Kleen-Rite Radio

Ep. 25 (Talking IBAs with Mark Tentis from OPW) For episode 25 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, Marc and Phil welcome guest Mark Tentis, Vice President Global Sales and Service at OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions. If you aren’t familiar, OPW is the larger company behind some of the best names in the car wash industry, including: PDQ, Belanger, Transchem, and more. Tentis is a wealth of car wash knowledg...

Ep. 24 (2026 ICA Car Wash Show Recap)Marc and Phil are still feeling the excitement from the 2026 ICA Car Wash Show! So, for Kleen-Rite Episode 24, they do a quick recap of the event from their perspective. They talk a bit about how the show reflects the state of the car wash industry, with self-serve and IBAs getting more attention than in recent years. Since face-to-face time with operators is a...

We love hearing operator success stories! In episode 23, Kleen-Rite radio welcomes Cameron Alleman of Mermaid Car Wash. In a relatively small amount of time in the industry, Cameron has grown the Mermaid chain to 12 locations in Central Pennsylvania. Whether it’s running them or chatting about them, he loves everything car wash. So, he makes for an excellent candidate to sit down for a conversatio...

Ep. 22 (Car Wash Lighting with G&G’s Erin Noonan) In episode 22 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, hosts Marc and Phil are joined by Erin Noonan, Marketing Director at G&G Lighting. The quality of lighting and the impact it has had on the car wash world has exploded in the last 5-10 years, with LEDs quickly becoming a staple of the industry. And of course, G&G has been at the forefront o...

Ep. 21 (Using AI at Your Car Wash) Welcome to episode 21 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! The topic of AI is almost unavoidable these days. So, plenty of car wash owners are curious how they can take advantage of it and make it part of their “toolbox” to improve their business. With this in mind, Marc and Phil thought it would be valuable to have a conversation about it. The guys cover some basics...

Ep. 20 (Self-Serve Optimism and Innovation with Keith Lutz) It’s episode 20 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! Marc and Phil are still brimming with excitement after their recent car wash visits and the SCWA show. Kleen-Rite VP Keith Lutz joins them for a talk about the promising state of the self-serve car wash segment. It’s all about optimism! Thanks to Little Trees for sponsoring this episode! Br...

Ep.19 (Car Wash Industry Excitement in 2026)Welcome back to the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! Marc and Phil were very busy in early 2026. They briefly shifted away from recording episodes for a couple months, but they’re excited to make a return with episode 19. The guys start with a quick recap of what they’ve been up to so far this year. In addition to the Southwest Car Wash Association show and Kle...

Ep. 18 (Operator Mindset: Decrease Maintenance with QCW Bearings) Using quality, well-designed replacement parts is a great way to make your car wash maintenance easier. It sounds simple but it’s frequently overlooked. Operators often choose less expensive products or neglect to stay abreast of new options, not realizing they could save significant time and energy with a superior component. In epi...

Ep. 17 (Operator Mindset: The People System) Do you have a solid network of experts that can provide specialized help when your car wash needs it? In episode 17, Kleen-Rite Radio hosts Marc and Phil discuss what they call the “The People System.” This is an extension of the conversation they had in episode 14 about getting outside help. It’s all about creating a reliable group of distributors, lan...

Ep. 16 (Operator Mindset: Preventative Maintenance)Want to get out of the repair rut? In episode 16 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, Marc and Phil have an in-depth discussion about maintenance strategies that help you predict and avoid breakdowns instead of reacting to them. It starts with taking an honest assessment of your facility and viewing things from a different angle to see what you might...

Ep. 15 (Operator Mindset: Building Consistency) Pick up some valuable advice to make your car wash operation more consistent! In episode 15 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, Marc and Phil share some simple but important lessons they’ve learned about quick maintenance, daily behaviors, and small changes that make a big difference to customers. Hear about their personal experience with things you may...

Ep. 14 (Operator Mindset: Getting Outside Help) Episode 14 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast targets a dilemma that every car wash owner wrestles with – when is it time to get outside help for major repairs or installations? Phil and Marc have experienced this conundrum themselves as hands-on operators and problem solvers. When does do-it-yourself become inefficient and actually cost you money? How...

Ep.13 (Keith Lutz, Kleen-Rite Vice President) Episode 13 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast features a special guest direct from Kleen-Rite – Vice President Keth Lutz! He sits down with Marc and Phil for a great chat about the past, present, and future of the company. Keith recounts Kleen-Rite’s origin story that begins at a small car wash behind an automotive service center in Columbia, Pennsylvania...

