Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Harry Caruso, founder of Car Wash Advisory, for a candid assessment of where carwash mergers and acquisitions stand heading into the back half of 2026. Recorded live at The Car Wash Show™, the conversation opens with Caruso's frank take on the current deal environment: Transaction counts are on pace to be the lowes...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Tim Hogue, CEO and founder of Modernwash, to examine the business case for prefabricated carwash building construction and the misconceptions that have long followed it. Hogue opens by addressing that prefabricated structures are plain, limited in customization or somehow less permanent than traditional block build...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Jordan Rowe of RDM to make the case for remanufactured carwash electronics as a cost-effective, reliable alternative to buying new. RDM has served the carwash industry for roughly three decades, building on a broader background in petroleum, medical and laundry equipment repair. Rowe explains what sets RDM apart:...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Kendra Johnson, chief experience officer for the International Carwash Association, for a conversation from the floor of The Car Wash Show™ in Nashville. Johnson shares early attendance numbers from the 2026 show, the buzz surrounding a sold-out main floor and a fully booked second level — the first time in show hi...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, Jeff Pavone from Amplify Capital Group joins host Kyle Alexander to break down the forces shaping today's deal environment — and why the second half of the year is poised for a significant rebound.   Pavone explains that the slowdown stems less from a lack of buyer interest and more from the pressures upstream. Constraints in private credit market...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes Steve Gaudreau, founder of Brink Results, for a focused conversation on what it takes to build an unlimited wash club sales matrix that consistently drives 5,000 or more members per location. Gaudreau, whose firm has trained more than 10,000 carwash employees over the past three decades, shares the operational gaps tha...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Ryan Molinelli, vice president of sales at Qual Chem, and Joseph Moldovan, founder of Qual Chem, to discuss the company’s biggest product launch in years: a 10-product Evergreen carwash chemical line debuting at The Car Wash Show in Nashville.   Molinelli and Moldovan share what operator feedback drove the develo...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Brian Ankney welcomes Aaron McGhee of Interface Systems for a conversation on how carwash video analytics are reshaping site security, customer experience and operational efficiency. McGhee shares what operators across the carwash vertical have been asking for in 2025 and why video has emerged as the fastest-evolving category in the security...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes Michael Pelikan, director of operations Retention Express, for a data-driven conversation on how artificial intelligence is transforming carwash customer retention and reshaping how operators understand their customer base. Pelikan opens by identifying the single most overlooked data point in the industry: why customer...

Dryers are one of the most important — and often overlooked — components of a car wash. In this Executive Spotlight, Ron Wittich of Cincinnati Fan joins host Kyle Alexander to discuss: Why proper drying is critical for customer satisfaction How water spots and residue impact vehicle finishes The role of energy-efficient motors and VFDs How operators can reduce energy costs by up to 25% Best practi...

In this Executive Spotlight episode, Brian Ankney talks with Kyle Martin about the factors shaping today’s carwash industry. Martin explains why strong relationships with equipment manufacturers and distributors are essential for long-term success, especially when wash systems are designed to operate for decades. The conversation also explores why in-bay automatic and self-serve washes are gaining...

Membership programs have become the backbone of many carwash businesses — but the real key to success lies in retention. In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney talks with industry expert John Booth about the metrics operators should be watching beyond membership counts. The discussion explores how churn rate and customer lifetime value r...

Paint protection and restoration are quickly becoming premium services for professional detailers and carwash operators. In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight , host Kyle Alexander speaks with Jim Dvorak of Mothers about how detailers can properly assess paint condition, educate customers about protection options and deliver long-lasting results. The conv...

In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney speaks with Bobby Thomson of Retention Express about carwash phone call management, membership retention and the growing role of AI in customer service. Retention Express handles over a million carwash calls annually — from billing disputes and cancellations to compliments and damage claims. Thomson...

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Pat Shannon, president of the Heartland Carwash Association (HCA), for a wide-ranging conversation on the association’s mission, the evolving needs of operators and what’s ahead for the Midwest carwash market. Shannon begins with an overview of HCA's role in serving carwash owners, operators and suppliers across...

When a large corporate carwash breaks ground nearby, many independent operators panic — but they shouldn’t. In this PC&D Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney sits down with Tara Baugher of Ver-tech Labs to explain why local carwash owners still have the upper hand. From protecting membership counts to leveraging community connections, Tara shares practical, boots-on-the-ground strategies tha...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, Rich DiPaolo speaks with Ro Krishna, VP of Car Wash at Way, about how customer data and retention are reshaping the carwash business. The conversation focuses on the growing pressure on margins, especially in high-volume express tunnels, and why speed and discounts alone are no longer enough to drive sustainable growth.   Krishna shares insights o...

In this Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney sits down with Kyle Doyle, vice president of Rinsed, to unpack what consistently separates high-performing carwash operations from the rest. Doyle introduces the concept of the “three pillars” — consistent scripted presentations, ongoing coaching and clear accountability — emphasizing that strong performance isn’t accidental or dependent on rare stand...

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo sits down with Dave Kelly, Chief Development Officer for Spotless Brands, to discuss the company’s recent acquisition and its broader Northeast growth strategy. Kelly explains why Pete’s Express Car Wash was a natural fit for Spotless and how the deal strengthens the Flagship Carwash brand in Greater Philadelphia. The conversatio...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes back Jeff Pavone, founding partner at Amplify Capital Group, for a candid and timely look at the state of carwash mergers and acquisitions heading into 2026. Pavone breaks down the major forces shaping today’s deal environment, from shifting buyer motivation to evolving private equity strategies, offering operators and i...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes Troy Huisman, founder of Superior Control, for a deep dive into one of the most critical, yet least understood, parts of a tunnel: the motor control center. Huisman discusses the early gaps he saw in the carwash equipment world and what pushed him to design smarter, more responsive control solutions. He explains why a co...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes Brenda Jane Johnstone, founder of Women in Carwash™, to discuss the upcoming 12th Women in Carwash conference, taking place January 18-20 at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa. Johnstone shares the story behind the event’s creation, including the inspiration that led her to build a space dedicated to empowering...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes Rex Womble, vice president of Quivio, to discuss the growing importance of connecting the modern carwash. Womble shares insights on how Sonny’s Quivio platform helps operators unify their operations by integrating software, hardware and cloud-based analytics into a single digital ecosystem. The conversation explores what...

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo is joined by Mark Curtis, chairman of the board, and Dan Petrelle, CEO, of Splash Express Car Wash. Together, they share insights on leadership transitions, private equity partnerships, growth strategies and creating a winning work environment in the competitive Northeast carwash market. Petrelle discusses his transition from COO...