35th NRCC Raises Educational Bar – Again!

Keynote Speaker Garry Ridge of WD-40

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – The 35th Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC), at the Atlantic City Convention Center, continued to raise its educational bar and showcase the industry’s best suppliers and manufacturers, October 6-8, to a crowd of nearly 1800. “As we wrap the 35th NRCC, I want to thank and congratulate the NRCC board, suppliers, manufacturers and attendees for helping us raise the bar yet again,” said Co-Chairman Walt Hartl of Hoffman Car Wash in Albany, NY, and the New York State Car Wash Association, this year’s host. “This show offers outstanding networking opportunities with the Simoniz and ICS events, that were standing-room only, and open to all attendees and vendors,” he said. “It also features exceptional educational tracks with topics covering website design, how to increase sales and the importance of having difficult conversations with your staff and customers, to name just a few.” Added Hartl, “Top that off with an engaging and charismatic Keynote from WD-40’s Garry Ridge on how his ‘Any Dumbass Can Do It’ approach to leading can be applied in multi, as well as a single-location washes, and you have a great formula for success.”

Expanded Education

Garry Ridge and Co-Chairs Chris Kubarek and Walt Hartl

Always striving for a better and more comprehensive show drives the NRCC board to push the envelope annually, said Co-Chair Chris Kubarek of K & S Car Wash in Auburn, NY. “We strive every year to improve not only the exhibit floor, but our world-class education and this year we tried to spotlight self-service programming.” In doing so, the NRCC teamed up with self-service experts Kleen-Rite Corporation to put together two seminars that would appeal to that market. “We wanted to expand our footprint and make sure to provide our self-service and inbay attendees with cutting-edge education,” said Education Chair Suzanne Stansbury. “The programs our partners put together were non-promotional and really addressed the current concerns facing the market, while spotlighting the innovation available to build volume and profits. The collaboration was a home run we plan to further expand upon in 2026.”

At one point during the education track on Tuesday there were three concurrent seminars to again address the needs of several industry segments, as well as younger managers. “We expanded our Manager’s Track with a program put on by Retired Colonel Pilar McDermott of Thayer Leadership who spoke to how to have difficult conversations at the manager level,” said Stansbury. “It was such a success that we plan to bring Col. McDermott back in 2026. She was impressive.”

Doug, Kathleen and Ryan Rieck of Magic Wash

During that segment of programming Kyle Doyle with IgniteWash/Rinsed spoke on effective sales presentations and what the best run teams are doing to achieve maximum profits for our tunnel operators, and Keith Lutz with Kleen-Rite ran a self-serve program featuring what successful operators are doing to drive volume and create customer loyalty. And, of course, the popular Virtual Carwash Tour spotlighted four outstanding operations to kick off the event and let’s not forget about the traditional Early Bird Panel that touches on all aspects of washing on Tuesday morning.

Networking Abounds

A staple of the three-day event, as Hartl mentioned, is its networking opportunities which are open to all attendees and vendors no matter their level of registration. The first event included a “Celebration” put on by Simoniz USA on Monday evening at the Hard Rock’s Hollywood Ballroom attracting more than 500 attendees. “What a great event,” said Will Gorra, Simoniz USA CEO. “We look forward to it every year and couldn’t do it without the NRCC. We truly value that relationship.”

Martin De Los Santos with Magic Mex Installers and Alan Doyle

The show’s Welcome Reception, sponsored by long-time exhibitor ICS, is an opportunity to unwind after show hours on Tuesday before heading out to dinner. The event includes ‘Jersey snacks, two drinks and several raffle prizes including a $500 cash giveaway. This year’s cash winner was Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Rich DiPaolo.

ICS’ long-term relationship with the NRCC on this event has been integral in the show’s success. “ICS has sponsored the Welcome Reception for many years,” said Scott Friedman, Marketing Director at OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions (ICS, PDQ, Belanger and Turtle Wax Pro). “We’re exceptionally proud of our close and long relationship with the NRCC and this event enables us to show our appreciation for our industry and the people who make it special.”

Intimate Show

But what also makes the NRCC a truly unique event is its welcoming and intimate nature, according to first-time attendees Denisa and JD Goad. “We had a great time and got to meet a lot of people who were so sharing and generous to us as we are new to the industry,” said Denisa. “We really enjoyed the social aspect of the show, the food was really impressive, but what really stood out was just how welcomed we were made to feel. We have never felt so welcomed.”

Children’s Specialized Hospital 22nd Annual
Golf Outing Tops $128,000 in Donations

UNION, NJ — The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey’s (CWONJ) Children’s Specialized Hospital 22nd Annual Golf Outing here raised $7,000 for the hospital on August 5, topping off total donations at $128,000, according to Scott Freund, CWONJ Golf Chairman. “We have been working with our golfers and sponsors over the last 18 years to raise money for this incredibly deserving hospital and with our outing and weekend event this year we are at approximately $128,000 and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Despite scorching temperatures in the ‘90s dedicated golfers took to the famed A.W. Tillinghast course after a “To Go” Breakfast sponsored by Broad Street and Spark Car Washes for 18 holes on the challenging albeit breathtaking course. The day was topped off with a late BBQ lunch sponsored by Micrologic, who also sponsored the Golf Balls. Lunch Beverage Sponsors included Circle Petroleum/Reladyne, King Insurance, Andrew Knox & Co. and Olde Granddad. Golf Carts were sponsored by Simoniz USA. On the course beverages were provided by Prime Lube and DRB. The Hole in One sponsor was ICS and Vacutech sponsored the Pro on Hole #11.

