MARCUS GREENE
Owner
Pronto Car Wash and Quik Lube
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Senior Vice President
Branch Banking & Trust
Marcus Greene is finishing his term on the ICA board as an operator member and recently took a few minutes out of his to discuss what he’s thinking about in his business, his time with the ICA, and his life outside of car wash. Greene began his car wash career in 2002 after he found out a friend was selling one of their locations. He’s been hooked ever since.
Q: How did you enter the car wash business?
A: I had a friendship with a car wash owner who let me know that he and his brother were looking to sell one of their locations. It was Pronto Car Wash, one of the oldest full-service car washes in Florida, opened in 1958. The site has a soft cloth tunnel, five self-service bays and three bays for oil change. I’ve owned the site since 2002 with two partners.
Q: You have a unique mix of banking and car wash ownership experience. What advice might you offer to those interested in entering the car wash business?
A: I’d first say that you can’t do too much homework. ICA offers a New Investor Seminar each year that provides a great foundation. After that, it’s important to really understand the market where you are looking to build or acquire — what are the demographics, where are they trending, what are the town’s development plans, what is the infrastructure like, etc. You’re always going to have some things that surprise you, but the goal is to minimize those as much as possible. Second, you should understand that operating a car wash, perhaps particularly a tunnel, requires constant attention. It starts with the simple (though often overlooked) need to keep a clean facility. Then, you have to have plans or people to handle repairs and preventative maintenance. Finally, you can’t ever stop looking at the new equipment and options that come to market — you need to maintain your edge and constantly bring new value to your customer.
Q: What are you most proud of in regards to your service on the ICA Board of Directors?
A: In 2013, we moved to an independent headquarters structure, where our core staff became employees of the association as opposed to employees of our longtime management firm. This was a major strategic shift for us, and one that I believe will continue to pay dividends for years to come. I’m proud to have been a part of that decision-making process.
Q: When not at the office or the car wash, how do you spend your time?
A: Our family tries to be together as much as possible, though that seems to get more challenging each year! My wife and I have two daughters, one of whom is, like me, a University of Florida graduate, and the other is attending University of Miami in Florida. So, rooting for the Gators or (sometimes) the Hurricanes is a family tradition.
Q: How would you describe the ICA Board of Directors to someone who may be unfamiliar?
A: Two things come to mind: successful and passionate. The men and women on our board are highly successful in their careers, representing the leading retail and supplier organizations in our industry. They are also passionate about their business but also the growth of our industry overall. Everyone serves voluntarily, and you have to have a deep desire to support the industry in order to spend the time on the board of directors. I have made some wonderful friendships on the board of directors and am thankful for them having helped me grow as a person and business owner.
