Erik Lasoya walked into the brand new Clean Getaway Car Wash and Detail center three days prior to the grand opening. The son of immigrant parents from Guanajuato, Mexico, he was looking for work after he and his wife had left their families in Norwalk, Calif. to head east for new opportunities.

Meanwhile, Clean Getaway General Manager Kevin Bledsoe was in a meeting with one of the company owners, Sophie Radde. “I interrupted our meeting to do an interview. From the moment he walked in, Erik had a presence about him that I could not ignore,” said Bledsoe. “Like one of those people you just like but are not sure why.”

Bledsoe finished the interview and went back to his meeting with Radde. “I think that is our newest employee,” Bledsoe told Radde.

One week later, Lasoya was working as a ticket write/greeter at the newly opened location.

That was nearly 5 years ago. Today, Lasoya is still at Clean Getaway, greeting customers by name, and making them feel welcome. “Creating a space where employees can succeed creates an aura of happiness that rubs off on our clients,” said Bledsoe. “Erik is one of our best. He is a natural, with a great personality, respectful and motivated. He’s customer service focused.”

And it’s that focus on service that matters most to Bledsoe. “We believe that extreme customer service is what drives loyalty with our customers,” he said.

Watching Lasoya work is like enjoying a particularly good car race where just watching the drivers cut in and out of lanes with precision and grace is enough to delight your senses. He knows most of the customers by name and can identify them as they pull up and has their favorite wash already punched up. “I feel like customers appreciate my attention to detail,” said Lazoya. “I love talking to them and getting to know them on a personal level.”

He knows their likes and dislikes as well as small tidbits about their families, he banters with them asks about their day all the while smiling and reassuring them that their car is in professional hands. “Customers like to feel appreciated and consistency is key,” said Bledsoe. “Recognizing them and calling them by name along with 60 second conversation makes the difference.”

Lasoya, because of his exceptional customer service skills and his commitment to the company, has created an opportunity for himself and been able to succeed at an unparalleled pace. In February of 2015, he was named as the new Manager for Clean Getaway Car Wash and Detail Center’s new location in Mansfield, Texas.

Clean Getaway currently has two locations in Mansfield, with plans to open six additional locations in the next three years, bringing its particular brand of customer service and business savvy to a new crop of employees and residents in the years to come.