Wellington’s Grove Family Has Been Taking Care Of Local Pools For 40 Years
By Mike May
For the last 40 years, pool owners across Wellington and beyond have been buying their pool supplies and utilizing the professional expertise of Horizon Pool & Patio to maintain their pools. During that time, the company has become a cornerstone of the community — and looks forward to serving for decades to come.
Founded in 1985 by husband-and-wife team Chuck and Linda Grove, Horizon has grown from a small pool service route into a local institution. Now, the next two generations of the Grove family are helping lead the business, which is located in the Wellington Plaza at the corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and Wellington Trace.
Now 80, Chuck remains active in the company as president, frequently stopping by to lend his expertise, especially on renovation projects. Linda, 78, is retired but still serves as secretary/treasurer.
Their daughter, Jennifer Grove Kenbeek, 55, is vice president and the chief financial officer. Jennifer’s husband John Kenbeek, also 55, is the company’s sales and retail manager. Jennifer’s son, Jordan Grove, 31, is the company’s service manager, and Jennifer’s nephew, Jesse Ballard, 32, is the company’s operations/project manager.
Jennifer has worked at the store since the 1980s when she was in high school. After college, she worked in the finance industry, but returned to Horizon Pool & Patio on a full-time basis in 2005. She became a part owner in 2015.
Jordan started working in the retail store as a young teenager. He moved to service, and then was promoted to service manager. He became a part owner in 2022.
Jesse also started working in the retail store as a young teenager. He moved to repair and then became repair manager. He also became a part owner in 2022. Jesse is the son of Chuck and Linda’s oldest child, Shannon Ballard.
Another key leader is Chad Gardner, the company’s vice president/general manager. He joined Horizon in December 2003. Since then, Chad has held several roles at Horizon, including store manager for years prior to his current position. He is also known for his expertise in pool stain treatment and IT.
John Kenbeek started at Horizon in June 2012 as a service manager. In July 2018, he moved to retail manager before his current role as sales and retail manager.
While Horizon Pool & Patio is now based in Wellington, its current home is not the longtime business’s original location.
“Chuck started the business in 1985 in the plaza at the northwest corner of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards,” Jennifer recalled. “We opened the Wellington store shortly thereafter.”
According to Chuck, the idea of creating a business that provides pool services was not his original idea. He started a solar heating business, which led to solar pool heating, which led to heat pump pool heating. He then decided to start servicing and maintaining pools, which led him to opening the pool store.
“We’re beyond thrilled to reach this incredible milestone,” Chuck said of the company’s recent anniversary. “For the past 40 years, our mission has been to deliver exceptional service, top-quality products and expert advice — helping our valued customers take pride in and fully enjoy their swimming pools and spas. We are so grateful for the loyal customers who have been with us on this journey, and we look forward to continuing to service the western communities for many years to come.”
His wife Linda is equally proud of the work that Horizon has done for its customers since the mid-1980s.
“Since 1985, Horizon Pool & Patio has been a trusted name in the industry, offering expert pool maintenance, renovation services and a retail store that provides everything customers need to care for their pools and spas,” she said. “We want to express our sincere gratitude to Wellington and the western communities for their support. This celebration is a tribute to the strong partnership we have built with our community over the years, and a heartfelt thank you for choosing us for your pool and spa needs.”
Chuck recalled that his first customers were the late Chuck and Susan Schaefer of Schaefer Drugs in Wellington.
“Horizon still services the pool for their daughter, Lauren Henley and her husband Jay,” Chuck noted.
To express the company’s appreciation to its thousands of clients over the last 40 years, Horizon hosted an open house anniversary celebration at its retail location on Saturday, May 24. At this Memorial Day weekend event, local residents were welcomed for a day of festivities, offering the opportunity to meet the team that has been dedicated to providing outstanding pool services for the past four decades.
During the celebration, there were exclusive discounts and promotions, giveaways and free food, which included hamburgers, hot dogs and an ice cream truck. Two of the giveaways were pool cleaners worth more than $600 each. The ice cream truck was donated by Every Child A Swimmer, a local nonprofit working to put an end to childhood drowning. All proceeds from a raffle were donated to help the cause.
The entire management team from Horizon Pool & Patio was there to meet those in attendance.
“We had a great turnout, far exceeding our expectations. It was great to see customers who we had not seen in person in a long time, as well as customers who are in our store every week. We met new customers as well,” Jennifer said. “We also saw many customers meet old friends at the party and spent time catching up over hamburgers, hot dogs, cake and ice cream underneath the food tent. We also were happy to welcome some local dignitaries from Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, including Royal Palm Beach councilwomen Sylvia Sharps and Jan Rodusky, Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone and Councilman John McGovern, and State Rep. Anne Gerwig.”
Horizon Pool & Patio is known for providing a full range of pool and spa-related services, which include pool service and maintenance, pool repairs, pool renovations, new equipment installs, a full retail store with free water tests, and complete pool resurfacing and renovations. The store is open seven days a week.
“Our goal is to keep pools in pristine condition all year long,” Jordan said. “We pride ourselves on quality service and lasting relationships.”
On any given day, Horizon will have seven to eight crew members making personal visits to clean and maintain pools for their customers.
Horizon has a dedicated team of 24 employees committed to keeping pools looking their absolute best through expert service, professional repairs and top-tier renovations, all supported by a fully stocked retail store open seven days a week. The team includes nine service technicians, six administrative staff members, six retail specialists and three repair experts.
Horizon’s repair department is staffed with highly experienced technicians. As an authorized warranty repair center for all major pool equipment manufacturers, Horizon provides high-quality repairs backed by industry-leading warranties.
When it comes to pool renovations, Horizon specializes in turning outdated pools into modern, luxurious aquatic retreats. Their expert renovation services team can modernize pools and spas through custom designs and advanced technology. Horizon offers a vast selection of tiles, pool surfaces and an extensive photo gallery highlighting some of the more than 1,400 of its completed projects. The project managers will even take customers out to see pools that showcase work that they have professionally renovated.
In addition to professional pool services and renovations, Horizon operates a fully stocked retail store in Wellington designed to support pool owners. The store provides a wide selection of chemicals and cleaning equipment, pool accessories and replacement parts, and even does free water tests and offers free expert advice — everything needed to keep pools in shape with ease.
“Whether you’re a seasoned pool owner or just starting, our retail store is a one-stop shop for all your pool and spa needs,” Chuck said. “We’re here to empower DIYers with the right tools, products and expert guidance they need to keep their pools looking and functioning their best.”
As Horizon Pool & Patio moves into its fifth decade, this three-generation, family-owned and operated business looks forward to continuing its legacy of excellence in pool and spa services, renovations, repairs and retail. With a strong focus on delivering outstanding customer experiences and offering the latest innovations in pool care, the company remains committed to helping homeowners enjoy their outdoor spaces for many years to come.
Horizon Pool & Patio is located in the Wellington Plaza at 12785 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite A. Call (561) 790-0665 or visit www.horizonpool.com for more information.
