Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo connects with Ben Branam of AutoBrite Company to explore the differences between belt gear drives and conventional rail drives. Branam discusses how belt conveyor frames offer greater longevity due to their design, along with the ease of replacing wear parts that helps operators minimize downtime and streamline maintenance. He al...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes Marc Tyndale, director of strategic partnerships at Kleen-Rite Corp., to explore the evolving role of self-serve and in-bay automatic washes in today’s competitive market. Tyndale discusses the current state of these segments, the steps operators can take to enhance customer experiences and how modern payment options are...

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo sits down with Robert Andre, senior vice president of national sales and remodel for Sonny’s The CarWash Factory, to discuss the opportunities and challenges of site remodels in today’s fast-evolving carwash industry. Andre shares insights on what’s driving the surge in remodel projects, how bonus depreciation impacts financial p...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo sits down with Heath Pomerantz, CEO of WOW Carwash, to discuss his journey in the carwash industry and the leadership vision he brings to the rapidly growing brand. Pomerantz shares how his operational background shapes his approach as CEO, the strategies that resonate most with today’s customers and scaling to 17 locations with...

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo speaks with Kevin Matthews, chief operating officer and president of Summit Wash Holdings, about the company’s rapid expansion and people-first culture. Matthews shares lessons from his early experiences in the car care industry, explaining how they shape Summit’s operator-led approach. He outlines the operational and technologic...

In this Executive Spotlight, Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Brian Ankney sits down with Ryan Mogged of Triadex to explore how carwash operators can maximize marketing ROI through advanced targeting tactics. Mogged explains how mobile data, connected TV (CTV), programmatic ads and direct mail are transforming customer acquisition and retention. From geo-fencing competitors’ locations to...

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo is joined by NRCC 2025 show co-chairmen Chris Kubarek and Walt Hartl to discuss the planning behind this year’s event, scheduled for Oct. 6-8 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Kubarek and Hartl share insights into the show’s goals, learning opportunities and the inspiration behind unique additions, such as a virtual tour of global op...

From microfiber to terry to huck, towel choice matters more than you think. In this Professional Carwashing & Detailing Executive Spotlight, ERC’s Valerie Sweeney explains how the right towels improve results, the best practices for care and organization, and how ERC’s expanded product line helps carwash operators run more efficiently.

Host Rich DiPaolo sits down with Sean Foley, chief revenue officer at Interface Systems, to discuss how the company is helping carwash operators tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges through integrated technology. Foley explains why carwashes, known for their high volume, automated environments and exposure to the elements, are a natural fit for Interface’s remote video monitoring, mana...

In this Professional Carwashing & Detailing Executive Spotlight, Kyle Alexander interviews John Olert, former Wall Street executive turned carwash owner and now CEO of American Carwash Solutions. John shares his journey from buying a neglected local wash to transforming it into a thriving business with a focus on service, technology and data. He details how frustrations as an operator led him...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo sits down with Pete Nani, the newly appointed CEO of ZIPS Car Wash, to discuss his journey in the professional carwashing industry and his vision for the brand’s future. Nani reflects on how customer expectations and industry dynamics have evolved over the years and shares how ZIPS is positioning itself for long-term success foll...

Host Rich DiPaolo welcomes back John Roush, CEO of Express Wash Concepts (EWC), to discuss the company’s latest strategic moves and its continued momentum in the express carwash space. Roush shares insights into EWC’s recent acquisitions, including new sites in Pittsburgh, three ZIPS locations in Ohio and the Cleanland Car Wash property, detailing how each fits into EWC’s broader growth blueprint....

