Meet The Team
Prestigious and well-respected Team of highly trained and experienced professionals.
Joseph M. Vassallo, CBP PHTA Fellow FOUNDER/PRESIDENT
Author, designer, entrepreneur and innovator, Joseph Vassallo’s talents extend well beyond his award winning firm, Paragon Pools of Las Vegas, NV, benefiting the industry and consumers across the globe, garnering him the distinct recognition of 2012 CBP of the Year from the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) formally the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) Builders Council and in 2014 induction into the PHTA Fellows.
Founder and president of the custom in-ground, commercial and residential construction company, Vassallo’s innovative design concepts and business acumen have been celebrated in a multitude of arenas; from consumer and business publications, to electronic media and on the world-wide web. His eagerness to employ “special materials” has resulted in major trend-setting applications.
Vassallo and his projects have been showcased in many television segments including an HGTV special. He is now featured on HGTV.com Designer's Showcase. The firm’s project list includes pools for major hotels, casino moguls, celebrated chefs, celebrities, luxury home tours and multiple man-made lake renovations. Vassallo has served on local, regional and national boards for the PHTA.
He has served many years on the PHTA National Builders Council, and Builders Education Committee and was a contributor to the association’s foremost technical publication, the Builders Manual 3rd & 4th Editions. One of few world-wide to earn the Certified Building Professional (CBP) credentials notes him as one of the pool industry’s elite. Vassallo has made a mark in the industry; he presents seminars for international symposiums, contributes to technical manuals, mentors novice designers and is a consultant to financial investors. He works with local, state and national legislators impacting licensing, standards, building codes, and safety regulations. Highly editorialized, media reporters seek out Vassallo’s insight on topics ranging from design, to safety, trends and legislative issues for feature stories.
Contributing writer for Nevada’s largest newspaper, the Las Vegas Review Journal, his articles on pools and spas provides readers with information on an array of aquatic related subjects including construction, maintenance, entertainment, trends and safety.
His humanitarian works involving educational and water safety programs including the popular Float Like A Duck™ water safety initiate have earned numerous accolades including the President’s Council on Sports Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award, Governor’s Point of Light Award, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) Community Lifesaver Award, Citizen of Distinction, The Jefferson Award, the Golden Hands Service Award, and the Kidde Hero of the Week.
Paragon Pools is the ONLY independent builder in the state of Nevada to be named to the AQUA 100, Best Pool Companies in the Nation, five years consecutively, and to the Aqua 100 Hall of Fame. Vassallo’s AquaTekture won “Best Pool” in the 2009 Las Vegas Parade of Homes, luxury home tour. And he was named Master of Design by Pool and Spa News in 2009 and in 2019.
His book The Al Fresco Life: Pools, Spas, Bars & Kitchens, a design and lifestyle book exclusively featuring projects from the Paragon Pools portfolio was released in 2008 by Schiffer Publishing. He is also the co-author of a four-book pool awards design series: International Award Winning Pools, Spas and Water Environments.
Joseph A. Vassallo, CBP VP/CHIEF DESIGN EXECUTIVE
Joseph A. Vassallo serves as the Vice President & Chief Design Executive of Paragon Pools. He began his career in the swimming pool industry as a young teen assisting his father with pool and landscape designs. He found enjoyment in the challenge of conceiving and developing pool and landscape plans to complement the home’s architecture and restrictive plot layouts while designing a fabulous custom design for the homeowner.
Following high school, he studied architecture, marketing and small business management at the College of Southern Nevada. He has continued to further his professional and technical skills with PSI Leadership Seminars, Tom Hopkins Seminars, Auto CAD-2000, 3-D training, PHTA University curriculum, and industry business and technical CEU’s.
Mr. Vassallo’s architectural talents facilitate the conception of complete habitats whereby the pool, landscape, decking, patios, play and entertainment areas are designed together to give the yard a total harmonious appearance. The result is Vassallo’s work being featured in estate homes, luxury home tours and a long list of international design awards. Vassallo’s AquaTekture won “Best Pool” in the 2009 Las Vegas Parade of Homes luxury home tour. And, he was named Master of Design by Pool and Spa News in 2009, 2019 and 2021.
He is one of few worldwide to earn the industry’s elite Certified Building Professional (CBP) credentials presented by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) formally the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP). And, he passed the Nevada State Contractors Board exam earning him the accreditation of Qualified Expert (QE) in the state.
Mr. Vassallo served on the PHTA Education Committee and was a contributor to the PHTA Builder’s Manual 3rd & 4th Editions. He also assisted in the development of curriculum for advanced studies presented at international expos. The PHTA named Vassallo “Builder of the Year” in 2021. Paragon Pools Las Vegas is the only pool company in the nation to have two recipients of the PHTA Builder of the Year Award.
Mr. Vassallo is co-author of the book Award-Winning Pools, Spas and Water Environments IV. His works have been featured in numerous industry publications, including a 4-page spread in the inaugural issue of Waves Magazine: India’s pool, spa and bath publication.
In 2011, VEGAS, Inc. (formally InBusiness Las Vegas) named Vassallo to the “40 Under 40,” noted top young professionals in Las Vegas. He was also named to the Distinguished Women & Men in Nevada in 2012 & 2015.
