For the second year in a row, the International Carwash Assocation presented five Emerging Leaders Scholarships at this year’s The Car Wash Show. Five industry stand outs were awarded an All Access Pass and three-night accommodations at the host hotel as a way to recognize the industry’s future leaders.
Bucky’s Car Wash
Laura Adams knew she was going to work for Bucky’s Car Wash at the company’s Gun Barrel City, Texas, location … even before she knew what the business was that was being constructed at the current site.
“There was new construction going on,” Adams said. “I remember telling friends and family that I had no idea what it was going to be, but that I was going to work there one day.”
Adams had been working for a fast food company, but was looking for a new opportunity with greater responsibility. “Shortly after the car wash opened for business, I was hired as a customer service attendant,” she said. “I soon realized it was such an exciting business. I wanted to learn everything I could.”
Bucky’s Car Wash President David Grasch knows the story well.
“We’re so glad she felt that way. Laura was like a sponge soaking up every bit of information on how to repair equipment, how to handle customer complaints and how to operate every aspect of the wash,” said Grasch. “Laura was quickly promoted to assistant manager because of her dedication.”
According to Adams, she learned a lot about dedication by watching Grasch. “My owner ran the day-to-day activities for the first 18 months of operations at our wash,” she said. “I watched him closely as he led the daily activities, as he handled customer interactions, as he laid on his back to repair equipment and how he was always the first to jump in the trench to dig out some of the most god-awful smelling gunk. That taught me to be much more willing to jump in and help, knowing that no task is beneath even the owner.”
Being part of the car wash industry has been a natural fit for Laura. “I love the business, I love my customers and I love the endless opportunities I have been given so far,” she said.
Those endless opportunities are a direct result of Laura’s ambition and dedication to the business. “Laura quickly became a favorite of our repeat customers, oftentimes being the biggest reason customers returned to wash their cars,” Grasch said. “As a result, she quickly took over the reins of that wash and the business thrived.”
And her growth didn’t stop there.
“As we expanded operations into Colorado, I needed to carefully select the manager for this new location due to the vast distance from me in Texas, nearly 1,000 miles,” Grasch said. “Laura earned the right to lead our team. Without missing a beat, her deep knowledge of our equipment and personal touch with our customers led to superior success. In fact, Laura had developed into such a great car wash manager that we needed her to travel to our other locations to train her fellow managers and ensure quality standards were being consistently met throughout the company.”
Today, Adams is the director of operations, managing the day-to-day operations of three Bucky’s locations, and she feels right at home. “This company has given me the opportunity to better provide for my kids,” Adams said. “I believe my kids have learned that taking pride in my work, giving my best and being dedicated to the business and our customers can lead to great personal and business success.”
When she’s not at work, Adams loves spending time outdoors with her kids. “Some of my favorite times are hanging out at the lake when we are in Texas or hiking and picnicking when we are in Colorado,” she said.
Water Works Car Wash
Kyle Edwards, a project manager with Water Works Car Wash, joined the car wash industry after some time as an automotive mechanic. “I was looking for something different,” said Edwards. “The opportunity to learn more about car washing presented itself and I was intrigued by the challenge of such a multifaceted industry along with a great passion for automobiles…especially clean ones.”
Bob Boardmen, the owner of Water Works, had a lot of great things to say about Edwards. If you didn’t know any better, you would never have guessed based on Boardmen’s comments that Edwards is only 23 years old.
“I would give my right arm for 12 more Kyles,” said Bob. “But there’s only one, and I am so glad he is on my team.”
It’s clear Edwards’ work ethic is strong. “The best career advice I’ve ever received was to let my work speak for itself,” he said. “The quality of the jobs I perform and the value I add says everything that needs to be said. I do my best at everything I do and I improve with every opportunity I’m given.”
His work speaks volumes.
“In the car wash industry, it’s getting harder and harder to find employees who earnestly look at a problem and are willing to persevere to find a solution,” Boardmen said. “Kyle is that kind of employee. He will not give up or give in until he can find a solution. At the same time, he’s willing to seek out knowledge from different sources and remains teachable.”
