Carol Davis enjoys people and she loves cars. Currently vice president of 4th Avenue Car Wash in Columbus, Georgia, she got into the business when she married the “car wash guy” 20 years ago.

She’s been part of the full-service car wash ever since. “I have taken on the roles of cashier, bookkeeper, tax payer, sales and merchandise coordinator, organizer, cleaner, listener, advice chamber, idea maker, commercial creator and, most importantly, a shoulder for the boss to lean on during rainy weather,” she said.

Each day brings new surprises. “I enjoy talking to people who are passionate about their cars,” Davis said. “I love hearing stories about where their car took them and how their car never let them down.”

Customers share just about every subject under the sun with Davis. For example, she got President Jimmy Carter’s dill pickle recipe. (It takes 30 days in a slow cooker to get them ready to eat, but they are totally worth the wait.)

“Over the years, I have been given onion plants, strawberry plants and a tree,” she said. “I have also received flowers, tomatoes, peppers, pepper sauce, apples, pears, jelly, flavored crackers, lunch, breakfast, whiskey and much advice on everything.”

When it comes to the car wash, Davis’ biggest concern is getting streak-free windows right every time for every vehicle. “Once the owner is inside the vehicle, this is what they see and how they grade your car wash,” she said. “The outside can be perfect, but leaving one streak on the windshield makes the entire wash unsatisfactory in their eyes.”

Thanking each customer who walks in the door is one of Davis’ biggest secrets to excellent customer service. “They could be going to another car wash in town, and we acknowledge that they have chosen us,” she said.

“Every day new cars roll into the entrance of our wash, it’s another chance to feed my passion of seeing a new vehicle and meeting the owner,” Davis said. “It’s a good life.“