Kingfish Pools founder Billy Gunzburg has had an
appreciation for pools since he started working as a lifeguard
in high school. This early experience led him to a job at a
swimming pool retail store, where he stocked shelves but quickly
demonstrated a talent for sales. In his first year, he became the
top salesperson for above-ground pools.

Billy wanted to learn everything he could about the swimming
pool industry, so he took a hands-on approach to gain knowledge
and experience. Thus, he began cleaning and repairing pools on his
off days to learn the industry’s fundamentals. He was also pursuing
a marketing degree at the University of New Orleans during this
time, but his pool business was growing rapidly. Managing school
and two jobs was busy, but Billy embraced it. Looking back, he
recalls the joy of first working for himself, “I remember working in
the dark with headlamps. I was so excited.”

After Hurricane Katrina, Billy became even busier, draining
and renovating flooded pools. His business was doing well, and
he reveled in his self-employed status but found himself at a
crossroads. With only three semesters left in college, Billy boldly
decided to focus on his dream. “I couldn’t wait another day to
become the best swimming pool company New Orleans had ever
seen,” he says of those early years. His dream became a reality,
and Kingfish Pools was born.

Setting itself apart, Kingfish Pools takes pride in its all-in
house construction team, a concept Billy modeled after successful
companies in Florida, California, and Arizona. Unlike most pool
vendors who outsource various stages of the pool building process,
Kingfish Pools manages every part of the building process. “When
you Hire Kingfish Pools, we want the customer to have a team
under one name to build, renovate, repair, and service your
swimming pool,” Billy explains. This approach allows Billy and his
team meticulous oversight, ensuring each project meets their high
standards. Equipped with its own heavy machinery, Kingfish Pools
can build up to two pools a week, making them the largest volume
builder in Louisiana.

In terms of design, Billy has noticed a shift towards smaller,
geometrically shaped pools featuring amenities like tanning ledges
and built-in benches for a more relaxed, spa-like experience. His
company takes pride in customizing each pool to match the client’s
lifestyle and home aesthetic, creating backyard environments that are
an extension of the home. While balancing high-quality materials and
customer budgets can be challenging, Billy remains committed to
offering top-notch pools that stand the test of time.
When not overseeing Kingfish Pools’ operations, Billy
indulges in home renovation projects, a passion that is similar to
his love for transforming backyards. He also enjoys boxing, a sport
he’s been involved in since childhood.