Today we’d like to introduce you to Austen Ebenger.
Hi Austen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I thought I’d follow in my dad’s footsteps and become a doctor. But my parents pushed me toward my true passion—business. I was fascinated by the stock market as a kid—it felt like a game to me. So, I set my sights on the best business school I could get into, worked my butt off, and somehow made it into Wharton.
I wanted to graduate early to save on costs, so I applied to master’s programs and, in a unique twist, got accepted into an MBA program at just 21. That’s where I discovered something called Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition—basically, buying an existing business instead of starting from scratch. I was all in. My thinking was: What’s the best way to learn how to do this? Work in private equity, which is basically buying and running companies—just on a much larger scale.
After three years in PE, I was ready for the next step. I moved back to Florida—partly because I hated the cold, but mostly to be near family. I lived at home for over a year searching for the right business to buy. Even my fiancée moved in with my parents during that time. The search was exhausting, and I wasn’t willing to settle.
I was looking to use the SBA program, which lets you put down just 10% to buy a business. The catch? You sign a personal guarantee. If things go south, you’re personally on the hook—your wages can be garnished, your credit wrecked. It’s a big risk.
Just when I was about to throw in the towel and go back to a cushy PE job, I met John Kirkland, founder of Southern Pool Designs, a luxury custom pool builder. The numbers made sense, but what really mattered was trust—and John had it. Former military, family man, and not a single bad word said about him. On closing day—before a penny was wired—he actually sent me money to make sure I’d be good on Day 1. I’d never seen that kind of trust in private equity.
I bought the business on May 1, and it’s been like drinking from a firehose ever since. The unique part? John’s still here every day, excited about the future and what we can build together. Most sellers take their check and run. Our goal is to bring a pool-building experience the industry hasn’t seen—full transparency, constant communication, and handling issues head-on.
With 28 years of pool-building experience behind us, I truly believe we’re the best in the business. Internally, we’re doing things differently too—like open-book management, where the team sees the company’s P&L and knows exactly where we stand so we can all push toward growth together. The energy here is real, and we’re ready to scale.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I could go into all the details, but this is my first time owning a business with 10 team members at 27 years old—you can imagine the obstacles. But we’re working through them and making progress every day.
As you know, we’re big fans of Southern Pool Designs. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Southern Pool Designs is a luxury custom pool builder with nearly three decades of experience designing and constructing high-end, fully custom pools for homeowners and builders. We specialize in bringing resort-level quality and design into residential backyards—whether that means sleek modern pools, sprawling outdoor living spaces, or intricate water features.
What sets us apart is our commitment to true transparency. We operate on a flat, honest markup—no hidden fees, no surprise add-ons—and we provide our clients with a clear, step-by-step timeline so they always know what’s happening and when. We pair premium materials with efficient, well-managed builds to deliver exceptional quality without inflated pricing.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of our reputation for trust and long-term relationships. 5-star google rating!! Many of our projects come from repeat clients or referrals, and that’s because our team treats each build like it’s our own backyard. From the first site visit to the final hand-off, we focus on creating not just a beautiful pool, but a smooth, enjoyable experience for our clients.
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to set a new standard in pool building—one defined by transparency, communication, and craftsmanship that stands the test of time.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’d say our success comes down to three core things: first, our team culture—we truly work together with a shared mindset of serving our clients and each other. Second, deep knowledge in the pool space—28 years of experience means we’ve seen and solved just about everything. And third, transparency—we’re open about pricing, timelines, and challenges, and we pair that with a genuine drive to be the absolute best we can be in this industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://southernpooldesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernpooldesigns/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernpooldesigns/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southernpooldesigns