In this in-depth conversation, PC&D’s Brian Ankney talks with Hello Wash founder Meddy Ali about the role of AI in modern carwash operations. Ali explains how Hello Wash is using machine learning to simplify customer service, reduce staff workload, and unlock new efficiencies—without replacing people. Whether you run a single location or a 200-site operation, Hello Wash’s AI tools can handle b...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Brian Ankney sits down with Jason VanDerMark, co-founder of WashStacks , to explore how structured systems, processes and procedures drive consistency, scale and customer satisfaction in the professional carwash industry. VanDerMark emphasizes that carwash success isn’t just about clean vehicles — it’s about delivering the same high-quality e...

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes back Jeff Pavone, founding partner, and Chris Jenks, CFA, partner and CEO of Amplify Capital Group, to answer a pressing question for operators: Is now the right time to sell a carwash business? Pavone and Jenks recap key takeaways from their Spark Theatre presentation at The Car Wash Show™ 2025, offering insights into b...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes Eric Wulf, CEO of International Carwash Association, for a post-show breakdown of The Car Wash Show™ 2025. Wulf shares his top three takeaways from the event and provides a sweeping look at key trends shaping the industry's future, from current private equity thinking to the rising importance of customer engagement strat...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo speaks with Tim Hogue, CEO of Modernwash Buildings and Solutions, about the latest innovations in carwash building design and planning. Hogue shares his impressions of 2025 The Car Wash Show™, discusses the ongoing balance between form and function in facility design, and highlights Modernwash’s Virtual Walk Thru software. Accord...

In this episode of Wash Talk, host Brian Ankney talks to Cameron Ray of Sparkle Express Car Wash and Noel Peña of Digital Recognition Network (DRN) about data-driven carwash marketing. The conversation explores how Sparkle Express uses DRN’s license plate recognition and vehicle data to target potential customers based on behavior, such as driving frequency and vehicle type, rather than just proxi...

In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Wash Talk, host Brian Ankney sat down with Tyler England from LiveReach AI to explore how advanced camera systems are transforming carwash operations far beyond simple surveillance. They discuss how high-resolution, multi-angle camera systems are essential in handling customer damage claims. With clear video evidence, operators can prove...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo welcomes Jim Ceresnak, vice president of Northmarq. They discuss the evolving dynamics of the carwash market and the M&A landscape. Ceresnak begins by reacting to major news announcements from Q1. Some of those developments sparked speculation about waning investor enthusiasm in the sector. However, despite some turbulence, C...

In this episode of Wash Talk, host Brian Ankney chats with Phil Marquardt and Chris Zuchegno from Dencar and United Auto Wash to dive into the operator's perspective on innovation in carwashing. Phil shares how his passion for 24/7, people-free carwash operations led him from running a wash to developing the tech behind it. From the challenges of launching memberships in unattended sites to embrac...

Host Rich DiPaolo is joined by Ryan Molinelli and Kevin Molinelli of Qual Chem for a deep dive into the company’s journey, product philosophy and upcoming innovations. The conversation kicks off with a look at Qual Chem’s history and how it has grown into a trusted name in the professional carwashing industry. Ryan and Kevin discuss what sets Qual Chem’s formulations apart, how their founder’s ope...

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo talks with Nick Haase, co-founder of MaintainX, about how preventive maintenance strategies can help carwash operators minimize costly downtime and deliver consistent, high-quality service to their customers. Haase begins by sharing his background and the origins of MaintainX, highlighting how the company has evolved to support c...

Host Rich DiPaolo talks with Ian Burton, ISTOBAL’s North American director of sales, to celebrate a major milestone — ISTOBAL’s 75th anniversary. Burton reflects on the company’s rich history, global growth and continued commitment to innovation in the vehicle wash industry. Burton shares how ISTOBAL is commemorating this impressive milestone anniversary, while also discussing how the company’s de...

In this episode, host Rich DiPaolo talks with Danka Dubak, director of marketing for AVW Equipment Company and a third-generation member of the company’s founding family. Dubak shares how AVW has remained a leading force in the carwash equipment industry for over five decades by consistently delivering modern solutions tailored to today’s carwash operators. We explore the evolution of tunnel carwa...