CWONJ President Dino Nicoletta then presented Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Director of Institutional Giving, Keely Davenport, with a check for $7,000. Davenport shared the breadth of the hospital’s scope throughout its 15 New Jersey locations. She added that children from across the country make the journey to the Garden State to take advantage of the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient care from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries, to developmental and behavioral issues such as autism and mental health. You can learn more about the good work of the hospital at rwjbh.org

President Nicoletta then noted the winning and second place foursomes and some other winners before thanking each sponsor. Second Place went to the team from Proland Management: Scott Freund, Al Sa, Henry Caron and Ray Kenwell with a 59. First Place went to the returning champs from Broad Street Car Wash: Doug Karvelas, Jack Keller, Connor Moffat and Mike Giannacio with a 54. Carlo Gulotta had the Closest to the Pin honor on Hole #11, Al Sa took Closest to the Pin on Hole #16 while Tyler Oliveira hit the Longest Drive on Hole #4. Longest Drive Contest sponsorships were provided by Advantage Contractors/Simoniz and Echelon/WashHounds. Closest to the Pin sponsors included Birchwood Insurance, the Northeast Carwasher magazine and Shammy Shine Car Wash. Tee/Green sponsors included: Eastern Funding, Express Auto Spa, Kirikian Industries, Kleen-Rite Corp., Madison Car Wash, Paymedia, Service Champ, Swiped, Tameric Realty and Tri State Car Wash Sales of PA.

CWONJ Past President Mike Conte also ran an auction, won by Al Rogers with Shammy Shine, for a foursome and lunch at the private club.

President Nicoletta noted in his address to the group that the upcoming Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC), Oct. 7-9, is being hosted by the CWONJ. He also shared the date of the association’s Fall Membership Meeting, November 6, featuring International Carwash Association (ICA) President Marcus Kittrell. The event will be held at Suburban Golf Club in Union.

Standout Washes, Succulent Lunch
Highlight 23rd Annual Wash Tour

MATAWAN, NJ — The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey’s 23 Annual Carwash Tour, May 29, which started out here, visited three unique locations on a picture-perfect day. A full bus of attendees, sponsored by Motor City Wash Works, first traveled from the Judy Blume Service Area on the Garden State Parkway to Glow Express in Matawan. Owned by Leon Beyder, the 90-foot express featuring MacNeil equipment, 11 Vacutech drops, NCS chemistry and Micrologic controls packed a big punch in a small amount of acreage. With vacs in two locations on the property, the site’s creative layout and colorful design was inspiring and efficient.  read more….

The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey’s (CWONJ) Fall Membership Meeting

The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey’s (CWONJ) Fall Membership Meeting, November 8, at Suburban Golf Club here featured International Carwash Association (ICA) President and Benny’s Car Wash co-owner Justin Alford. Alford, a third generation carwasher who hails from Baton Rouge, LA, made the trip with his wife Juliet and daughter Helen, a fourth generation carwasher, to speak at the annual meeting attended by 60. “It was an honor to have Justin come to New Jersey and share his family’s incredible and successful carwashing story,” said CWONJ President Dino Nicoletta.

Prior to the annual membership meeting Alford got the opportunity visit some washes in the state. “What a great day,” said Alford. “We were able to visit so many really interesting washes and spend time with some of my carwash friends old and new,” he said. “What a great group of operators.”

Alford, whose grandfather started in the industry in 1951, owns nine Benny’s car washes in the Baton Rouge, LA, market with his father Ben and brother Jason. They run successful conveyor locations with full service, express, oil changes, gas, detail and c-stores. In fact, Benny’s and Innovative Control Systems (ICS), Bethlehem, PA, the event’s hors d’oeuvre sponsor, were instrumental in launching the first express carwash in the US in 2001.

Alford shared his company’s growth and evolution and educated the group on all things Baton Rouge complete with Mardi Gras beads that featured the wash’s mascot. “What a great meeting,” added Nicoletta. “Justin is a true professional and a really outstanding guy.”

Also during the meeting Princeton Public Affairs Group (PPAG) lobbyist Sam Weinstein updated attendees on the two-year efforts to push legislation through the state that would deem carwashes “essential” if COVID or another similar epidemic shuts down businesses. “Sam and the team at PPAG are pushing hard on our behalf and with a little more effort we hope to get to the finish line,” said Nicoletta.

CWONJ’s Donates More Than $100,000 in

CWONJ Board Member Tom Fuller of Team Car Wash (left) and CWONJ President Dino Nicoletta of Asbury Circle Car Wash (right) met with Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin at the Princeton Public Affairs office in Trenton to discuss the association’s bill to deem carwashes “essential.”