From Paper to Prevention: A Conversation with Cortez Jordan of the City of West Hollywood Aquatic & Recreation Center

Every aquatic facility has its own challenges, but many share the same operational realities: staffing, documentation, inspections, and keeping everyone on the same page.

We sat down with Cortez Jordan, Aquatic Supervisor for the City of West Hollywood Aquatic & Recreation Center, to talk about how his team transitioned from paper records to connected digital operations, and what changed along the way.

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Before HydroApps, how were you managing inspections, documentation, and operational records?

Cortez Jordan: "Everything was paper. We had a lawsuit involving our previous facility, and we had to pull hundreds, if not thousands, of documents.... Even though everything was organized, finding what we needed was incredibly challenging.

We were also running out of storage space, and at one point a storage closet flooded, so we lost a significant amount of documentation.

That's when we really started thinking, 'If this all lived in one place, how great would that be?'"

What changed once everything became digital?

CJ: "The biggest difference is having everything in one place.

Before, you'd be looking through binders for certifications, inspections, or reports.... Now it's all connected. Having everything together has been one huge advantage."

How did your staff respond to using HydroApps?

CJ: "The staff were enthusiastic, especially because we use it every day for opening and closing procedures.

There's nothing like pulling out an iPad, tapping through your checklist, and being done.... You can leave notes, see what happened the previous day, and quickly review information without tracking someone down.

It created a level of fluidity in the workplace that we simply didn't have before."

Has digital documentation changed accountability?

CJ: "Absolutely. Recently we dealt with a sensitive patron situation that required incident reports.... My supervisors, coordinators, and managers could all review the same report, clarify information, and make sure the documentation accurately reflected what happened.

From an accountability standpoint, it also removes the 'I forgot' factor. Everyone knows what's expected, and supervisors can verify that it's been completed."

How has HydroApps helped with inspections and audits?

CJ: "Health inspections have become much easier because everything is digital and available in one place.

One of our biggest learning moments came during an audit from our service provider.... We realized we weren't using HydroApps to its full potential.

That became a turning point. Instead of using just parts of the system, we decided to centralize everything, and that shift has been a game changer."

What features have made the biggest difference?

CJ: "Customization. We've created so many custom forms it's almost unreal.

One of the biggest improvements has been moving our daily staff training sign-ins into HydroApps. We conduct three 30-minute training sessions every day, seven days a week, so that's a tremendous amount of paperwork.

Moving completely away from paper sign-in sheets has been a complete game changer."

Tell us about your Vigilant Voice program.

CJ: ""Vigilant Voice is a peer observation program recommended by StarGuard Elite.

Staff observe one another's scanning, rotations, and lifeguarding techniques, then review those observations together.

We built a custom form inside HydroApps to document everything.... We actually tried launching the program before using paper, but it never really took off.

Once we moved it into HydroApps with a customized workflow... it just took off."

Looking back, what's been the biggest operational improvement?

CJ: "For me, it's really about having everything together.

Whether it's inspections, incident reports, certifications, training records, or daily operations, everyone knows where to find the information.

It saves time, creates accountability, and helps us operate more consistently every day."

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Editor's Note: The above interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Could Your Facility Benefit from a More Connected Approach?

Every aquatic facility is different, but the challenges are often the same: managing inspections, documenting incidents, tracking staff training, and keeping everyone on the same page.

If you're looking for ways to reduce paperwork, improve accountability, and streamline daily operations, we'd love to show you how HydroApps can support your team.

Schedule a personalized demo to see how HydroApps can be configured for your facility and the workflows that matter most to you.

Want to learn more about the West Hollywood's story? Download our City of West Hollywood Client Profile to share with your team or leadership.