Ep. 12 (Conversation with Ascentium Capital )We’re back with Episode 12 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! In this installment, we welcome Tony Zieglar and Michael Fiore from Ascentium Capital to chat about financing for car wash operators. They touch on the difference between the types of small business financing and which option is ideal for your situation. Zieglar explains how Ascentium’s flexibl...

Ep. 11(Marcus Kittrell, Mammoth Holdings Founder) For episode 11 of Kleen-Rite Radio, Marc and Phil welcome guest Marcus Kittrell – a true legend of the car wash industry who boasts an incredible resume. He began working at a full-serve car wash at the age of 16, built his first self-serve right after graduating high school, and still runs several car washes today. He founded Mammoth Holdings, a f...

Ep. 10 (Eric Wulf, CEO International Carwash Association) Welcome back for episode 10 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, hosted by Marc and Phil. They are joined by Eric Wulf, CEO of the International Carwash Association. They lead off with a conversation about how the ICA is an organization that supports all levels of the car wash industry. Wulf address the misconception that the ICA is only focuse...

EP. 9 (Ross Weimer of Bozeman Distributors) Get excited for episode 9 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, sponsored by Ascentium Capital! Hosts Marc and Phil welcome guest Ross Weimer of Bozeman Distributors. They begin by explaining the interconnection between local distributors like Bozeman and suppliers/manufacturers like Kleen-Rite. They highlight the value of having a trusted local distributor a...

Ep 8 (Jason & Brandi Hess of Suzy Q’s Car Wash) Join us for episode 8 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, sponsored by Ascentium Capital. Hosts Marc and Phil are joined by guests Jason and Brandi Hess, owners and operators of Suzy Q’s Car Wash in Adrian, Michigan. Get a fantastic perspective from folks who were completely new to the industry but found success by doing their homework and truly com...

Ep 7 (Guest Brian Hollinger of Sundance) In episode 7, Kleen-Rite Radio welcomes its first guest, Brian Hollinger, to chat with Marc and Phil. His family owns Sundance, a car wash chain in Lancaster, Pennsylvania founded by his grandfather in 1972. As a 3rd-generation car wash owner, Hollinger has seen Sundance adapt to remain successful for decades and maintain a consistent, enjoyable customer ex...

Ep 6 (Self-Serve Pricing & Clubs | Kleen-Rite Radio Ep 6) Enjoy episode 6 of Kleen-Rite Radio, sponsored by Simoniz! Marc and Phil tackle a topic that they consistently get questions about – self-serve pricing and building subscription programs to generate consistent revenue. They begin with a talk about nailing down your pricing and how it directly affects your ability to create a membership...

Ep 5 (Building, Buying, & Rebuilding Car Washes) Get ready for episode #5 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, sponsored by Simoniz! Marc and Phil discuss the key points you need to understand before building, buying, or remodeling a car wash. Marc has a lot of experience in all these aspects, and he shares important points about land selection and development, permitting and working with governme...

Ep 4 (Revamping Car Wash ROI) Thanks for joining us for episode #4 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! In this episode sponsored by Simoniz, Marc and Phil focus on the concept of ROI (Return on Investment) in the car wash industry. They discuss the basic financial strategies that car wash owners should understand to be profitable. Next, they uncover why new investors aren't afraid to charge market pr...

Ep 3 (Unlocking the Secrets of SWOT) Welcome to the latest episode of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, sponsored by Simoniz. Hosts Marc and Phil delve into the power of SWOT analysis for car wash operators. SWOT, which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, is an invaluable tool to analyze business practices to optimize performance and boost revenue. The duo emphasizes the impo...

Ep 2 (Competing with Express Tunnels) Welcome back to the Kleen-Rite Radio Podcast! In this episode sponsored by Simoniz, hosts Marc and Phil dive into strategies for self-serve car wash operators to take their business into the upper tier. They discuss three of the major competition types facing self-serve operators: express tunnels, other self-serves in the area, and the toughest competitor of a...

Ep 1 (Dive into the Car Wash World) Welcome to the inaugural episode of Kleen-Rite Radio, a brand new podcast dedicated to the car wash industry, hosted by Marc Tyndale and Fix It With Phil. Sponsored by Simoniz, this episode sets the stage for a series focused on 'self-serve success'. Marc and Phil share their backgrounds, expertise, and the unique collaboration that led to the creation of this p...