About Total Aquatic
From a community pool in Danville, Illinois — to a national institute shaping the future of aquatic facility education.
From the 1972 Olympic Trials to Poolside Drive
Nelson's journey started in 1972 with the construction of their aquatic center in Danville, Illinois. They offered a family-friendly learn-to-swim program and Nelson's Turtles USA Swim Team.
As they expanded their community services through aquatic programs, they developed new programs centered on safety, fitness, and wellness — all made possible by their opportunity to participate as an official in the 1972 Olympic Trials.
That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding how facility design shapes programming outcomes — a philosophy that became the foundation of the Build & Program a Pool methodology.
Today, Total Aquatic Education and Training carries that mission forward, training the next generation of aquatic professionals to build facilities that truly serve their communities.
Specific Purposes
As a nonprofit organization, TAETI's specific purposes include, but are not limited to:
Design, Develop & Deliver
To design, develop, and deliver the Build & Program a Pool Workshop, an interactive learning experience that helps participants understand how aquatic facility design impacts programming, operations, and long-term community success.
Hands-On Education
To provide hands-on, experiential education through real-world examples that guide attendees in exploring key decisions involved in creating aquatic facilities.
Industry Training
To educate and train coaches, administrators, parks and recreation professionals, architects, community stakeholders, and other aquatic industry professionals.
Lasting Community Value
To promote the development of aquatic facilities that deliver lasting community value by integrating thoughtful design with effective programming strategies.
Collaborative Advancement
To collaborate with schools, municipalities, parks and recreation agencies, architectural firms, and other organizations to advance knowledge and best practices.
Drowning Prevention
To assist other non-profits and advocacy-based organizations that have drowning prevention goals and programs. TAETI tracks United States drownings and disseminates data on a no-charge basis.
Meet Our Team
Kent Nelson
Kent Nelson is an experienced leader in the aquatic industry, a marketing specialist, and a coach with over 35 years of involvement in swimming and aquatics. As the partner in Total Aquatic Programming, Kent specializes in helping aquatic facilities and organizations elevate their impact through strategic marketing, digital technology integration, and operational excellence.
A USA Swimming Life Member and former member of the USA Swimming Board of Directors, Kent has served as Head Coach at Pine Creek High School and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Rapids Swim Team. He is a national speaker and two-time Colorado High School Coach of the Year.