Born and raised in Connecticut. A young and aspiring entrepreneur, Rizzo left traditional high school in a quest to begin his own business, Albert Rizzo, Inc. a construction company specializing in architectural concrete.

Realizing the importance of education, he attended night school obtaining his high school diploma with honors and then onto college at the University of Hartford. 

His reputation as an architectural concrete expert lead a doctor in the area to  request Rizzo to build a swimming pool in 1955, a 20’x40’, 3 ½ feet to 8’ deep pool for the price of $10,000.00.  With plans in hand, Rizzo began constructing his first pool.  And, of course with any new venture everything that could go wrong did; hitting rock and water among other problems. 

He learned many lessons during this project, all of which came in handy when a business man approached Rizzo to collaborate in a pool company as a sub-contractor managing the construction.   After completing about ten pools projects and not receiving his payment, Rizzo bought out the pool business and absorbed it into his construction company. 

In the late 1950’s Rizzo formed a separate pool division, Rizzo Pool Company which exists today.  Over the years, Rizzo Pool Company, a full service pool construction company with sales, design, in-house construction and retail, has grown into a million dollar organization with 35 plus employees and 2 outlets.   Once interested in building the “most” pools, Rizzo Pool Company now focuses on high-end residential and commercial pool and waterscape projects.  

Rizzo has been a member of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP, formally the NSPI) continuously since 1958. 

His service to the association began in 1962, as a Connecticut representative on Board of Directors of The New England Swimming Pool Association. In 1967, he started the Connecticut Chapter (CONSPA) of the National Swimming Pool Institute (NSPI) and became its first President, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since its’ inception.

Over the decades, he has served the association on the chapter, regional and national levels, and has held every position except national president. He is a member of the Board of Directors of NESPA since 1977, and CONSPA since 1967. He is a member of the Master Pools Guild and has been since 1974 and served on the Board of Directors. He also served as chairman of the Quarter Century Club for Region I for several years.

In his pursuit to raise the bar for the pool builders, Rizzo worked closely with fellow association members to establish the Builders Council.  He then became chairman of the Builder’s Education Committee and has served as that chairman since its inception.  Mr. Rizzo is not only a Certified Building Professional, but he is also a Certified Service Professional.

He has assisted in writing many standards and codes. And was the head author of industry’s “bible”, the Builders Reference Manual for three editions 1998, 2002 and the third edition to be published in 2008.  Rizzo has been a featured speaker for many years at the industry’s top convention, the International Pool and Spa Expo where he shares his knowledge on pool building and concrete work in seminars and live demonstrations settings. 

In 1994 he started the first ever on-floor demonstration at the International Convention and has continually participated in it by demonstrating the proper way to shoot shotcrete. In 1994, he won the Ruth Williams award for the live demonstrations.

Rizzo organizes educational study workshops for professionals interested in testing for the CBP certification.

Rizzo has been acknowledged for his many years with the industry receiving a multitude of awards and accolades. His company has won numerous design awards including a couple “Best of Show”.  Rizzo shares the honors with several other people of being in the pool industry for over 50 years.  NESPA honored him with the “50 Year” pin in 2005. In 2006, The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) honored him with the title of “Mr. Education”.

Active in his community, Rizzo acts as a consultant for the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and is a member of the Hartford Chapter of UNICO (Unity, Neighborly, Integrity, Charity and Opportunity) an Italian/American businessman association, the Better Business Bureau and the Franklin Avenue Merchants Association who named him the 2007 “Businessman of the Year”.  He just recently joined the Elks Club.