Savio Engineering Press Room
July 1, 2011
Savio Releases a One of Kind book about designing natural water features. 
This Guide will provide you with all of the necessary information, focusing specifically on the elements and characteristics needed to attain truly naturalistic results in any completed project. You will learn the intricate details of what actually makes a water feature appear so natural, why these phenomenal techniques work, and
how to avoid the critical design errors left over from the good old days.
For more information go to www.Rival Publications.com
November 15, 2010
Rick Bartel wins the 2010 Water Feature Contractor of the Year Award
Rick Bartel knows water features. He has spent decades translating nature into backyard settings. Bartel knows what kind of rock best lends itself to a cascading waterfall. He knows dozens of way to hide a pond liner beyond piling stones on top of it. Bartel knows how to incorporate wood into a water feature naturally and without fear of it rotting.
It’s not necessarily his fountain of pond-building knowledge that drives Bartel’s continued success in the industry. Rather, it is the fact that Bartel knows people, and people are what fuel his passion for pond building.
“From the [pond-building] side, my favorite part of the job is being able to touch the lives of my customers -- designing and installing water features that can truly change people’s lives,” Bartel said. “On the educational side, being able to share my method with young contractors just starting out is very fulfilling. Sharing information with others is a big deal for me.”
Recently selected as Water Garden News’ Pond Builder of the Year for 2010, Bartel wears many hats: designer, builder, consultant, educator and author. In addition to serving as administrator and primary instructor at the Savio Water Feature Institute, Bartel works as a consultant and designer at Autumn Mist Aquatics in Chattanooga, Tenn., a custom waterscape design business he founded 25 years ago. When his career and training engagements began to draw Bartel into the national spotlight several years ago, he decided to gradually transfer ownership of the business over to colleague Matt Keown, who now owns and operates the business.
Business at Autumn Mist Aquatics is good, Bartel said. Even when the economy tanked in 2008, Autumn Mist Aquatics experienced 3 percent growth over 2007. By 2009, Autumn Mist Aquatics returned to full swing with 17 percent growth over the prior year.
Autumn Mist Aquatics currently books projects five to six months in advance, and Bartel reported seeing a steady increase in the size of projects people commission over the past two years. He attributed this in part to the deflated housing market. People who cannot sell their houses right now are investing in them, with much of this investment going into their yards, Bartel said.
“We haven’t had to advertise in 15 years because our word-of-mouth is phenomenal,” Bartel said. “We turn down projects weekly because we can’t keep up with demand.”
What is the secret to Bartel’s and Autumn Mist Aquatics’ success? Bartel summed it up in two words: R.I.S.E. method. A term coined by Bartel that stands for “random, irregular, spontaneous and erratic,” the R.I.S.E. method is based on pond-building principles that emphasize naturalistic appearances. It focuses on using the right materials -- those found in natural waterscapes -- and positioning them in a way that mimics the great outdoors. In nature, Bartel said, ponds are not surrounded by neat outlines of smooth river stones, and waterfalls do not flow over flat flagstone. Nature is jagged and irregular, and thus, so are Bartel’s designs.
Bartel attributes much of Autumn Mist Aquatics’ success to his philosophy of naturalistic appearances, the techniques of which he has developed and refined over the decades. Rather than keep his wisdom under lock and key as trade secrets, Bartel decided to train his peers according to his method, drastically reducing the length of their learning curves when it comes to pond design.
Much of this training is performed in conjunction with the Savio Water Feature Institute. He helmed the organization for more than four years,
during which he has trained nearly 8,200 industry professionals. Although Savio Engineering sponsored and funded the program, Bartel said he strives to bring unbiased value to his classes and workshops.
“I don’t think you can consider yourself a successful professional contractor if you’re in possession of knowledge or techniques that you’re not sharing with others,” Bartel said. This belief -- and the fact that he provides so much detailed information during his seminars that students do not have enough time to take the needed notes -- led to the publication of Bartel’s book, “The R.I.S.E. Method,” earlier this year.
Beyond his work with the Savio Water Feature Institute, Bartel is a certified instructor for the National Association of Pond Professionals. In addition to teaching seminars during the association’s annual meetings, Bartel helps to devise the overall educational curriculum for the events.
