The New York State Car Wash Association (NYSCWA) provided it members with an array of education, fun and food at its Annual Fall Membership Meeting & Tour, Thursday, October 29. The event kicked off with coffee and signature “carwash named” lattes from Saratoga Sundry, a local traveling coffee camper, sponsored by the Northeast Carwasher magazine.
The group then got an extensive tour of G & G Industrial Lighting, a lighting company with a rich carwash background in Malta, NY. “What impressive lighting and innovation these guys are doing,” said newly-elected NYSCWA President Chris Kubarek of K & S Car Wash in Auburn. “It’s not every day that you get to see the inner workings of such a state-of-the-art business with such a great story.”
G & G was formed when Gary Baright with Foam & Wash in Poughkeepsie, stumbled on a lighting show in Las Vegas. He thought LED lighting in a carwash would be well received, but designing lights that could withstand the humidity, water and chemicals in a wash would be difficult. Gary then challenged his nephew, Jason Baright, who studied engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to solve the problem. And he did by developing the WPX, a harsh-environment LED luminaire. Jason and his brother, Cory, now spearhead the growing operation.
After a tour of the facility the group enjoyed a lunch catered by Neighborhood Kitchen, and sponsored by Vacutech, Sonny’s and Kleen-Rite. A brief business meeting then followed where the 2027 NYSCWA slate of officers were elected and outgoing NYSCWA President Walt Hartl was honored by incoming President Chris Kubarek.
2027 NYSCWA Officers and Directors include:
- President, Chris Kubarek, K & S Car Wash
- Vice President, Mackenzie Weekes Wilock, Spritz Car Wash
- Secretary, Rob Peter, Synergy Solutions
- Evan Baright, Foam & Wash
- Jake Collison, Simoniz USA
- Amanda Kubarek, K & S Car wash
- Stephen Weekes, Spritz Car Wash
- Tom Whited, Mast Solutions
- Immediate Past President, Walt Hartl
Kubarek then announced that in Hartl’s honor the Walter J. Hartl Community Impact Award spotlighting meaningful, positive and measurable contributions made by an individual or business to improve the well-being of a local community would be bestowed in 2028 at the association’s annual meeting.
Next, the group jumped on a chartered bus to tour two outstanding sites. The tour was sponsored by Micrologic and Simoniz USA.
The first stop was at the renovated Spritz Car Wash in Halfmoon. This was the company’s first wash and coin laundry, opening in 2005. Earlier this year the site was demoed and the old PDQ G5’s were replaced with new PDQ 360 LaserWashes. The site boasts sparkling walls and roofing, siding and blacktop, as well as lighting.
In addition to the obvious care and attention to detail the Weekes and Rosenfeld families put into the remodel, they continually strive to provide clean, fast and friendly service. They also provided NYSCWA attendees with a true Oktoberfest experience in one of their bays complete with beer, wine, pretzels and German hats for all to enjoy. “You really don’t typically get this much on a carwash tour,” recounted Kubarek. “Steve and his family made our stop at his impressive site fun and memorable.”
The final site visit of the day was at the totally revamped Hoffman Car Wash on Albany-Shaker Road in Loudonville. One of the company’s shortest tunnels, the 100-foot express has seen several reincarnations with the most recent being the most significant.
The challenge with this site was its short tunnel, low volume and four aging self-serve bays occupying valuable space. Also at issue was extensive prepping and a customer experience unlike that found at the rest of the brand. According to a handout provided by the company, the result has been a 90-percent increase in volume the first six months out of the gate. The site now features an AVW belt conveyor and innovateIT equipment and prep-less washing, as well as a customer experience to mirror the rest of the brand. “We covered a lot of bases today and I think everyone had a great tour and experience,” said Kubarek. “I can’t wait for next year’s event.”
For more information visit nyscwa.com, ggled.net, spritzcarwash.com and hoffmancarwash.com.
