Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast

Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast

Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, created by Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine, covers industry trends, ideas and strategies that will help make your carwash more profitable. Hear what carwash owners, operators, manufacturers and distributors have to say in our exclusive interviews and audio articles.

Episodes

July 2, 2025 27 mins
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 basic customer interactions, monitor ...
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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 experience every time. He outlines ho...
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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 buyer activity, market dynamics and ...
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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 strategies. He weighs in on the changing...
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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. According to Hogue, the immersive tool no...
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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 proximity. This approach allows for prec...
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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 preexisting damage, which not only...
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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, Ceresnak believes the industry’s lon...
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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 embracing customer feedback, the episode ...
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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 operator background gives them a uniqu...
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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 carwash operators in managing their ...
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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 decades of experience translate into ...
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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 carwashes from AVW's viewpoint, includin...
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In this episode, Mel Ohlinger from OhmCo discusses how in-bay automatic carwashes can compete with larger chains by leveraging their unique advantages. These include lower costs, 24-hour availability, and the ability to cater to niche customers with specialized vehicles, such as motorcycles and trucks. Mel emphasizes the power of data and social media analytics in identifying potential customers, explaining how targeted advertising...
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In this episode of PC&D Unscripted, we welcome Ian Hamilton, aftermarket technical sales with Vacutech by NCS. Hamilton joins us to discuss Vacutech’s latest innovation, T-Force, and what it means for the carwash industry. We begin with a look at Vacutech’s history and its impact on the industry, as well as Hamilton’s role in supporting operators with advanced vacuum solutions. Hamilton discusses the most recent developments fr...
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In this episode, host Rich DiPaolo talks with Steve Gaudreau, president, and Jason Van Kooten, director of maintenance and facility, for Brink Results, LLC. Brink Results is widely recognized in the professional carwashing industry for its expertise in organizational development, management coaching and sales training. However, as Gaudreau explains, the company has expanded its services to include technical consulting, helping carw...
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Host Rich DiPaolo talks with Erin Noonan, director of marketing for G&G Industrial Lighting, to discuss how colored carwash light shows can transform the customer experience and bolster operators' bottom lines. Noonan shares her thoughts on the impact of LED lighting on customer experience, loyalty and business growth. She explores the functional benefits of colored LEDs beyond aesthetics, such as improved visibility, safety, s...
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Host Rich DiPaolo talks with Jeff Blansit, president-elect of the Southwest Car Wash Association (SCWA). In this episode, we’re diving into everything you need to know about the 2025 SCWA Convention & EXPO, scheduled for Feb. 26-28 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Blansit shares insights on this year’s theme — Refresh, Renovate and Reinvest — and how it reflects the evolving landscape of the carwash ind...
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Host Rich DiPaolo talks with Max Pulcini and Scott Caplan from EverWash to discuss the evolving landscape of carwash memberships and the company’s acquisition of Coinless in 2024. Pulcini and Caplan share insights on how carwash memberships have evolved over the past decade, highlighting the growing role of technology and consumer preferences in shaping membership. They also dive into effective marketing strategies, discussing the ...
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Host Rich DiPaolo welcomes back Mack Ewing, senior director of sales and marketing for Transchem Group, to discuss the company’s evolution after the OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions (VWS) acquisition, overall carwash chemistry trends and what’s next for the market. First, Ewing shares insights into Transchem’s integration into OPW VWS following its acquisition, highlighting how the transition has expanded its global and North American re...
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