Our ADI Team

Aden, our captain and leader, is full of many talents and represents an impressive background. He began his journey in the world of aquatics in 1996 at Patio Pools and Spas and spent a whopping five years perfecting the art of selling pool-related items and mastering water chemistry. At the end of his time there, nobody could say he was wet behind the ears. 

His career took a delightful twist when he decided to try his hand at drafting for the Commercial Construction and Sales Division of Patio Pools. We like to imagine him with a cartoonishly large pencil behind his ear as he drew his first grand poolside dreamscape.

And then his big moment came in 2003 when he, along with partners Dave Acklin and Ken Paulson, decided to launch ADI. Together, they brought multiple years of design and engineering to their new business, and twenty years later, ADI stands heads above the competition by how well they serve their customers. 

Also – just when you thought Aden couldn’t possibly have any more degrees up his sleeve – he surprised us all with not one but two master’s degrees (sheesh!) He has a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Healthcare Administration. So, in addition to being our favorite pool enthusiast and drafting guru, he’s also the one who answers all our health-related water aerobics questions!

ADI owes its existence and success to the vision of Dave Acklin, our resident aqua-magician. Back in 1980, Dave decided to dive headfirst into the watery world of aquatics and design. Little did he know that he’d wear multiple hats over the years.

Dave’s career reads like an epic novel – from acting as the National Sales Manager to a leading commercial pool equipment company (seriously, he could sell a pool noodle to a fish), to being the Vice President of Construction for a top-notch pool building empire in Hawaii and Arizona.

He’s been all over the aquatics spectrum from tinkering with pool widgets in manufacturing to mastering the delicate art of specialized water treatment. His knowledge of mechanical filtration and sanitation systems is so impressive that our clients keep coming back for more.

Dave’s attention to detail and kind spirit is what makes ADI’s clients feel like they’ve won the design lottery. As you look with awe at our past projects, remember it’s a huge thanks to Dave who pours his heart into everything he touches.

Terry is our academic extraordinaire and has stacked up more degrees than a deck of playing cards at a poker table! Starting his aquatic career in 2018, he’s not just a pool pro but a certified AutoCAD MEP instructor at a local community college. 

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and took his academic journey to Clark University where he earned a Master of Science in GIS. Honestly, he’s so good with maps, even GPS systems ask him for directions. 

And, for additional bragging rights, he rounded out his education with a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) from the University of Arizona. With Terry on our team, you’ll be in excellent hands as we delve into your project!

Rick, formally the man of deep sea adventures, spent 17 years as a Sonar Technician in the U.S. Navy. In 1993, he decided to make a career pivot into the world of aquatics, leaving nuclear deterrence behind for the glory of Valhalla that follows all Pool Vikings. He joined Patio Pools and Spas and we suspect he may have tried to turn the kiddie pools into mini-submarines (unconfirmed).

In 2012, Rick joined our team at ADI, bringing his insane organizational skills with him. He’s the document control guru, the RFI expert, the submittal reviewer, the permitting pro, and the mastermind behind specification writing.

Few staff members have so many responsibilities while keeping a watchful eye on our production, making sure each client feels taken care of and all paperwork is submitted. Rick’s transition from submarines to ADI is a true adventure story, and we’re glad to have him on deck with us.

Tom has spent most of his life in Arizona, and earned his B.A. in Humanities from Northern Arizona University and an M.S. in Planning from the University of Arizona.
As our Operations Manager, Tom’s primary mission is to keep all our projects in good order and moving forward with the whole team. He’s behind the scenes, making sure everything goes smoothly and without complication. With over 26 years of project management experience under his belt, he’s practically our project lifeguard!
His career has taken him on a ride through the desert – managing projects for the City of Tucson Parks Department, the City of Tucson Transportation Department, and the Pima Association of Governments/RTA.
Tom’s multifaceted career makes him vital to our team and enhances our client’s experience with us. If there’s one thing he’s passionate about, it’s collaborating with team members and clients alike to bring an idea to life.

Tammy is our financial wizard who decided to leave the banking industry to join all things in the aquatics world. She made a huge splash while working for Patio Pools in Spas in 1998 before jumping ship to ADI in 2008.

Aside from crunching numbers and checking our cash flow, Tammy is our admin guru we all rely on. Her organizational skills are top-notch and her positivity is like a sunbeam on a cloudy day. Her attention to detail is sharp, and we consider her the glue that keeps us all together.

Tammy doesn’t just manage our finances and assist in business development, she is the embodiment of positivity and professionalism. We’re fortunate to have her as a key member of our firm!

Steven has been invested in the aquatics industry for over two decades and has worked at more pool places than a lifeguard with a caffeine addiction. After his time with ArchPac Aquatics, Inc. and Mission Pools, he decided to join ADI in 2022.
His background is diverse as he’s dabbled in design and construction – which in our industry is rare and invaluable. Steven has a heart for the aquatic world and has a knack for drafting and design that’s almost as strong as his love for his wife and daughter, tank tops, and beer league softball. Combine that with his impressive industry experience, and you have someone who is the perfect fit for our team.
With Steven part of our firm, we’re meeting and exceeding our client’s expectations!

