The car wash industry met Joe in 1993 in his home town of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Twenty-five years later, Joe finds himself as one of the top leaders for Mister Car Wash, America’s leading car wash company.

Despite his lofty title of VP of Operations, Joe hasn’t strayed far from his humble roots even though his reach and responsibilities have expanded throughout the country. Today, the only thing shinier than the wheels driving off the lot where his career began is his influence and personal touch on the industry.

Soft spoken and good natured, Joe says he always loved cars but never intended to make car washing his career; in fact, he wanted to be a machinist. However, he was captured by the fast-paced work environment of the car wash and never left. With steady determination and innovation, he cultivated his business and people development. In turn, doors kept opening.

After Mister Car Wash acquired Wash Point Autowash in 1999, and Joe with it, the company promoted him from assistant manager to general manager. He was recognized as a high performer and leader, which led to his promotion to district manager in 2003, then area manager in 2010 and again as regional business manager in 2012. In 2015, Mister Car Wash asked Joe to join its corporate headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., as director of field operations and a short year later, he had earned the responsibility of VP of operations.

And that’s how a 15-year-old turns a job washing cars into an exemplary career. Through his influence and impact on every level of the business, Joe climbed every rung of the career ladder. After 19 years with Mister Car Wash and 25 years in the industry, he is responsible for the successful operation and ongoing improvement of 260 stores and counting.

To stay close to the business and its people, Joe estimates he spends about 70 percent of his time on the road, visiting stores and examining new acquisitions. “Whether we’re looking at acquisitions or developing talent, I like to keep it simple. We evaluate people for their passion for their job,” Matheny said. “Do they take ownership in what they do? If they do, it will reflect in how the store looks and feels. Do they care? It goes deeper than words. Does their passion show?”

Ripple Effect

How can one passionate individual impact so many?

President and CEO of Mister Car Wash John Lai sees it this way: “Joe puts others’ interests before his own, a trait which not only drives Joe’s success but that of his colleagues as well. He epitomizes the core essence of servant leadership by always appreciating the wonder and magic of every person and leading from that place.”

True to his modest nature, when asked about his proudest accomplishments over his long car washing career, Joe is quick to shine the light on others. “My proudest moments have been when I’ve promoted people around me, developing people to move up, and contributing to our culture shift from process-focused to a people-focused company.”

Humility is a common trait among great leaders. The hardest workers tend to gravitate toward those who give credit rather than take it. Joe says he learned this lesson early on from mentors like Brian Gleason and Troy Henry. They showed him the ropes, gave him room to succeed and cheered him on. Following their footsteps, he’s paying it forward.

Future Outlook: Bright and Shiny

A seasoned car washer like Joe Matheny characterizes the future as bright for the industry’s top operators. It’s no time to rest on laurels, however. “Nearly every market offers lots of shiny new car washes. Competition is coming on strong,” he observes.

So how does Mister Car Wash intend to keep its edge? “Mister Car Wash’s commitment goes well beyond the physical plant. Of course the company is committed to improving the look and feel of the stores it acquires. But it’s not so much about the physical location, it’s more about the people.”

According to Joe, Mister Car Wash has made a gradual but purposeful shift from being numbers oriented to people-centric, beginning with its mission: Inspiring people to shine. “It’s about how you treat your crew members. The last few years, we’ve made great progress in this area,” he said. “We have annual Shine Together events where we close the stores early to recognize all of our hard working teams along with their shining stars. But it’s much more than that. It’s an everyday commitment that is never ending. We’re working hard to make sure we’re giving every team member equal opportunity to show their worth and rewarding those who rise to the occasion. Our mission shows up everywhere, even in a simple gesture like a store level manager giving someone a high five. But the work is never done.”

Tim Vaughn, director of operations for the South Central region, has seen the ripple effect at work and views Joe as a mentor. “Joe has been the single-biggest influence on my career with Mister Car Wash. I’m where I am today because Joe has never failed to take the time to talk to, coach, or encourage me. His passion for our company and his vision inspires me to be better every day. Anyone with a desire to learn who has come in contact with Joe knows exactly what I’m talking about,” Tim said.

Similar to Joe, Mayra Chimienti, VP of operations services worked her way up the corporate ladder, starting with a vacuum in her hand. “Joe’s leadership style has evolved beautifully over the course of his career and at the core, it’s because he genuinely cares,” she said. “He believes in full transparency and pushing people to explore their own limits – he really has a way of bringing out the best in people.”

Embracing Change and Sharing Lessons

Much has changed in the quarter century that Joe has been washing cars. He recalls a time when a typical car wash experience would take 30 minutes and a customer needed to schedule a car wash into their day. As Joe points out, people just don’t have that kind of time anymore and the wash market has responded. Today, customers can experience a full-service wash in 15-20 minutes or an express exterior wash in 3 to 5 minutes max. Assisting with this shift is technology, of course.

Few car wash companies can match Mister Car Wash’s long history of continuous improvement and innovation, which provides company leaders like Joe with unique perspective. As Joe articulates, “John [Lai, President and CEO] and I have the same belief: Anyone can build a car wash. Anyone can deliver a clean, dry, shiny car fast. It’s our people that make the difference. It’s all about the customer experience. We truly care about our customers, not just their vehicles.”

To date, Mister Car Wash has acquired more car washes than any other company and has a steady track record for successfully turning stores around. Joe boils down the many lessons he’s learned over his career to this pearl of wisdom: “You can’t wash cars by yourself. Surround yourself with great people and good things will happen.”

At 42, Joe is far from washed up. Reflecting over his career to date, he becomes a little sentimental. “Working for Mister Car Wash has been a life changing event for me. I don’t know where I’d be without this company. Working here has made me a better husband and father. I’m not the only one, there are tons of Joe Matheny stories at Mister,” he said.