Boardmen also said that Edwards’ attention to detail make him popular with customers. “He often notices a problem even before they do and is already working to correct it before they can report it,” Boardmen said.
One of Edwards’ best memories at the car wash was when he helped teach a customer – who had never washed his car anywhere other than his driveway – how to properly wash his vehicle in one of Water Works’ self-service bays.
“The gentleman reacted as if he had just won the lottery,” Edwards said. “He was overwhelmed with happiness when he told me that I have forever changed his car washing experience.”
According to Boardmen, Edwards is great with his coworkers too. “He treats other employees with a kind and gentle spirit that evokes a camaraderie that creates a positive work experience, even on a mundane task,” he said.
“It’s such a joy to watch someone so young have such drive, ambition, energy and commitment to this industry,” Boardmen said. “It gives me hope there will be a few good men around to carry on this profession that grows in your bones that we call car washing.”
When not at work, Edwards enjoys building and modifying cars. “Improving performance, appearance and everything in between,” he said. “I started a car club three years ago to fuel my passion for cars and trucks. I attend car shows all over the east coast. Every car I’ve had and will have is a project that will never be finished.”
Let’Er Buck Car Wash
Ben Hawkins started working for Let’Er Buck Car Wash while he was finishing his degree in criminal justice. After he graduated, he accepted a position at a nearby reform school for juvenile delinquents and stayed part-time with the wash.
“During my time at my full-time job, I started to realize how much I enjoyed working at the wash,” Hawkins said. “It was kind of like a job getaway where I could have fun without having to tell the people I worked with ‘no’ and ‘don’t do that’ all the time.”
Eventually, the Let’Er Buck owners approached him and offered Hawkins a position as the general manager of the wash.
“Ben had worked for our company since we had opened,” said Let’Er Buck Owner David Wills, “We have known Ben since he was in elementary and have watched him grow up into an honest, hardworking young man. He had presented the qualities that we were looking for in a general manager. We know it was a difficult choice for him to make as he felt that he was really helping the teenagers at his job.”
Even after moving to the new role and leaving the reform school, Hawkins never stopped helping those teens. While many of the wash’s employees are temporary and will eventually move on to something else, Let’Er Buck has made it a priority to invest in their employees’ lives while they’re there. Hawkins recognized that, and was willing to join in on that.
“We have employed teenagers from the youth facility where Ben worked,” Wills said. “Ben is putting together a formal paid internship for the students to work at the wash. There are various requirements and responsibilities that the students must meet in order to be considered for the program, but we’re very excited to implement this program and help these young adults.”
Hawkins is also working to help shift managers grow in their leadership skills. “Ben will be leading the shift managers in a weekly leadership study,” Wills said. “Our shift managers are eager to learn and Ben is the guy to help them as they move toward their future.”
While Hawkins has been in a number of roles helping others grow, he’s also interested in his own learning. “I think my favorite memory in this job was when the owners and I took a trip to Denver and saw other car washes like our own to compare what they do to what we do,” he said. “There aren’t many tunnel washes in Wyoming, but right across the border in Colorado there are plenty to choose from.”
When not at work, Hawkins’ favorite pastime is recreational shooting. “There is a lot of room to stretch your legs in Wyoming,” he said. “You can almost go anywhere and shoot without bothering someone with the noise.”
But, he’s also interested in forging new projects, similar to his internship program. “I love building things,” Hawkins said. “Especially when it comes to things that haven’t been built yet. Projects like that keep my mind active.”
Autobell Car Wash
Mike Hulburt started his career with Autobell Car Wash almost as soon as he was legal to work; he was hired as a crew member at the Virginia Beach, Va., location when he was just 16 years old, a junior at the local high school, in 2005.
“Playing sports and being part of a team have always been a piece of my life,” said Mike. “When the time came to start earning money, I knew the car wash industry was the way to go. The fast-paced environment and opportunity to once again be a part of a team made me realize it couldn’t get better.”