Gaea, our CAD Queen, earned her crown at Pima Community College with an AS in Computer Aided Design and a Certificate as a Computer Aided Drafting Technician. After spending five years as the office manager for a pool service and renovation company, she joined the ADI team in 2022.
Not only are her customer service skills exceptional, her organizational talents are so spot-on that we suspect she color-codes the clothes in her closet. And her attention to detail? Razor sharp!
It’s not just about design and architecture for Gaea, she has a deep-rooted love for landscape design. She’s our favorite person to consult about fabulous landscaping and natural surroundings in our projects. Gaea makes ADI a little more special every day she’s here.

The youngest member of our team, Taylor, began his ADI journey as a part-time wonder, quickly proving he can design three-dimensional mechanical filtration and sanitation systems during a lunch break and still ace his college classes.
His love for AutoCAD LT and MEP started back in 2015 and grew him into an extraordinary drafter. And in 2021, he joined ADI full-time!
While he may not have as many years under his belt as our seasoned pros, his zest for learning is so contagious and encouraging. With Taylor around, our designs are taking new heights (he’s single, by the way).

Our hometown hero from Tucson, Siobhan is no stranger to the design world. Originally studying Interior Design, she realized it sparked a passion for drafting.

She has not one but two certificates from Pima Community College – a Certificate in Computer Aided Drafting Technician (CAD) and another in Architectural Drafting Revit. At this point, we’re pretty sure she could draft a blueprint for a stylish cabana with her eyes closed.

In 2023, we were lucky enough to snag Siobhan for our team. Her bubbly joy and enthusiasm is infectious to the rest of us. With her positive attitude and determination, we’re thankful to have her as an asset on our team.

Matthew holds two degrees from Pima Community College – an AS in Computer Aided Design and an AA in Liberal Arts. Before joining ADI in 2023, Matthew served as a tutor at a local community college, helping students learn CAD (while they’ll miss their favorite tutor, we’re pretty excited to have him).
Now that he’s part of our team, we’re thankful for him working his computer magic with his CAD and MEP skills. He brings a vast array of knowledge that we couldn’t do without.
With Matthew in our mix, ADI’s drafting game got that much better and our designs are that much cleaner.

From the land of politicians and perpetual traffic jams in Washington DC, Brandon decided the real action was in Tucson!
He’s earned himself an Associates Degree in Video Production at the Art Institute of Washington. Sometimes we like to imagine his graduation ceremony had multiple camera angles and those neat pixelated transitions!
Before joining our team at ADI in 2023, he worked as an intern at Moviola Education Center in Los Angeles. While we’re not sure if he ever bumped into a celebrity there, we’re pretty sure he mastered the art of avoiding the 405.
He’s proficient in Final Cut Pro X and The Adobe Creative Suite. And you know he’s a pro when you realize his keyboard shortcuts have their OWN keyboard shortcuts.
After a decade of honing his craft, he joined our team as our marketing and digital media manager. With his skills and grit, we know he’ll make ADI’s web presence unforgettable.

A former US Army veteran, Brad decided to trade in his camouflage gear for aquatic design in 2008 when he began working at Patio Pools and Spas. In 2015, he joined the ADI team and brought his army precision to every project he’s touched.
But here’s the deal – Brad is a multifaceted talent. Not only can he teach you all things design and water, but he’s a whiz at mechanical filtration and sanitation design. On top of that, he possesses the knowledge of commercial aquatic experience in both design AND construction.
In the grand scheme of ADI, Brad is our drafting MVP. We’re thankful for his many talents and willingness to think strategically and out of the box.

As our newest Chief Technical Officer, Mark is our Odin. Our deity overseer of Pool Valhalla if you will. Mark Owens joins the ADI team with industry experience that began in 1982 and has extensive training and experience in service, repair, and construction involving nearly every mechanical filtration and sanitation system manufacturer in the industry. In addition to being a pool wizard, he mentors local high school robotics teams to give back to the community. His experience, intelligence, and desire to elevate those around him are, without hyperbole, invaluable assets to both ADI and our customers.

Meet Travis Wheeler, our new Chief Strategy Officer at Aqua Design International. With a career that’s been more fluid than water itself, Travis has navigated the corporate strategy world in similar positions over the last 25 years including Deloitte Consulting, Eskel Porter Consulting, and First American Financial as the VP of Strategic Initiative for the Fortune 500 company. Talk about a captain of his industry!
But there’s more. Travis has a keen eye for entrepreneurship and has built two businesses, one a staffing company and the other a strategy/operational management advisory firm. Sure, neither of these ventures involved aquatics, but they sure required some deep strategic swimming.
Educationally speaking, Travis is a double-threat, holding a B.S. in Business Administration from San Diego State University and two master’s degrees from the University of Southern California. And (as if he could get ANY cooler) he’s a master of executive strategic planning courses through Palladium.
At ADI, we’re proud to navigate the architectural waters with Travis at our side.

Jacob is one of our insanely talented young CAD specialists who works on complex projects both big and small, and he’s a fantastic team player. Growing up in Tucson, he graduated from the University of Arizona in 2019 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He is an EIT (engineer in training) but on his way to becoming a full PE (Professional Engineer) in the near future.
When he’s not in the office, he does yoga instruction for sororities (if you were as nice and good looking as Jacob, so would you), and enjoys cooking/eating, architecture, Tucson neighborhood and residential design, sustainable design, and permaculture. He also enjoys international travel in Europe, Central America, and the great American West as an avid hiker and camper.