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29th Annual WCA Convention & Tradeshow
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The Western Carwash Association wrapped up its 28th Annual Convention & Trade Show at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada Wednesday, October 7, 2009 and it was a Convention filled with new programs, new logo and new management.
Attendees were lead through a serious of independent work as well as group discussions that focused their attention on how they deliver service to their customers and build loyalty. “The idea to partner with Disney Institute came out of a committee discussion regarding the current economy and the needs are members are facing with not just retaining customers, but building customers.” said Macriss. “Who does a better job at building customer loyalty than Disney?” Randy Cressall, WCA Past President, stated that this year’s Convention was the “best show yet,” and that the Disney session were helpful to those who attended. “The Disney session on Monday was over the top and created Magic as our minds became transformed in to ‘Imagineering’ the many possible ways we could improve our businesses.” Cressall, owner of Valencia Chevron Auto Spa in Valencia, California, came away from the Disney education with “five pages of notes and seven real action items,” and has a meeting scheduled with his management team “to develop plans for the action items for improvement.” The WCA/Disney Institute partnership continues through the 29th Annual Convention & Trade Show, so if you didn’t get a chance to experience the magic this year, there is always October 11-13, 2010! When asked what impressed him with this year’s Convention, Baum stated “I was impressed with the positive attitude attendees had about their business in the face of a tough economic environment. Attendees definitely had the attitude that they could grow and win through better business execution.” This is also reflected in WCA’s registration numbers. Attendees also had the opportunity to attend workshops on the Trade Show floor during exhibit hours. “The Nuts and Bolts Classroom was the committee’s way of keeping everyone on the Trade Show floor and only having a segment for a short period of time into the Classroom to learn from industry leaders.” Macriss said. Some speakers saw standing room only during their lecture. “We are excited to expand the Nuts and Bolts Classroom in 2010 with the overwhelming positive response to this new format.” During the last year, WCA President Jerry Nix (whose term ended at the completion of this Convention), watch an economic environment not only try to take a strong hold on his car wash facilities, but on the Association as well. During the WCA General Business Meeting, Nix gave his insight to the current economic environment. “Last year at this time we were in and still are in the midst of an economic recession that has greatly affected our industry. The perilous concern for us as business owners has been the shrinking disposable income from our customers. Consumers have less money to spend due to the depth and breadth of the recession and the uncertainly of the economy, such as employment, housing and the credit markets. He went on to say, “In today’s business environment, we are no longer competing just with the carwash down the street, but we are competing with every cash register on the street, whether it’s a dry cleaner, fast food restaurant, or a Starbucks.” “This recession has forced operators to focus on their operations in a way as to re-evaluate their wash quality, wash packages, customer service, and labor. Working through these challenges can only help create opportunities for the operator today and for in the future.” | Read More... Just like all businesses, WCA has been impacted by an economy in crisis. “Obviously our investments took a hit, but where we saw the biggest impact this year was in exhibit booths sold,” said Macriss. “We are thankful we only saw a 6% decrease in companies represented at this Convention from the previous year’s Convention. Being new to WCA, to me this speaks volumes of how well respected the WCA Annual Convention and Trade Show is with industry leaders.” As for the WCA membership, “We are proud to see an increase in the amount of members we serve. I hope this means we are doing our job as a trade association in delivering the tools and services our members seek for their businesses to survive and strive.” Also during the General Business Meeting, Nix presented five annual WCA awards to outstanding representatives in the car wash industry, but before presenting the award recipient videos, Nix shared with the audience the dream many in attendance had to create their own company “sitting around the kitchen table.” His reference to the “dream” comes from the successful dreams the 2009 WCA award recipients had and are an inspiration to the entrepreneurial dream. “This recession has shaken that dream, but someday this recession will end just like all the recessions that preceded this one. The future for our industry is bigger and brighter tomorrow than yesterday.” He went on to say that the award recipients “were successful in their pursuit of their entrepreneurial dream. I guarantee that you will be inspired and that it will challenge each and every one of you to improve both professionally and personally.” 2009 Award Winners
This year’s convention saw a changing of the guard. Jerry Nix, WCA President 2007-2009, passed the gavel to Bill Carbonel, owner of River City Car Wash located in West Sacramento, CA. Serving on the WCA Board of Directors since 2003, Carbonel is looking forward to working with the WCA Board and staff on keeping the WCA “a vibrant association by providing the best benefits available in our industry and continuing to be on the forefront of issues that are affecting our industry." Carbonel was also instrumental in establishing the newly introduced WCA Water Conservation Certification Program. WCA members also elected two new directors: Nikole Upchurch, Western States Business Development Manager for PDQ Manufacturing, Inc and a WCA member for the past five years; and Frank Phalen, owner of Prestige Hand Car Wash and Hermosa Beach Car Wash located in Southern California, and a member of WCA for the past eight years. Upchurch is filling a two year vendor director position and Phalen is filling a three year conveyor director position. The WCA 2010 Board of Directors are:
The WCA Board of Directors, Program Committee and Staff say “THANK YOU” to the 28th Annual Convention and Trade Show sponsors for their generous support and contributions: Blendco, D&S Car Wash Systems, Frontline Performance Group, PECO Carwash Systems and PRG Hi-Tech. Preparations for the 29th Annual Convention and Trade Show are already underway. Attendees will experience a continuation of the Disney Institute education, an expanded Nuts and Bolts Classroom, and a welcome reception that is turning out to be quite an event. We look forward to seeing you October 11–13, 2010 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas! Have you completed the Convention survey yet?
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2010 Floor Plan Interested in Exhibiting? Contact |
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Probably the biggest buzz generating moment of the Convention was the unveiled of the new WCA new logo. “This new logo is representative of the car wash industry with a swoosh of green to emphasis WCA’s commitment to protecting the environment.” stated Holly Macriss, WCA Executive Director, during the Convention’s Welcome Reception. “I’m proud of how thoughtful and defined the Board was on delivering this new brand for the WCA.”
An exit from familiar education, the first new program offered to attendees was the innovative and industry-tailored education provided by the Disney Institute. “The Disney education sessions provided great tools to help independent car wash operators apply Disney concepts to their business.” said Darrin Baum, WCA Board member and 2010 Convention Chair. “The session provided great ideas to build customer loyalty, and to differentiate from competition.”
