This week, we cover an announcement about the 2021 SCWA Convention & EXPO, a new hire, a charity drive and scholarship awards.

SCWA announces new Convention & EXPO management

AUSTIN, Texas —The Southwest Car Wash Association (SCWA) has announced a new partnership with Candlewood Expositions, a trade show management company, to manage the annual SCWA Convention & Car Wash EXPO, as stated in a press release.

According to SCWA President Jeff Blansit, “The annual SCWA Convention & EXPO has grown into an event that attracts more than 2,000 attendees from 37 states across the U.S. With the growth of the annual SCWA event, we want to build the management team to support the continued growth while keeping the same friendly, family Southwest hospitality.

Chuck and Jane Space will continue their great efforts in identifying the education and speaker content while John Moriarty and his company, Candlewood Expositions, will manage the Convention & EXPO. We are excited to have Candlewood as our partner as we look to the future.”

John Moriarty serves as principal of Candlewood Expositions and brings over 25 years of trade show experience in turnkey trade show management services to SCWA, the release continued. 

SCWA Executive Director Chuck Space, said, “Our goal is always working to provide the best experience possible for those who join us for SCWA events. John and his company bring a trade show background that will maintain this experience for both our attendees and our exhibitors.” 

“I am thrilled to have this opportunity with SCWA and looking forward to meeting and working with all the attendees and exhibitors to make the 2021 event the best yet,” said Moriarty.

The 2021 SCWA Convention & Car Wash EXPO will be Feb. 17-19, 2021 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, the release concluded. 

Watch www.swcarwash.org and the SCWA TODAY for all the details.

Washify hires new chief financial officer  

BOSTON — Washify Services LLC has announced the appointment of Michael Hadzipanajotis as chief financial officer (CFO), according to a press release.

Hadzipanajotis will be responsible for all finance and accounting matters, including treasury management and strategic growth, the release continued.

As a senior member of the executive team, Hadzipanajotis will report directly to CEO Adam Korngold, the release noted.

“We are excited to have Mike join Washify. He complements our strong performance-oriented culture, and we believe his impressive background for execution and achieving results makes him the right choice to lead our finance operations,” said Korngold.

“I am very excited to join the Washify team. I believe the potential for growth and value creation is tremendous, given the smart and passionate people, strong technology and nationwide footprint. Having played a leadership role in similar businesses and industries, I am confident that we can develop and execute plans to drive consistent growth. I look forward to becoming part of the Washify family and partnering with the team to build the business,” said Hadzipanajotis.

Hadzipanajotis has more than 18 years of extensive accounting and finance experience, the release stated.

Prior to Washify, he served three years as CFO at FinTech/SaaS Company, LeaseQ, where he oversaw several divisions, including finance, legal, human resources and business operations, the release added.

During that time, the company grew revenue, successfully led multiple rounds of funding and ultimately led the sale of the company to a leading international private equity fund, the release continued. 

Hadzipanajotis previously served as business finance manager at Santander, a top 25 retail bank in the U.S., the article noted.

Prior to that, Hadzipanajotis served as CFO and controller for several community financial institutions in Massachusetts, the release stated.

Hadzipanajotis is a CPA and holds an MBA from Auburn University and a bachelor of science degree in accountancy from Bentley University, the release concluded. 

The Wash Tub offers back-to-school free full service carwashes for all school faculty

SAN ANTONIO — The Wash Tub will be offering free full service carwashes to school faculty with a valid employee ID at all locations from Aug. 1-8, according to a press release.

“Teachers and students have had to adjust to a new way of teaching and learning,” said Matt Vizza, president of The Wash Tub. “There are many uncertainties as the new school year begins, but The Wash Tub’s appreciation for local teachers and staff remains a constant. Offering school faculties a free carwash is our way of saying thank you to all teachers for their never-ending care and support of our children.”

The Wash Tub’s full service carwash, at a retail value of $17.99, includes a complete interior vacuum, soft cloth wash, towel dry, complete wipe down of dash and console and all windows cleaned inside and out, the release concluded.

Autobell® Car Wash Inc. awards 2020 academic scholarships to team members in five states

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the 2020-21 academic year, Autobell Car Wash presented 118 of its team members in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Maryland with scholarships toward the college or university of their choice, with the year’s gifts totaling $104,750, according to a press release.

Since its inception in 2000, the Autobell Car Wash Scholarship Program has awarded over 1,700 qualifying applicants more than $1.7 million in scholarship funding, the release continued.

Open to current Autobellteam members employed with the company for a continuous 12 months, the scholarship program considers each student’s academic diligence and accomplishments, productive extracurricular activities, civic engagement and letters from references familiar with the applicant through school and community involvement, the release noted.

