For the fifth year, International Carwash Association has awarded its Emerging Leaders Scholarship toup-and-coming car wash industry leaders, under the age of 45. Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Soap Opens Door To Car Wash Industry

Tim Ehmann

Bethel Park Rapid Wash

For Tim Ehmann, soap made all the difference in the world for his career. In fact, it was literally the reason hegot into the car wash industry.

“I had applied for a position at Bethel Park Rapid Wash and interviewed but there were no positionsavailable,” Ehmann said. “The next day, one of the employees ended up with an allergy to the soapand there was suddenly a position open.”

Ehmann spent the next four years moving up the ranks. He started as a loader and rapidly moved up to assistantmanager.

“Tim is inquisitive and a learner,” said Henry Richard, owner of Bethel Park Rapid Wash. “He isalways willing to take time and reevaluate the way we are doing business and then take action steps to try newthings. He’s been a huge asset to our company and his presence has allowed Bethel Park Rapid Wash toflourish.”

But in 2012, Ehmann left the car wash industry. He packed up his things and moved from Pennsylvania to Californiato do mission work at a homeless shelter.

“There are so many ways to impact people’s lives,” Ehmann said. “That’s what I livefor. I just take life day by day aiming to make an impact in this world by loving God and lovingpeople.”

And the loving people component is exactly what drew Ehmann back to the car wash industry five years later.“It’s not just about cleaning cars, but loving people and being able to be a beacon of light totheir day, whether with a smile or us being able to lend a hand,” he said. “The car wash industry isjust an extension of what I love to do in life.”

Bethel Park Rapid Wash has reaped the benefits of Ehmann’s approach. In the two years since he’sreturned, the wash volume has increased from 66,000 cars per year to 138,000 and unlimited memberships haveskyrocketed from 133 to 2,600.

“Tim has been a leader in our business,” Richard said. “When he returned to the wash the staffwas in constant transition and our customers’ needs were not being met. With his mentorship andleadership, we have developed a top-notch staff that is consistently rated 5 stars by our customers on google.He not only helps them be better team members, he helps them be better people by helping them with lifedecisions and being a steady hand to guide them in turbulent times.”

The industry is a different beast from when Ehmann left in 2012, but in all the right ways.

“I’ve been blown away by the growth in the industry since I came back in 2017,” Ehmann said.“It feels like you can make your own ceiling and I’m seeing leaders in the industry doing things Inever thought possible, growing in amazing ways. Car washing has become a passion of mine and I’m lookingforward to growing and learning as much as I can in these upcoming years.”

From Job To Career

Daniel Haynes

Waves Carwash Café Pty Ltd.

Daniel Haynes was just looking to get a job to fill in the gap after he finished a construction project. A decadelater, Haynes has a bright future as part of the growing car wash industry in Australia.

“We put him under our wings and slowly but surely injected car wash chemicals into his veins,” saidRobert Saccor, Managing Director of Waves Carwash Café Pty Ltd. “The turning point was the firsttime he visited The Car Wash Show in Las Vegas. It was an absolute eye opener for him with regard to theindustry, the suppliers, technology, and just how large the market is.”

For Haynes, much of his interest centers around the opportunity he sees. “There never seems to be a dullmoment,” he said. “The industry in Australia is still in its infancy and growing. There are still alot of opportunities to be had.”

Sacco is counting on Haynes seizing those opportunities.

“His commitment, loyalty and exceptional work ethic make him a true future leader that I’d be happyto handover to,” Sacco said. “I have a succession plan that he’s part of and I’d likeDaniel to work toward that over the next five years.”

But, in the beginning, Haynes wasn’t so sure. “At first, I was honestly intimidated by the size ofthe place and the amount of staff employed,” he said. “But I had a great few people around me andmanagers at Waves to show me the ropes and naturally I found my feet. After three months I had become SiteManager.”

Now, Haynes is the Operations Manager for Waves Carwash and has traveled around the world seeing car washes andbringing ideas back to the business. “Robert has given me opportunities to experience the car washindustry in an international environment,” Haynes said. “I’ve been to cities all aroundAustralia as well as China, USA, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and Germany to understand and learn from car washoperators and constantly improve the Waves Carwash experience.”

Haynes said he’s seen a lot of amazing operations, but his favorite to date is Mr. Wash in Germany. “Thesite itself was out of this world, it was the largest Automatic carwash operation I had ever seen,” hesaid. “Two tunnels side by side, two finishing conveyors, and a vacuum area for the customers that hadover 50+ vacuum drops. They were washing over 3,000 cars per day! It was quite the site to see.”

Looking forward, Haynes is most excited about the role technology is playing in the industry. “A lot ofpeople don’t realize how much technology goes into car washing,” he said. “Also, as vehicleschange, so does our industry which means the technology of car washing changes all the time. I try and imaginewhat our industry looks like when vehicles drive themselves to car washes at night whilst the vehicles ownerssleep!”

Car Washing In The Genes

Daniel Petrelle Jr.

Splash Car Wash

Dan Petrelle Jr. comes from car wash lineage. His father started in the industry at a young age and junior was always around the wash. “I was always running around the shop,” he said. “I jumped into Splash with my dad and I understood it very easily, almost like it was in my genetics.”

The mechanical engineering major and business finance minor is watching the industry with excitement and anticipation.

“This industry has grown so much since I started,” he said. “I really like how a lot of these private equity firms are coming in. This first car wash to become public race is almost like the race to the moon for me. It’s fun to watch and opens up a lot of opportunity for guys like us to do more in this industry.”