Hulburt continued working at the Virginia Beach location throughout high school and college, and was promoted to assistant manager in 2007. In 2010, his hard work and dedication paid off. Hulburt was named store manager at the Newport News, Va., location. Shortly thereafter, he moved back to the store where he started his career as manager of the Virginia Beach location in 2011.
“Mike has risen quickly through the ranks,” said Mike’s District Manager at Autobell Anil Verma. “He earned the Rookie of the Year award for the entire company in 2011, and then rose to the top, winning the Autobell Manager of the Year award in late 2014.”
Hulburt said the best advice he’s ever received is in one quote that put everything in perspective for him. “Every day you’re auditioning for a position that isn’t even open yet,” he said. “To be the most successful in any career path I choose, I must first be able to deliver on the responsibilities I am currently entitled to.”
His performance is the kind of audition many would love to have. “Mike has set several milestones that will be tough to challenge,” Verma said. “His location holds the all-time record for Autobell’s Virginia district for vehicles washed in all categories: hour, week, month and year.”
While store performance is important to Hulburt – his location has won Autobell’s Virginia store of the month award 16 times – he also believes strongly in employee development. “Mike has mentored and launched 10 store managers of his own, developing rich talent wherever he goes,” Verma said.
Customer service is also important to Hulburt. In fact, it’s one thing that convinced him to become part of the car wash industry in the very beginning. “Customer service made the car wash industry the complete package,” he said. “It’s something I consider to be the main attraction of the industry.”
“Mike has been a great example of how hard work and dedication can take you anywhere you want to go,” Verma said.
When Mike isn’t busy at work, he enjoys spending his time with family and friends.
Hoffman Development Corporation
In the fall of 2006, Zac Myers was in between jobs. A friend of his was about to leave his position at Hoffman Carwash and suggested that Myers fill his spot as a line attendant. “I never thought it was going to be my career,” Myers said. “But the longer I stayed, the more I grew and the more I enjoyed working for Hoffman.”
Saying he grew at Hoffman is an understatement. In 2007, he became a supervisor. In 2010, he joined the landscaping department to learn a new part of the business. After some time there, he applied for and was offered a position as a supervisor in a higher-volume full-service car wash. In 2011, the organization recognized his proven ability to lead teams, and he was promoted to assistant manager at that same facility. In 2013, he was promoted to store manager of a location that hadn’t yet opened.
“Zac had proven himself as a team player with an ability to motivate and lead a team,” said Walt Hartl, Myers’ district manager. “Zac’s ability to develop and build a team made him a perfect choice to open a new store. He was involved in every part of interviewing, selecting and developing his crew, all of whom are still in their positions today, three years later.”
The store opened in December 2013 and, under Myers’ leadership, has seen significant growth ever since.
This time frame has marked a period of change for Myers. Not only was he promoted and launching a new location, but his mom was battling cancer and his wife was pregnant with their first child. “The store opened Dec. 2, 2013. On Jan. 27, 2014, I lost my mother after a long battle with cancer. On Feb. 28, my wife gave birth to our first child, Sophia,” Myers said. “I was feeling overwhelmed, and had a conversation with Walt. He gave me advice that has helped me tremendously: You have to find the balance between work, leisure and family. In this business, you can over-work yourself and become burnt out very quickly. It’s important to make time for your family and for yourself.”
Myers’ ability to find balance between his work and his personal life haven’t led to any dips in success at Hoffman.
“Zac’s attention to detail is second to none,” Hartl said. “His facility looks better today than it did the day it was opened. He has instilled a sense of pride for the facility – members of his team call it ‘their’ store. It’s a marquee facility.”
While growth has been a keyword of Myers’ career at Hoffman, it’s also a keyword for his staff. “Zac is more than a manager,” Hartl said. “He is a coach, a mentor and a leader in every sense of the word. He relates to his team with purpose, and makes the job fun while helping to develop the next generation of our company’s leaders. Members of his team will no doubt be in the running for advancement in the near-future.”
When he’s not at work developing the next generation of leaders, Myers enjoys spending time with his family, playing softball and hunting with his dad
and brothers.