The application also requires an essay that explores an educational or creative aspect of their employment experience, the release stated.

“Reading through scholarship applications is an exciting way to learn more about our talented and hard-working team members and their hopes and plans,” stated Autobell Human Resources Manager Katie Sens. “For many attending school within our geographic footprint, we offer a flexible schedule allowing them to work while completing their education. As our scholarship winners go on to impressive accomplishments after graduation, we are delighted and humbled that Autobell was able to play a role in making their dreams come true.”

This year’s recipients by region are:

Metro Atlanta, Georgia

• Jordan Southerland, Acworth, Georgia — Kennesaw State University
• Melanie Maule, Atlanta, Georgia — University of Georgia
• Jack Pehler, Cumming, Georgia — Kennesaw State University
• Cameron Youngblood, Duluth, Georgia — Georgia Gwinnett College
• Caeley Anderson, Kennesaw, Georgia — Kennesaw State University
• Benjamin Dillingham, Lawrenceville, Georgia — Georgia Gwinnett College
• Dan Estes, Lawrenceville, Georgia — Georgia Southern University
• Jeremiah Lehmberg, Lawrenceville, Georgia — University of Georgia
• Kevin Norris, Lawrenceville, Georgia — Georgia Gwinnett College
• Eduardo Hernandez, Mableton, Georgia — Georgia State University
• Adrian Mendoza, Mableton, Georgia — Kennesaw State University
• Christian Conner, Suwanee, Georgia — Georgia Gwinnett College

Central Maryland

• Heather Waugh, Bel Air, Maryland — Elizabethtown College
• Alexei Sanidad, Bowie, Maryland — Anne Arundel Community College
• Gavin Jens, Grasonville, Maryland — York College of Pennsylvania
• Joshua Pindell, Stevensville, Maryland — Salisbury University
• Liam McGinnes, Queenstown, Maryland – Anne Arundel Community College

Cabarrus County, North Carolina

• Camron Trott, Concord, North Carolina — Central Piedmont Community College
• Carson Trott, Concord, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Jacob Bulanda, Harrisburg, North Carolina — Kent State University
• William McGee, Harrisburg, North Carolina — Lenoir Rhyne University
• Klein Price, Kannapolis, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte

Cleveland County, North Carolina

• Connor Martin, Shelby, North Carolina — Western Carolina University

Eastern North Carolina

• William Speight, Elm City, North Carolina — North Carolina Wesleyan College
• Landon Quigley, Rocky Mount, North Carolina — East Carolina University

Gaston County, North Carolina

• Will Jurchak, Belmont, North Carolina — Wofford College

Iredell County, North Carolina

• Kira Orellana, Mooresville, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Cody Kraft, Statesville, North Carolina — Appalachian State University

Lincoln County, North Carolina

• Mattie Hoyle, Crouse, North Carolina — Appalachian State University
• Chandler McCaslin, Denver, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Greensboro
• Seth Moody, Lincolnton, North Carolina — Gaston College
• Lily Teseniar, Lincolnton, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Wilmington

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

• Davis Barnett, Charlotte, North Carolina — North Carolina State University. Barnett also received a North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) Retail Scholarship of Excellence through NCRMA’s Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation.
• Owen Bielefeld, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of Central Florida
• Josue Campos, Charlotte, North Carolina — Appalachian State University
• Natalie Carswell, Charlotte, North Carolina — Carolinas College of Health Sciences
• Benjamin Deschamps, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• Ellie Drescher, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Wilmington
• McKenna Driscoll, Charlotte, North Carolina — East Carolina University
• Abigail Gallup, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of South Carolina
• Rocke Gonzales, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Israel Guzman, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Baudelio Hernandez, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• William Jones, Charlotte, North Carolina — Central Piedmont Community College
• Anthony Mendicino, Charlotte, North Carolina — Appalachian State University
• Victoria Meyer, Charlotte, North Carolina — East Carolina University
• Jarrett Putman, Charlotte, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Benjamin Shaw, Charlotte, North Carolina — Belmont Abbey College
• Jackson Stipp, Charlotte, North Carolina — Liberty University
• Bowman McCoy, Davidson, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Nicholas Pillo, Huntersville, North Carolina — University of South Carolina
• Marshall Hildebrand, Matthews, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Alexandra Lee, Matthews, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• Hunter Rast, Matthews, North Carolina — Appalachian State University
• Kaitlyn Rast, Matthews, North Carolina — Central Piedmont Community College
• Nicole Viebrock, Matthews, North Carolina — Carolinas College of Health Sciences
• Adam Ward, Matthews, North Carolina — North Carolina State University

