COMPANY NEWS
Registration open for SONNY’S 2015 CarWash College
TAMARAC, Fla. — SONNY’S The CarWash Factory posted its 2015 CarWash College training schedule, and registration is currently open, according to a press release.
Carwash operators can take part in courses on management, maintenance and repair. Thirty-three percent more courses have been added for 2015 compared to 2014.
A quarterly one-day New Investor Seminar will also be held for those interested in entering the carwash industry.
Students will have access to a state-of-the-art laboratory containing equipment typically found at a carwash.
Training programs are non-brand specific and 95 percent of the material learned can be transferred to any type of conveyor carwash. More than 30 percent of students own a brand other than what they were trained on.
“Since its inception, SONNY'S The CarWash Factory has had 2,350 CarWash College graduates,” stated Robert Andre, president of CarWash College, in the release. "I have had the opportunity to meet some really amazing people and form long term relationships during the past eight years.”
Manufacturer/distributor wins ethics award
BATON ROUGE, La. — Bozeman Distributors was chosen as a recipient of the 2014 Douglas Manship Sr. Torch Award for Ethics in Business by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of South Central Louisiana, according to an email announcement.
Bozeman was one of four businesses chosen for the honor. SRS Wealth Management Group, Louisiana Workers Compensation Corp. and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center were also winners.
The award “was established in 2001 to honor businesses that exhibit the highest ethical standards of behavior toward customers, suppliers, users, shareholders, employees and the community,” the release says.
Recipients will be recognized at the 14th Annual Torch Awards Banquet on Oct. 14, with LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri as the featured speaker.
MaxLite expands with new facility
ANAHEIM, Calif. — MaxLite, a manufacturer of LED lighting solutions, has opened a new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified facility, according to a press release.
The more than 48,000-square-foot building features the company’s first full showroom on the West Coast. It also increases the company’s product assembly and testing capabilities.
The $7.5 million facility is outfitted entirely with energy-efficient MaxLite LED lighting products. The building received its LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for following best-in-class green building strategies and practices.
“Our new Anaheim building and its capabilities will play a key role in strengthening MaxLite’s position as one of the easiest companies to work with in the industry,” says MaxLite President and CEO Yon Sung, in the release. “Achieving LEED certification further supports our company’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.”
The new location will allow the company to get its product to customers faster.
The laboratory is expected to achieve full recognition by Underwriters Laboratories by May 2015.
Zep Government lands TCPN contract
ATLANTA — Zep Government, a unit of Zep Inc., was awarded The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN) Fleet Washing Products and Services Contract, according to a press release.
TCPN members will have access to a large collection of professional car care and fleet washing products and services.
John K. Morgan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Zep Inc., shares in the release, “This is the first State and Local Government Cooperative contract to benefit from multiple Zep Inc. brands, and I’m confident that TCPN members will find our breadth of highly effective products, application expertise and equipment capability to be a winning combination.”
TCPN Vice President Chris Penny states in the release that the “contract will allow fleet and maintenance departments to work more efficiently, saving agencies both time and money.”
Zep Inc. is a consumable chemical packages goods company that manufactures a wide variety of high-performance maintenance and cleaning chemicals.
Zep Government has worked with cooperative purchasing organizations for 12 years and has won four national awards, numerous state contracts and contract extensions.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
New Jersey operators tour multi-profit carwashes
CLARK, N.J. — Car Wash Operators of New Jersey (CWONJ) toured three carwashes on Wednesday, Oct. 22, according to a press release.
Attendees toured Rt. 130 Car Wash & Express Lube, a wash and lube with vacuums; Asbury Circle Car Wash, a full-service wash and detail facility with repairs and oil change; and PJ’s Car Wash Park, a full-serve with detail center and gift shop.
The group also enjoyed hors d’oeuvres compliments of Conte’s Car Wash and lunch at Illianos Café.
Innovative Control Systems (ICS) sponsored the event.
SONNY’S Anthony Analetto presented “Talk Turkey on How to Turn around Your Underproducing Wash” at another CWONJ event on Nov. 18. Hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner were served.
New York association talks court and tours washes
TARRYTOWN, Pa. — The New York State Car Wash Association (NYSCWA) met for a carwash tour, dinner, fall membership meeting and program.
The group toured Pelham Manor Car Wash & Lube, Diamond Car Wash and White Plains Car Wash.
After a buffet dinner and business meeting, Hoffman Carwash Customer Service Manager Rodney Bronson presented the program “How to Win in Small Claims Court.”
Bronson has more than 20 years of experience, and his 99 percent track record is evidence of how effective preparation and documentation can be when dealing with customer claims.
Event sponsors included Micrologic Associates, ZEP Vehicle Care, Turtle Wax and Carwash Insurance Program Sponsored by McNeil & Co.
NYSCWA’s next meeting is scheduled for Cortland in the spring, and its annual New York Mets event is scheduled for June 16 at CitiField.
PEOPLE NEWS
ICS fills sales position
WIND GAP, Pa. — Innovative Control Systems (ICS) added Leonard (Lenny) Cavalier to its regional sales team, according to a press release.
Throughout his 17-year career in the carwash industry, Cavalier served in a variety of roles including sales and service, branch inventory and management.
Cavalier has assisted distributor companies launching carwash divisions, and he worked for manufacturers for 11 years, much of which was spent with a payment terminal company.
“I’m looking forward to using my experience and relationships within the industry to help grow both my territory and the ICS brand as a whole,” shares Cavalier in the release. “When I started out in the western region I worked with some great distributors … I am excited to work with those distributors again and build relationships with new distributors in the future.”
Cavalier will be based out of ICS’ West Coast office in Irvine, Calif.
PECO hires industry veteran as business development manager
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — PECO Car Wash Systems has hired Mike Jacques as its business development manager, according to a press release.
Jacques brings a wealth of experience to his position. He spent the last 17 years at a major tunnel manufacturer, where he was instrumental in contracting negotiations, developing territories and managing accounts.
At PECO Jacques will continue to provide business services to carwash companies in the Eastern U.S. and Canada.
“I am excited to start a new challenge with PECO and look forward to working within the PECO team to further develop their already extensive product and service to the carwash industry,” states Jacques, in the release. “I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that prides itself on top quality customer care.”
PECO supplies carwash parts, equipment and systems throughout the world and it manufactures its own line of conveyorized equipment.
Starco Chemical announces new regional manager
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Starco Chemical has hired Barbara “Barb” Riehle as its new Midwest regional manager, according to a press release.
Riehle has more than 14 years of sales experience in the industrial and institutional cleaning products industries.
She has worked with manufacturers’ and distributors’ representatives.
Starco Chemical is a division of Diamond Chemical Company Inc., a national manufacturer of warewash, laundry, floor care, housekeeping and industrial products.
Starco has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to manufacture a line of approved Green Key products.