Petrelle is the General Manager of Splash Car Wash in Wilton, Conn., and has shown a knack for results. According to Splash CEO Mark Curtis, Petrelle has increased revenues by 35% and profits by 185% since taking over the site in late 2016. “This could only be done by a person who has individually gained the trust and respect of the people working at his site,” Curtis said. “He is constantly suggesting new and creative ways to market the business or develop service offerings that cater to customer demand not currently being met by Splash.”

Petrelle said he gets energy from the challenge of beating his numbers, but he finds energy in bringing people along. “I really like to train someone who has potential and get them to a spot where they can successfully move forward,” he said. “I truly enjoy the bunch of guys I work with. They have literally become my second family. I’ve worked with a lot of these guys since I started.”

For the past eight years, Petrelle has been working his way up through the organization. According to Curtis, he has established himself as one of Splash’s best and brightest. “Maybe his name got him in the door,” Curtis said. “But the numbers he has produced don’t lie. That has been all him. He’s clearly made the most of his time with Splash.”

No doubt that Splash would love to see Petrelle grow within the organization. But, first up for Petrelle is finishing his degree. “Whether I move into a job with my degree or carve out a name for myself in this industry, I feel I’ll be extremely happy with either,” he said. “Hey, maybe I’ll be doing both – still working in the industry while engineering new equipment for the industry.”

Leading By Example

Kyle Pezoldt

Kuhnsville Car Wash

When Kyle Pezoldt started in the car wash industry, his boss had to come pick him up for work.

Because he was still too young to drive.

As a freshman in high school, Pezoldt applied to work at Kuhnsville Car Wash. He had an older brother working for the car wash and his grandparents were friends with the wash’s owners. A busy summer day led to a phone call that would see Pezoldt spending the next 16 years with the company. “I got a phone call asking if I was still interested in the job and could I work that day,” he said. “The owner came and picked me up and I have been with the car wash in some capacity for over 16 years now.”

Pezoldt is the Facility Manager for Kuhnsville Car Wash, overseeing 80 employees and managing vendor relationships with more than 60 companies. He also handles all operational and equipment issues and manages payroll and billing of the 25-plus fleet accounts for the wash.

“He truly is an asset to my organization, and I don’t know how I would operate without him,” said Carol Kuhns, Owner of Kuhnsville Car Wash. “He has continually taken on additional responsibilities and he has worked his way up the ladder. He’s a shining example of what a true superstar employee ought to be.”

Pezoldt earned his degree in art and design from East Stroudsburg University and has applied those learnings to his work at the wash to design new signage, menus, uniforms, etc. However, it’s the people that keep him coming back every day. “My employees and peers promote the most continued interest in what I do,” he said. “The challenges are always changing. I have learned to appreciate the efforts and inputs of those around me.”

According to Kuhns, his leadership and management of employees comes primarily through his ability to connect with the team. “He leads by example,” Kuhns said. “He doesn’t make the employees do anything that he wouldn’t do or has done in the past.”

Looking forward, Pezoldt is exciting about the increasing use of technology in the industry. “The advances in car wash technology are generating much of the data we have about our customers and their purchasing habits,” he said. “And, that data can be a very powerful tool for growth if leveraged thoughtfully.”

At the end of the day, though, it still comes back to the people for Pezoldt. “I’m going to make the most of the opportunities I have been afforded,” he said. “Even as the industry transforms, I intend to provide clean cars and happy customers.”

Seizing The Opportunity

Travis Rogers

Marc-1 Carwash

As a high school student with no work experience, Travis Rogers was having a tough time getting an interview for any of the jobs he was applying for. “I had been applying for jobs at several places and followed up with them, but couldn’t seem to get an interview,” Rogers said. “Marc-1 gave me an opportunity and I ran with it.”

James Stabler of Marc-1 Carwash was impressed with Rogers from the beginning. “After an excellent interview process, Travis was hired on as an entry level CSA,” Stabler said. “Within six months, he was promoted to Assistant Site Manager. Travis has a very bright future at Marc-1.”

Now, Rogers is Site Manager for the Pelham, Ala., Marc-1 express tunnel location. “His site continuously reaches set goals each month, and Travis has implemented many safety policies at his site and the company in general,” Stabler said. “He’s also currently growing an impressive membership program for his site.”

For Rogers, it’s always about the people. “The fact that I can brighten up a customer’s day just by helping them or even just taking the time to see how the day is going keeps me coming back,” he said. “If you can help impact a customer’s life in a positive way, then what more could you ask for?”

On a larger scale, though, Rogers sees plenty of opportunity within the industry. “There are so many different types of car washes and all the different types of equipment you can put into your tunnel,” he said. “When I attended The Car Wash Show it opened my eyes to how big the industry really is. It’s a lot bigger than I ever expected it to be.”

He said he’s excited about how technology can impact the industry, but he’s also focused on the environmental impact. “I believe we need to be watching for new ways to not only keep the wash and the vehicles clean but also the planet we live on,” he said. “I know many washes already recycle their water, but we can find a better way to keep the water cleaner and eliminate the chemicals from reaching other water sources. Not only are we giving the customer a quicker, cleaner car wash, but now we are helping save lives in the process.”

Rogers plans to finish his physical therapy degree to open up the opportunity of becoming a physical therapist, but said he’s given a lot of thought to owning his own car washes one day. “I would like to see where the car wash industry takes me,” he said. “I want to see where I can make the biggest impact in the industry.”