Our Leadership Team

Kristina Gale, CEO

As the CEO of River Pools® of Salt Lake, Kristina has a passion for delivering top-quality pools to families looking to make the most of their outdoor living space. With her extensive knowledge and hands-on approach, she is committed to ensuring that each project exceeds her client’s expectations.

While doing research for a pool in her own backyard, Kristina was so impressed with River Pools’ education-first approach that she took a leap of faith, bought a truckload of pool shells, and signed on as the first Franchise location of River Pools Franchising, LLC. She has since become a leader in the industry, always looking for new ways to innovate and improve the pool-building process.

For Kristina, pool building is more than just a business - it’s a way to make a difference in people’s lives. Whether she’s working on a new project or spending time with her family, Kristina is always driven by her love for life and her desire to make her community a better place. Her determination to deliver the best possible results, combined with her love for life, has made her a role model for women everywhere. With Kristina at the helm, you can trust that your backyard pool installation will be a beautiful and functional addition to your home.

Nate Thurgood, Sales Manager

Nate is a dedicated sales manager who loves working with people. He’s bald, but that doesn’t stop him from having a big smile on his face, nor does it dim his enthusiasm for helping others reach their goals. With a positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm, he quickly puts customers at ease and is always happy to answer any questions they may have. 

When he’s not managing sales, Nate can be found on the golf course. He loves the game and can’t wait for summer when he can hit the course more often. He is happily married, with a teenage daughter who he loves dearly. 

Nate thrives on meeting and getting to know his customers. He is always looking for ways to create a positive experience for them. We’re lucky to have Nate on the team!

Stephanie Short, Director of HR

With over 20 years of experience running her own small business, Stephanie has a passion for making a positive impact in people’s lives by providing quality products and services. She brings her expertise to River Pools of Salt Lake as the Director of Human Resources, where she continues to connect with people, build strong relationships, and streamline processes.

Stephanie’s attention to detail and drive for efficiency make her a valuable asset to the HR team. She is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve processes and create a positive work environment for all employees. When she’s not at work, Stephanie loves to spend time with her family, exploring the great outdoors through activities like hiking and camping. And when it’s time to refuel, you can find her indulging in her favorite foods - tacos and chocolate!

Our Story: How We Got Started

Kristina grew up with a pool in Northern California and always dreamed of having a pool to enjoy with her children during the summer.

When the time came to explore pool options, Kristina and her husband, Eric, were surprised by the lack of options in the Utah market and were extremely unimpressed with every pool contractor they spoke with.

Kristina was especially frustrated with their unwillingness to educate and explain the details and process of installing and owning a pool.

After much research, they decided a fiberglass pool was the best option for the Utah area but still struggled to find a local manufacturer and installer they felt comfortable with.

They decided to contact River Pools^® about getting a pool. Discussing pools with them led to the crazy jump to become River Pools' first dealer west of the Mississippi and then their first franchisee.