beer, and exploring new places.
Fun fact: He has a side business making hot sauce.
Josh Rickaby - Biography
Josh grew up in the small town of Winmalee in Sydney, Australia. He graduated from Southern New Hampshire University in 2021 after studying international business management. He’s been part of PFM since November of 2020 and has traveled all over the country to represent the company. Josh’s work ranges from developing key fiberglass initiatives to branding and product distribution. If you’ve heard of Latham, you’ve probably heard of Josh. When he isn’t busy negotiating with vendors, Josh likes to spend his time cycling, training 14 hours for triathlons, and spending time with his partner, Chrissy, as well as his daughters and stepsons.
Fun fact: Even though he isn’t a fan of heights, he hopes to climb Mount Everest one day.
Scott Miller - Biography
Scott grew up in Roseville, California, home to PFM’s corporate office. He attended ITT Technical Institute, where he was a part of their computer drafting design program for two years, focusing on mechanical engineering. In mid-2021, he joined PFM as a CAD technician, contributing to the work for permit approvals. His interests include mechanical engineering, automobiles, extreme outdoor sports, and traveling. He is also a fan of good food and staying active.
Fun fact: He has a cockatiel named Littlebirdy, who he found and rescued 13 years ago.
Kevin Nichlas - Biography
Kevin grew up in Mineral Wells, Texas, and after graduating high school, enlisted in the Air Force, where he studied avionic electronics. He went on to do fascinating things, from working with tankers and bombers to working and developing new testing procedures for underground tanks. He eventually moved back to Texas and joined PPAS Houston as a construction manager. He held this position for nine years before transitioning to National Construction Director for the company in May 2021. In his current role, he trains and guides franchisees over the phone and on-site. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children and one grandchild. Kevin’s hobbies include hunting, golfing, and fishing–but only if they are biting.
Fun fact: He once built his own house in Colorado, where he skied and participated in competitive team roping.
Shaquan Kelly - Biography
Shaquan was born in San Bernardino, CA and spent most of his adolescent life in Roseville, California. He attended Oakmont High School and later Sierra College. He is one of the newest additions to the Premier family, and while he hasn’t been here long, he has caught on to the company’s ways of doing business. His role at Premier consists of email management and web development. He is a valuable asset to the team and is always ready for what’s thrown his way. When he isn’t working, he likes to read and participate in physical activities such as sports.
Fun fact: He can ride his bike with no handlebars.
Emily Rivera - Biography
Hailing from Long Beach, California, Emily has recently become a member of the Premier family. She works closely with Bart and Brian, doing a little bit of everything. A majority of her work involves potential franchisees, calling leads, and scheduling. Emily likes to read and hike in her off time, and she loves being in the pool or at the lake.
Fun fact: She drives a Honda Rebel 300 motorcycle.
Julia Chin - Biography
Julia is from Roseville, California. She received a BA in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara, where she graduated in 2021. Almost immediately after graduating, she walked into Premier Franchise Management as the newest member. She supports the team by reaching out to new leads, managing job postings for the franchises, assisting with Meet and Greets, and helping day-to-day operations run smoothly. Reading, hiking, yoga, and baking are just a few of the things you can find her doing outside of work.
Fun fact: Julia has read almost 100 books in 2021.
Melanie Wise - Biography
Melanie grew up in McDonough, Georgia, and moved to Tennessee when she was 15. As one of Premier’s newest employees, she assists Debbie with travel arrangements, and Josh Rickaby with franchise communications and improving the accuracy of fiberglass pool shipments. Melanie is the single mom of a beautiful two-year-old named LiliAnna. She enjoys kayaking and going on hikes with her daughter.
Fun Fact: She has a side hustle making children’s clothing and bows.
Nick Coleman - Biography
Originally from Stockton, California, Nick moved to Sacramento ten years ago. He spent twelve years in IT, realizing he needed a more exciting career. From 2016 on, he freelanced as a videographer and then finally turned his lifelong hobby of writing into a career in copywriting. He joined Premier in August of 2021 as their Content Specialist, writing blog posts and providing copy for their brochures and websites. When he’s not writing at work, he’s writing at home, making short films with his friends, and occasionally he’s dragged to a social event by his girlfriend.
Fun Fact: Nick did improv and sketch comedy at the Sacramento Comedy Spot for ten years, and he now teaches comedy filmmaking there on the side.
J.T. Borba - Biography
Born in Modesto, California, J.T. grew up on a beef cattle ranch in Oakdale. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Sacramento State, which he uses as a CAD Technician in the processing department at PPAS. Along with the rest of his team, he turns a salesperson’s drawing into a technical CAD file converted into a PDF used to build or install a pool. J.T. strives to make each Premier pool as premium as possible, and together with his peers, make a splash in the pool industry. He’s happily married and enjoys cooking, baking, biking, kayaking, and board games.
Fun Facts: J.T. is a fraternal twin, older than his brother by one minute.