By Kern Magazine Editors, published on May 28, 2026
Born in Tijuana and raised in Bakersfield since he was five, Danny Verdugo has lived nearly his entire life in Kern County, picking grapes from Bakersfield to Delano, running cross country and track at Foothill High School, and eventually building the family business that now bears his name. Alongside his wife Esmeralda and their two young children, he runs Verdugo’s and Sons—a pool construction company built on genuine care.
Danny and Esmeralda met as teenagers at Foothill High School, running side by side on the cross country and track teams. They were friends first, the rest came after graduation. The couple attended Bakersfield College together and married on December 8, 2021. That same year, Danny’s career took its biggest turn.
When they were young loves
Before launching his pool company, Danny was a soccer player. His career ended with a torn ACL at Kern County Soccer Park; he woke from surgery with complications and was rushed to Kern Medical Center. Months of physical therapy followed, all while he coached JV soccer at North High School.
In October 2022, Danny passed his C53 Pool Contractor exam and went all in, starting with pool services and monthly maintenance before scaling into full builds and remodels.
“I don’t like failure, especially disappointing my dad, so I stuck with it,” Danny says.
Before starting his own business, Danny learned all things pool building working alongside his father. After Danny became licensed and founded Verdugo’s and Sons, he brought his father and his brothers in as partners.
What sets Verdugo’s and Sons apart isn’t marketing—it’s how Danny shows up. Five years in, with a crew of five, he’s still in every project. Roughly 90% of the work is done in-house, which is part of why his builds move so fast—his team has finished a full pool in just 14 days.
“I’m hands-on. I’m not sitting in an office just sending people out. If I need to get dirty and help, I will,” he says.
Esmeralda sees the difference every day.
“He’s always there, actively hands-on in every project, at every stage. Other contractors subcontract it all out, so the homeowner has no idea who’s coming. Danny coordinates with the owners himself. He’s on top of it.”
That same care drives how he sells. Danny brings tile and material samples directly to clients’ homes, walks them through every combination, and explains every line of a bid.
“He’s actually one of the only contractors in town who really does that. Other contractors pick materials based on a budget, and homeowners don’t fully understand what they’re getting. He walks them through everything,” Esmeralda says.
“I want people to understand what they’re getting,” Danny adds. “Pools are a huge investment—they’ll be there for 20-plus years.”
Verdugo’s and Sons has a process, beginning with the first contact with a potential client. After a phone call or text, Danny meets homeowners on-site to talk through size, setbacks, equipment, and features, then produces a 3D rendering before a shovel ever hits the ground.
Permits typically run about two weeks but every build is different. What’s Danny’s favorite pool build moments? The plaster stage near the end. “That’s when you really see everything come together.”
For Danny, rectangular pools are the local favorite, and his favorite, too, for the extra swimming space.
He’s also seen projects deliver surprises.
Last September, his crew uncovered a 12-inch pipe leading to the Bakersfield Country Club golf course, they had to halt everything, loop in 811 and others, and redesign the entire pool.
They still finished the job.
“I always tell people to ask questions about permits, plumbing, materials, warranties, everything,” Danny says. “A lot of homeowners don’t realize they should ask who’s pulling permits, who’s managing the project, or how long materials will last,” Esmeralda adds. “Those details matter.”
He also recommended referring to the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website to verify contractor’s licenses.
Danny highlighted his appreciation for his crew.
“At the core of everything is my crew. Their loyalty, dedication, and consistency are what drive us forward. Goals matter but having a team that shows up daily to execute them is what creates real momentum,” he says. “They’re committed to growth, always refining how they communicate, deliver, and serve. It’s a constant mindset of ‘how can we do better?’ and actually following through.”
It is that loyalty that Danny says builds trust.
“Our clients feel it. They know they’re working with a team that genuinely cares and delivers,” he says. Where we are today is the result of that commitment and it’s exactly what’s setting us up for even greater growth ahead.”
And the Verdugos show up for their community too, volunteering with 3G Activities and Frankie’s Family nonprofit at Easter egg hunts, trunk-or-treats, back-to-school drives, and food distributions.
To Danny, educating the community on the pool building process is important, whether you hire them or not.
“Even if someone doesn’t hire me, I still want them to walk away with knowledge.”
That’s the heart of Verdugo’s and Sons.
Kern Magazine’s Signature Questions
What do you love about your community?
“I love how connected everyone is,” Danny says. “People support each other here. There are always events and people show up. That’s one reason I don’t want to leave Bakersfield.”
When you eat local, where do you grab a bite?
For Danny, it depends on the craving.
✅ Moo Creamery for a burger and sweet potato fries.
✅ Feng Lin’s for the combo C with chicken buns and custard buns.
✅ Rootbeer King in Lamont for the King Combo #4.
✅ Smitty BBQ for tri-tip brisket with mac and cheese and peach cobbler.
✅ Dagny’s for a matcha frappe with vanilla cold foam.
✅ Sorella for crab cakes, bruschetta, penne marinara with mozzarella and chicken, and the lava cake.
✅ Tacos Los Primos for the supreme burrito.
✅ June BBQ for one of everything.
✅ Hon Ramen for the Dragon Ball or the chicken ramen.
✅ Luna for the salmon bites and crispy Baja fish.
✅ And…last but not least.. the Original Roadhouse Grill on Rosedale Highway—one of their first date spots—for the lemonade.
When you want to get out of town, where do you go?
“Avila Beach, almost every time.”
Verdugo’s and Sons at a Glance
License: CSLB #1098035
Contact: 661-662-9004
Email: verdugosandsons.custom.pools@gmail.com
Services
- New pool construction
- Pool remodels
- Plaster, tile, and finish work
- Equipment installation
- Concrete and turf installment services
Service Area: Bakersfield, but licensed to work in all of California
Founded in 2022
💧 Pool Estimate Tier System
Distance measured from Verdugo’s and Sons headquarters in Bakersfield, CA.
| Distance | Estimate Fee |
| Local — within 15-mile radius (Bakersfield) | $25 |
| Kern County — within 35-mile radius | $50 |
| Surrounding cities — within 70-mile radius | $75 |
| Extended travel — within 100-mile radius | $100 |
| Beyond 100 miles | $150+ (starting rate) |
Free estimates every Friday for Kern County area only. Spots are limited and must be scheduled in advance. Once they’re booked, they’re gone.
Estimate fees are fully reimbursed if the client moves forward with the project.
Get in Touch
📱 Digital Business Card dot.cards/verdugosandsons
This sponsored editorial was supported by a private investor. Kern Magazine maintains creative and editorial oversight of all published content.