Stanly County, North Carolina

• Alexandria Gilmore, Norwood, North Carolina — Carolinas College of Health Sciences

Triad North Carolina 

• Daniel Besecker, Burlington, North Carolina — Cape Fear Community College
• Haley Winebarger, Burlington, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Greensboro
• Makayla Wright, Burlington, North Carolina — Appalachian State University
• Abigail Callas, Greensboro, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Greensboro
• Zackery Parris, Greensboro, North Carolina — Guilford Technical Community College
• John Pruette, Greensboro, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Robyn Ramsey, Greensboro, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Greensboro
• Christopher Reed, Greensboro, North Carolina — Guilford Technical Community College
• Kyle Watkins of Greensboro, North Carolina, attending Liberty University, received a North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) Retail Scholarship of Excellence through NCRMA’s Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation.

Triangle North Carolina

• Max Kahn, Apex, North Carolina — East Carolina University
• Alexander McKinley, Cary, North Carolina — Appalachian State University
• Hayden Lundin of Cary, North Carolina, attending the University of Alabama, received a North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) Retail Scholarship of Excellence through NCRMA’s Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation.
• Maxwell Verplank, Garner, North Carolina — Wake Technical Community College
• Chase Jones, Knightdale, North Carolina — Wake Technical Community College
• Jason P. Wood, Knightdale, North Carolina — Wake Technical Community College
• Irie Squire, Morrisville, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Lukas Digeronimo, Raleigh, North Carolina — Wake Technical Community College
• Aaron Faulkner, Raleigh, North Carolina – North Carolina State University
• Kyle Jones, Raleigh, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Evan Karas, Raleigh, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Joshua Nikolich, Raleigh, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• Innis Powell, Raleigh, North Carolina — Wake Technical Community College
• Ashley Robertson, Raleigh, North Carolina — Liberty University
• Ben Shifman, Raleigh, North Carolina — Wake Technical Community College
• Peter Skerlos, Raleigh, North Carolina — North Carolina State University
• Tazewell Steed, Raleigh, North Carolina — North Carolina State University
• Jonathan Olund, Wake Forest, North Carolina — Vance—Granville Community College
• Andrew Leonard, Zebulon, North Carolina — Wake Technical Community College

Union County, North Carolina

• Mason Cox, Indian Trail, North Carolina — Bluefield College
• Landon Gault, Indian Trail, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Daniel McGinn, Indian Trail, North Carolina — Appalachian State University
• Abrey Austin, Marshville, North Carolina — Central Piedmont Community College
• Jack Hicks, Marvin, North Carolina — University of South Carolina
• Mark Haithcox, Monroe, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• McKenzie Meyer, Monroe, North Carolina — East Carolina University
• Hannah Ohlson, Monroe, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Madison Ilch, Waxhaw, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Timothy Wood, Waxhaw, North Carolina — University of North Carolina Charlotte

Western North Carolina

• Tristan Towe, Asheville, North Carolina — Liberty University
• Joshua Robinson, Hendersonville, North Carolina — Asheville—Buncombe Technical Community College
• Dylan Deane, Waynesville, North Carolina — Western Carolina University

Charleston, South Carolina

• Zachary Fleming, North Charleston, South Carolina — Clemson University

Upstate South Carolina

• Blake Keffer, Clover, South Carolina — The Citadel
• Joelle Keffer, Clover, South Carolina — The Citadel
• Preston Berger, Fort Mill, South Carolina — College of Charleston
• Christopher Daniels, Fort Mill, South Carolina — Erskine College
• Brendon Incorvaia, Fort Mill, South Carolina — Winthrop University
• Nigel Mitchell, Rock Hill, South Carolina — Winthrop University
• Daniel Mackey, Tega Cay, South Carolina — College of Charleston

Hampton Roads, Virginia

• Casey Geary, Chesapeake, Virginia — Newport University
• Aaron M. Edwards, Hampton, Virginia — Old Dominion University
• Ivan Santiago, Hampton, Virginia — Old Dominion University
• Michael Slawson, Philadelphia, PA — Hampton University
• Parker Adams, Newport News, Virginia — James Madison University
• Sean Allen, Newport News, Virginia — Old Dominion University
• Zachary Kempf, Newport News, Virginia — Christopher Newport University
• Devon Moore, Newport News, Virginia — Old Dominion University
• Keelan Hill, Portsmouth, Virginia — Regent University
• Dontez Vann, Portsmouth, Virginia — Norfolk State University
• Alexandria Cox, Virginia Beach, Virginia — George Mason University
• Kyri Davis, Virginia Beach, Virginia — Tidewater Community College Virginia Beach

Northern Virginia

• Jeremy Ramos Olivare, Sterling, Virginia — Northern Virginia Community College