Evidence of Bartel’s commitment to the betterment of the water garden industry appears on a local level as well. He voluntarily serves on a community arbitration committee that mediates disputes between contractors and homeowners over water feature installation projects. The committee has helped to reduce the number of lawsuits plaguing the local water garden industry, Bartel said.
One might think that such a roster of obligations would leave time for nothing else in Bartel’s life. On the contrary, Bartel dedicates his time to community service projects -- upwards of 100 projects over the past 20 years. Many of these projects involve no monetary compensation, and Bartel said they represent some of his most fulfilling initiatives.
For instance, a project he completed in November 2009 for the Dove House, a nonprofit children’s advocacy center dedicated to caring for sexually abused children, involved the installation of a meditation garden with moving water, where children and family members can go to find peace and comfort. Bartel said this project represents his favorite in recent memory, despite having worked on many bold, big-budget waterscapes over the past year.
“It represents the true definition of why we do what we do,” Bartel said. “Our job is to provide this peaceful and serene environment for our customers to enjoy. What better way than through the heart of a child? I would be happy doing projects like that the rest of my life.”
Bartel's dedication to the water garden industry and his community has not gone unrecognized. In fact, his designation as Water Garden News’ Pond Builder of the Year adds yet another honor to his list of more than 1,500 awards and recognitions Bartel has received over the years. Among his list of achievements, he said he’s particularly proud of the awards he has received for educational excellence as well as the 2009 NAPP Annual Service Award.
Going forward, Bartel said he wants to see the broader water garden industry embrace a spirit of cooperation and unification. “If I could change one thing it would be for everyone to work together to advance the industry,” he said. “Everyone says our industry is in its infancy, and it shouldn’t be.”
Bartel said only about 6 percent of people own water features, meaning there is much business available out there. “Contractors shouldn’t be fighting over the same customers,” he said. Rather, they should share knowledge and try to enhance the overall perception and popularity of the pond hobby, he said.
Despite his list of accolades, Bartel said he seeks to remain humble in his achievements. “I’m still learning; I pick up new things from my students all the time,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to do anything I can to help move the water garden industry forward.”
There are some people who do excellent work but really don’t want to be leaders; they would rather follow. That’s not Valerie Steele. Not only does she want to control her own destiny, she’s done a pretty good job at it throughout the years.
Steele was b
orn in Leadville, Colorado. When she was quite young, her family moved to Albuquerque, where she grew up. Her father was a chef and her mother was in restaurant management.
While she was in high school, she met a guy. They dated for a while and when she graduated, he convinced her to move to New Jersey, where they married a few years later. Steele attended Morris College, eventually receiving her degree in Business Administration.
While attending college, Steele began working for a trade show display company and quickly moved up the ladder to become general manager of the New York and New Jersey operations. After a few years, she changed her career and took an upper management position with a document filming company. She loved the opportunity and really got into the job, learning skills along the way.
“The best way to learn a business is to work for a small company,” said Steele. “You can learn from the ground up.” It seemed that business skills came easy to her. After working there for a few years, she left and formed her own document imaging company.
Steele lived in New Jersey for 12 years. When her marriage didn’t work out as she had anticipated, she sold her company and moved back to Albuquerque to be close to family and friends. Not one to sit around and do nothing, Steele began to think about which path she should take to start up a new business in the Southwest. Her intentions were to continue in her own business and not work for anyone else.
Around the same time, she met Chic Kelty, who was running a successful pond distribution business, International Pond Supply.
It soon became evident that not only was there a new line of products to develop but also a new manufacturing company to build— Savio Engineering, Inc. Steele found the water gardening industry very interesting, and developing a new line of products very exciting. It held her interest longer than she anticipated (nine years longer!). Along the way, Kelty promoted her to vice president.
Kelty is a pilot and loves to fly.
With Steele competently running the business end of the business, he would fly to visit and set up various distributors. Within a relatively short period of time, Steele wasmade president.
So how did she become a top executive at a water gardening company? Steele says that she was hired because of her knowledge of business management and operations. “I knew nothing about water gardening,” Steele remarked. “To me, a pond was a little plastic container that you bought from Home Depot.”
Five years after she joined the company, she met Keith. Among other things they had in common was that they both worked for Savio. He was handling the financial end of the business, and love struck. They have been married for three years and are hoping to have children, to raise a family.
In January of 2009, Kelty decided to explore other opportunities.
