1851

It’s true, that most people at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-hook-a58610a2?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Charlie Hook</a>’s age are nearing retirement and can’t wait to sit back, relax and enjoy life; however, when Hook retired recently, he found himself looking for something to do. Now opening the first <a href="https://poolscoutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pool Scouts*</a> location in Hartford, Hook is putting his years of experience in Silicon Valley to work for the community, here’s what he had to say about jumping in with the 110-plus territory franchise, now in 18 states.&nbsp;<h4>1851:&nbsp;What did you do before franchising?&nbsp;</h4>Charlie Hook:&nbsp;I grew up in Oregon and attended college at the Oregon Institute of Technology, earning a degree in engineering. I worked in electronics for 34 years creating flash drives in Silicon Valley, California, including at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seeq.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SEEQ Technologies</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westerndigital.com/brand/sandisk?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SanDisk</a>, now owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westerndigital.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Western Digital</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.toshiba.com/tai/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Toshiba</a>. My career began when a flash drive was one megabyte (1 MB) today that same drive can hold one terabyte (1 TB) of content. It was a career that gave me the opportunity to travel the world, and I retired on February 5th, 2021.<h4>1851: How did you perform your research/due diligence?</h4>Hook: I learned a great deal about franchising through veteran franchise recruiter,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchoice.com/get-to-know-us/franchoice-consultants/joe-white/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joe White of FranChoice.</a> He asked a very pointed question: “What would you like to OWN (not do) with your retirement years.” I spent a lot of time on the phone with White asking questions.<h4>1851: What made you say yes to Pool Scouts?&nbsp;</h4>Hook:&nbsp;I drove down to Virginia Beach and stayed two days to meet the team at <a href="https://1851franchise.com/poolscouts">Pool Scouts</a>. It surprised me that they didn’t ask me to write a check right away, I appreciated that. I realized that&nbsp;my advantage in this industry is my experience working with my hands. Others seemed to excel at the business side of the franchise concept. That was when a lightbulb went off. The other companies I studied did not have a business system in place, but Pool Scouts did. Pool Scouts has wonderful marketing and operations departments, and the company isn’t the first brand for&nbsp;<a href="https://buzzfranchisebrands.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buzz Franchise Brands</a>, which means the system is tried and true. Leveraging information from their other franchises,&nbsp;<a href="https://britishswimschool.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">British Swim School</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://homecleanheroes.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Home Clean Heroes*</a>, is genius. The other concept I considered couldn’t compare to the network of marketing, sales and billing support.<a href="https://www.billrhodescpa.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct-2718682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> The company’s CPA Bill Rhodes</a> handles everything, and it was that fact that really sold me. I’m starting a small business, but I’m also joining a corporation, which gives me the support and peace of mind I need in retirement. The pool portion of the business is the fun part, and I get to enjoy that.<h4>1851: What could have scared you away?&nbsp;</h4>Hook:&nbsp; I live in the Northeastern United States, and questioned whether there were enough pools to clean in Connecticut, but it turns out there are ten thousand pools in the Hartford area alone. The only other concern I had committing to Pool Scouts was with the quality of&nbsp;my service, I questioned how well I could ensure my staff was doing what was expected of them.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4>1851: What makes you stand out as a unique business owner in the local community?</h4>Hook:&nbsp;I enjoy visiting with people and making sure they are comfortable, so I’m hoping both my phone calls and in-person consultations are comforting and friendly. When community members call me, I hope to be ready to make an appointment then and there. I plan to be organized. Ultimately, my goal is to make sure people return to their backyards and start enjoying them again.&nbsp;<h4>What do you hope to achieve with your business? Plans for growth?&nbsp;</h4>Hook:&nbsp;I would like to own three trucks by next year, and six trucks by the year 2025. I’d really like to build my Pool Scouts business deep, as in with relationships. I want people to know they can depend on me. Ideally, people will have a great experience with our business and referrals will come with consistency.ABOUT POOL SCOUTS:Virginia Beach, VA-based Pool Scouts is a premier pool service franchise focused on delivering a quality, consistent brand experience while providing pool cleaning, maintenance and minor repair services at residential properties. Technicians are trained in testing, monitoring, treating and servicing pools and can provide ongoing service as well as help at the beginning and end of the summer season. With over 110 territories across 17 states, Pool Scouts offers a great opportunity as a low-cost franchise in the pool services industry with available territories across the United States. &nbsp;

The Great Franchisee: Charlie & Kusuma Hook, Pool Scouts, Hartford, CT

1851 Franchise

They’ve called it The Great Retirement, as nearly 3.3 million more workers retired in 2021 than in 2020. After 34 years as an engineer for some of the world’s largest tech companies, Hartford’s Charlie Hook is pivoting to pools, bringing the first ever Pool Scouts, to Hartford homes this summer with his wife and partner, Kusuma.


the-great-franchisee-charlie-kusuma-hook-pool-scouts-hartford-ct

USA Ninja Challenge

Where Passion Meets Purpose: USA Ninja Challenge Gives Franchisees the Power to Change Lives

where-passion-meets-purpose-usa-ninja-challenge-gives-franchisees-the-power-to-change-lives

SweatHouz

From Finance to Wellness: Natalie Siewers’ Path to Leading SweatHouz in Northern Virginia

sweathouz-franchise-northern-virginia-natalie-siewers

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Seniors Helping Seniors® Honors Lynn Quintana as Caregiver of the Year 2025

seniors-helping-seniors-honors-lynn-quintana-as-caregiver-of-the-year-2025

Beansquad

Franchise Compliance Confidence: BeanSquad's Expertise in Navigating Regulatory Requirements

beansquad-franchise-compliance-bookkeeping

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

KidStrong Franchise - Franchisee Spotlight - Jessica and Bobby Montoya - 1851 Franchise

Former Orangetheory Regional Manager and Licensed Counselor, Grow KidStrong Franchise, Empowering Youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico

kidstrong-franchise-albuquerque-montoya

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

How a Steady Economy Could Help Franchisors Plan Their Next Move

how-a-steady-economy-could-help-franchisors-plan-their-next-move

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

Senior Entrepreneurship - Franchising - 1851 Franchise

Senior Entrepreneurship Is Rising — And Franchising Is a Key Outlet

senior-entrepreneurship-franchising-silver-startups

U.S. Government Shutdown - Impact on Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Government Shutdown Stalls SBA Loans: How the Shutdown Could Impact Franchises

government-shutdown-impacts-sba-loans-tourism-franchises

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Barb Volk and KidStrong logo

Why This Orangetheory Fitness Franchise Owner Is Developing KidStrong Franchises

kidstrong-franchise-owner-barb-volk-2025

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Mike Rippey and Sola Salons logo

How This Former Franchisor Is Using His Industry Experience To Help Beauty Pros Thrive With Sola Salons Franchise

mike-rippey-sola-salons-franchisee

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

image of bryan horton from laynes West Texas - Abilene, Wichita Falls, Stephenville 

Former Real Estate and Beverage Entrepreneur Signs to Develop 8 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations in West Texas, Securing One of the Final Major Markets Available in the State

laynes-chicken-west-texas-expansion

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025

early-childhood-education-child-care-franchises

Top Education Franchises To Consider for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Education Franchises To Consider Investing In for 2025

top-education-franchises-investment-opportunities

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

The Great Franchisee: Charlie & Kusuma Hook, Pool Scouts, Hartford, CT

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS