In 2003, Ben Melendez was a 27-year-old single dad struggling to make ends meet in his hometown of El Paso, Texas. Working two jobs wasn’t cutting it, so he approached Leo Cereceres, then general manager of Vintage Car Wash, for a temporary part-time job. Cereceres obliged, and gave Melendez a job vacuuming cars five days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As Ben expected, that third job at the car wash finally provided the financial support he needed. What he didn’t expect was to fall in love with the car wash industry. The job launched an exciting professional career that continues to flourish to this day.
Ben immediately took to the fast-paced environment at Vintage Car Wash. He felt challenged as part of an energetic team washing hundreds of cars a day, and he was fascinated by the chemistry of car washing and the gadgetry inside the tunnel.
Back in those early days, Ben said customers who encountered him working at the car wash probably would have described him as high energy and exciting to watch. Coworkers would have described him as intense but also as a natural leader who motivated the rest of the team to work at their full potential by setting the pace and leading by example.
Melendez’s passion did not go unnoticed by Rick Taff, who owned Vintage Car Wash at the time. Eight months into his first job, Melendez was promoted to general manager. Within three more years, Melendez managed three different full-service locations.
“I was financially stable and I had found a career I loved,” Melendez said.
On Becoming a Leader
One of the early lessons Melendez learned in the car washing business is that management is not easy. “I learned that in order for us all to be successful, we had to trust one another,” Melendez said. “I had to share knowledge and delegate responsibilities to everyone involved in daily operations so they would feel a sense of ownership.”
At age 30, Melendez found himself looking in the mirror and asking himself how he could be a better leader to his employees. He wanted to be a leader they would respect and want to work with.
“I had to learn how to be a better listener and trust our employees,” Melendez said. “When I did that, I naturally created a more positive working environment because their input mattered. My focus was to create ways for the employees to work smarter, not harder.”
Melendez’s biggest challenge at Vintage Car Wash was getting everyone to feel the same passion for the business that he felt. He also spent considerable time countering the negative perception people had about car washes from a career standpoint. Over time, he developed a knack for getting people to see their potential as employees – and as people.
Climbing the Ladder of Success
As he applied those early lessons, Melendez saw volumes and revenue increase.
Having experienced such early success, Melendez naturally had the desire to reach even higher in his career. He had a hunch he was capable of doing far more. But unless he left his company, there was nowhere else to grow.
That all changed one December day in 2007, the day Mister Car Wash acquired Vintage Car Wash in El Paso.
Looking back on that single day, Melendez said, “It changed my life forever. A door suddenly opened to endless opportunities for me and my career.”
By 2010, Mister Car Wash had promoted Melendez to El Paso District Manager. His ability to self reflect and learn to make changes within his personal management style was key to his success.
“Ben’s openness to learning new things and willingness to take on new challenges is what makes him a stand-out leader at Mister Car Wash,” said Joe Matheny, vice president of operations. “Ben is connected to the business and is truly interested in developing his team, just as he was developed.”
In 2012, CEO John Lai invited Melendez to relocate to Tucson to oversee four locations, a number that doubled to eight by 2014. A year later, he had oversight of the entire Tucson region as well as Albuquerque, and Melendez was as excited about car washing as he’d been the first day he started vacuuming part time.
“Through hard work and dedication, I have been able to excel with Mister Car Wash,” he said. “The company has provided me with the support and guidance that has helped me get to where I am today. Now I have the opportunity to do what I love on a larger scale. I help others achieve their goals and provide them with the same opportunities I have been given. My story is a testament to what you can accomplish, when you set your mind to it.”
Mister Car Wash is quite open about its vision. It’s not just about delivering a clean, dry, shiny car fast; it’s about inspiring people to shine.
What inspires Melendez to shine? “Our amazing employees,” he said. “Every day I have the opportunity to have a positive impact on their lives while fueling my passion for helping others. The most gratifying part of my job is being able to personally develop and watch our employees’ success as they grow.”
Today, Melendez lives in Atlanta where he serves as the Southeast Division Manager for Mister Car Wash, supporting the company’s 45 sites in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