He decided he would sell the com pany, so Steele made an offer to purchase it. The offer was accepted, and she is now the proud owner of Savio Engineering.
Like the former owner of Savio, Steele too enjoys flying. Even though her new responsibilities as owner of Savio prevent her from spending much time in the air, flying is still a big passion for her.
She also enjoys being with her family. “I have a huge extended family,” Steele laughed. “Between spending time with them and running the company, I barely have time for anything else.”
The year 2009 was not the best time to go into the pond and waterscape business. However, after running Savio for nine years, Steele is confident she has built the company on a solid foundation.
“The road ahead is going to be difficult,” Steele said. “But Savio will make it through the hard times that are upon us, and will be a better company in the end.”
There are many obstacles she will have to hurdle, of course the main one being the economic climate. Steele will have to be creative in marketing Savio products and reaching out to more clientele while retaining those clients they already have.
Steele has been a leader all her life. Now, at Savio Engineering, she plans to use her leadership and management abilities to build her company’s success. Her goal is to ensure that Savio will continue in a leadership position and continue to operate as an efficient machine.
Valerie Steele is a born leader.
Savio has created a rewards program to recognize the network of Savio certified contractors who support the company by purchasing and using Savio’s line of water feature installation products and components. The Savio Certified Contractor Rewards Program is available to qualified international and domestic water feature contractors who successfully entered into the Savio Certified Contractor Program. The contractors must be active members in good standing.
All eligible contractors receive credit for each Savio product they purchase and install. Products purchased for resale are not eligible, according to Savio.
These credits are then accumulated, tallied and recorded for each contractor. Contractors can then take the credits and “cash” them in for various gifts, prizes and products.
Savio noted that the rewards program is free and does not have any expirations or deadlines.
Savio Water Feature Institute and Savio Engineering Inc. recently partnered with Evan Dancy, a 15-year-old Boy Scout from North Carolina, to sponsor a water feature installation project at the Carolina Raptor Center. The Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to conservation of birds of prey through education, research and rehabilitating injured and orphan raptors.
For Dancy to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scout organization, he had to find, select, design and complete a community service project. Dancy found much symbolism in choosing to help the injured American bald eagles residing at the Carolina Raptor Center, according to Rick Bartel, certified master water feature specialist program administrator for Savio Water Feature Institute in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Since Dancy was working toward his Eagle Scout status, he found it fitting to help these birds in need,” Bartel said. Dancy chose to design and install a water feature for the Carolina Raptor Center's eagle exhibit because he felt they didn’t have an adequate water supply.
Savio Engineering donated the materials, and Bartel supervised the project on Aug. 8-9. The project’s estimated worth is about $15,000.
Not the typical backyard pond, Bartel said the 3,000-gallon water feature needed to be aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly, natural-looking and conducive for the eagles. Because of the eagles’ sharp talons, water feature components must withstand frequent daily use.
Dancy built the pond deeper, wider and longer than an average water feature. He included river gravel and little beach entries so the injured eagles could enter and exit safely.
“It was very heart-warming [to hear] a young 15-year-old to talk about eagle dignity,” Bartel said. “Dancy felt these majestic birds deserved so much more.”
The California Raptor Center held a re-opening celebration of its custom-designed aviary water feature on Aug. 21. Dancy received an award for his efforts.
February 1, 2009
Valerie Steele purchases Savio Engineering, Inc.
Valerie Steele, president of sister companies Savio Engineering Inc. and Freedom Inc. of Albuquerque, N.M., bought the two companies from founder Chic Kelty, the companies reported Jan. 28. Terms of the transaction, which included all assets and intellectual property, remained undisclosed.
Staff and management of the two companies will remain intact and Steele pledged to maintain the companies’ directions. Savio manufactures and markets pond equipment and accessories; Freedom makes and markets Islandscape floating biofilters.
Kelty sold the companies to focus on inventing.
February 29, 2008
Savio & Freedom Products Featured on Martha Stewart Show
The following Martha Stewart “Leap Frog” show aired on February 29, 2008 and informed the general public about threatened species of frogs that thrive in an aquatic environment. The pond used in the segment was built on set and includes products from Savio Engineering and Freedom Islandscapes. The segment features personnel from The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Animal Planet, and our own Chic Kelty, founder of Savio Engineerig.
Watch Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Prr2CcemQw
