Art Allen named 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year

news release

2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Art Allen Photographed on Friday, January 22, 2021, on the Massey Campus in Fort Pierce.

Art Allen, President, A&G Concrete Pools, Inc., has been named Entrepreneur of the Year for 2021 by Indian River State College (IRSC) Foundation. Allen will be honored on Thursday, March 24, 2022, with a gala dinner held at the Richardson Center, located at IRSC Mueller Campus in Vero Beach.

With the vision of building a company that provides first-rate customer service and a positive work environment for its employees, Art founded A&G Concrete Pools, Inc. in 1987. Under his leadership, the company grew from a small garage-based startup to an award-winning leader in the multi-billion-dollar international pool building industry with more than $27 million in annual sales last year. Today, A&G Concrete Pools, Inc. is the largest pool builder in Florida and is ranked 38th nationally.

The company has received national recognition, holding the designation as a “Top 50 Pool Builder in America” by Pool & Spa News. Additionally, A&G Concrete Pools, Inc. is a member of the invitation-only Master Pools Guild. Only 100 pool builders in the world meet the exceptional standards enforced by the Guild. The company has received more than 100 Master Pools Guild Awards—earning five awards in 2019 alone.

Art attributes much of his success to his employees, and it was important to him to ensure his employees received good salaries, health insurance, and benefits. True to this commitment, in 1997, Art started a company-matched employee 401K and began offering health insurance.

Art and his wife Sandee give their time, talent, and treasure to support numerous worthwhile causes on the Treasure Coast and encourage a philanthropic spirit in the company. The 100 Club (First Responders), Humane Society, HANDS Clinic, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Treasure Coast Food Bank, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Martin and St. Lucie counties, are among the numerous organizations they support.

Art and Sandee reside in Port St. Lucie. They have five children, Stacey, Rae, John, Amber, and Aaron, and five grandchildren.

Marine Bank & Trust is the Networking Reception Sponsor for the Entrepreneur of the Year gala honoring Art Allen. Strategic Alliance Table Sponsors are: George E. Warren LLC, Paul Jacquin & Sons, Proctor Construction Company, and Bob and Carmen Stork. Innovation Partners are: Bob and Sandy Brackett; Mike and Mimi Brown; Tim Girard, Girard Equipment; Hometown Media Group, Brenda and Vernon Smith; Dr. Richard and Mrs. Pam Houghten; John N. and Marilyn P. McConnell Charitable Foundation; Erik and Julia Melville; J. Hal Roberts; and Linda T. Syfrett.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award program recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit, business excellence, and community involvement—central elements of the Dan K. Richardson Entrepreneurship Program established by IRSC Foundation and 13 other founding members to promote awareness and appreciation of the free enterprise system.

For more information, contact Indian River State College Foundation at 772-462-4786.

Past Entrepreneurs of the Year

2020—Robert “Bob” Stork, founder and CEO of Communications International (Ci),

2019—Michael “Mike” Brown, Retired CEO Harbor Community Bank and Director, CenterState Bank

2018—Allen Osteen, East Coast Lumber

2017—Timothy Girard, Girard Equipment

2016—Scott Deal, Maverick Boat Group

2015—Bobby and Marygrace Sexton, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company

2014—Ronald L. Edwards, Evans Properties

2013—Thomas L. Corr, George E. Warren Corporation

2012—Jim Coffey*, Commercial Realtor and Developer, Earman Oil

2011—Dr. Richard A. Houghten, Torrey Pines Institute of Molecular Studies