Paragon Pools is the only independent builder in the state of Nevada to be named to the AQUA 100 Best Pool Companies in the Nation, five years consecutively, and to receive the Aqua 100 Hall of Fame. Paragon Pools was also honored in the Nevada Business Journal- Family Owned Businesses Awards.
The World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC) showcased a unique art exhibit at their 2015 annual symposium entitled Legendary Pools Aquatic Art Exhibit. Only 10 pools were featured in the exhibit, two of which were projects by Paragon Pools.
A community-minded business professional, Mr. Vassallo, has donated time and resources to support numerous fundraisers and non-profit ventures including the company’s signature award-winning Float Like A Duck, water safety initiative.
In 2015, Paragon Pools was selected to participate in the Clark County Summer Business Institute (SBI) program, providing a Magnet high school student with a paid internship. The student was interested in engineering and 3-D modeling. Working directly under the supervision of Vassallo, the student became proficient in 3-D modeling and became a valuable asset to the Paragon Pools’ team.
As Vice President, his responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company, and business development. As Chief Design Executive, he establishes the standards, criteria and creative direction for design concepts with a focus on innovation, user experience and the utilization of cutting-edge equipment and products to meet or exceed industry standards in design and construction of pools and spas.
Trish Johnson Office Manager
A long-time Las Vegan, Trish Johnson has over 22 years experience in the construction industry in the valley. An honors graduate of Valley High School, she went on to study business administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Johnson began her career in the pool building industry in 1992. Beginning with Tango Pools, Johnson was the Executive Assistant and then Senior Sales Administrator, where she was responsible for various administrative, advertising, financial, sales, accounting, payroll and job construction related activities.
In 1999, she joined Paddock Pools where she became the Office Manager for the Nevada Construction Office. Her duties included payroll processing, accounting, permitting, financing, job costing, construction scheduling, and overseeing the entire office staff. Johnson’s multifaceted experience in the swimming pool industry makes her an invaluable asset to Paragon Pools.
She has superior knowledge of permitting in the different municipalities across the Las Vegas Valley, and vast understanding of codes and regulations pertaining to both permits and inspections. She is well respected by the local sub-contractors as well as with members of the homebuilder industry, who respond quickly to her inquiries and sensitive construction timelines. An extremely organized individual, Johnson also brings with her a wide range of computer knowledge. She is competent in numerous computer applications including: Microsoft Windows XP Pro and Publisher, Word, Excel, AS 400 and 2000, Promation and Quickbooks accounting software.
Trish maintains project scheduling and files online for all of Paragon Pools' jobs, accessible from the company's iPhones and iPads, for the entire staff. She also finds the Internet and e-mail to be effective research and communication tools. Trish has taken several professional training courses including: Skill Path Leadership Seminars, Public Speaking, and Professional Correspondence Courses. She is also a certified Notary Public.
As Office Manager for Paragon Pools she is responsible for overseeing all administrative needs for the company, as well as managing, processing and scheduling jobs.
Craig Sallender Construction Manager
Born in Amarillo, Texas, Craig’s family moved to Southern California when he was five. He attended Rim of The World High School where he played sports and had the opportunity to study custom home construction.
Upon graduation, he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the military. He spent 4 years in the U.S. Army as a Medic in an Armored Battalion based out of Ft Hood, Texas, obtaining the rank of Specialist E-4 and earning multiple awards of merit prior to being honorably discharged and returning home to Southern California.
Craig credits his parent’s encouragement and many years of team sports as well as his time spent serving in the military for his “can do” and “every challenge is an opportunity” attitude.
Craig is a 25+ year veteran is the swimming pool construction industry. His hands-on experience includes the entire building process from design, to excavation and start-up. Craig relishes the construction process; taking the project from conception to realization, and then experiencing the elation of the owner when their project is complete.
In 2014, Craig earned an Associate’s Degree in Network Systems Administration (NSA) from ITT Technical Institute in Henderson Nevada. The program included courses on how to create and manage all aspects of computer networks from servers, to database creation and management, to email configuration, as well as other processes. This knowledge has proved valuable in the pool construction industry with the hi-tech features and programming of modern pools and spas.
Mike Paradis Construction Manager
A Las Vegas native, Paradis is a second-generation aquatic professional. Acquiring over 35-years’ experience in the industry, Paradis began his journey in the 80’s as a pool plumber’s assistant in the family business.
Spending years mastering the plumbing component of pool construction, he then moved on to working with an electrical contractor gaining insight into wiring pools and spas. In 2001, he joined Arizona based Paddock Pools as the in-house pool plumber/electrician for the Las Vegas division.
Paradis opened MP Pool Plumbing in 2006, servicing residential and commercial pool construction projects. During that period, his company plumbed a multitude of swimming pools, spas and water features across the Vegas valley. His client list included projects for noted celebrities as well as numerous aquatic amenities for major casinos on the Las Vegas strip.
In 2019, Paradis joined Paragon Pools as a Construction Manager following the release of MP Pool Plumbing to an associate. His years of experience and insight into the hi-tech amenities available to modern pools makes him extremely valuable in managing the complex designs crafted by Paragon Pools.
