Fort Wayne – November 04, 2026 -- Bob Lauter, chairman of MasterSpas and co-founder of the company in 1996, has been named a 2026 inductee into the Hot Tub Hall of Fame. He will be inducted on Monday, November 16, 2026, at the PHTA Awards of Excellence at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Lauter joins Aqua Quip's Brian Quint as 2026 honoree
Quint, former co-owner and president of Seattle-area retailer Aqua Quip, will be inducted alongside Lauter. SpaRetailer magazine created the Hall of Fame in 2024 with the International Hot Tub Association. It recognizes people across manufacturing, retail, supply, associations and support services who helped advance, improve or protect the industry.
MasterSpas grew into the largest swim spa maker under Lauter
Lauter entered the spa industry in 1979 by starting a spa distribution business within W.W. Adcock. After leadership roles at Fort Wayne Pools and L.A. Spas, he co-founded MasterSpas with Terry Valmassoi. The two built the company through dealer relationships, sales training, marketing and product development.
Under Lauter, MasterSpas became the largest swim spa manufacturer globally and the largest maker of hot tubs built in the USA. The company has partnered with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps since 2010, a tie-up that helped expand the swim spa market. Lauter served as CEO until the end of 2022 and remains chairman of the board.
Kevin Richards, CEO of MasterSpas, said Lauter showed that lasting success comes from "putting people and relationships at the center of the business."
Lauter spent six years leading the International Hot Tub Association
Lauter led the International Hot Tub Association, the industry's leading trade organization, as president or chairman for six years. He worked with other manufacturers on safety standards and industry-wide issues. He also championed MasterSpas Cares, the charitable program through which the company and its dealers support national organizations.
Hall of Fame joins a list of awards including Ernst & Young honor
Lauter's earlier honors include the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals INSPIRE Award, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. In 2018, he was inducted into the Greater Fort Wayne Business Hall of Fame.