WHO
Car Wash Operators
An invitation-only group comprised of tunnel car wash owners and operators and a limited number of Ally Supporter solution providers. cwVG brings together industry leaders who want to collaborate, share insights, and help shape the future of the car wash channel..
WHAT
Strategic Forum
cwVG hosts quarterly virtual meetings that foster networking and thought leadership, focusing on the evolving car wash landscape. Members discuss operational challenges, emerging technologies, regulatory impact, customer trends, and growth opportunities, sharing actionable ideas and real-world experiences.
WHY
Knowledge Sharing
Members discuss the trends and disruptions impacting the car wash industry and share their insights with the broader industry through free cwVG Vision Reports, monthly The Lens newsletters, and the wider Vision Group Network community. This is where operators and industry partners gain strategic perspective, practical ideas, and collaborative solutions designed to strengthen the future of car washes.
Car WashVision Group
The future of car washes is being shaped by innovation, integration, and customer experience.
The car wash industry is rapidly evolving as operators navigate changing consumer expectations, technology integration, sustainability initiatives, labor challenges, and the growing convergence of fuel, convenience, and mobility services. cwVG creates a trusted environment where leaders openly exchange experiences, operational strategies, and forward-looking ideas designed to strengthen the dedicated wash business as well as integrated fuel and convenience operations.
What we are passionate about
cwVG will explore topics like:
- Membership and subscription wash models
- Integrating car wash loyalty with fuel and convenience retail
- Customer product ordering and merchandising
- Regulatory impact
- Labor challenges and automation
- AI and predictive maintenance
- Water reclamation and sustainability
- Site design and traffic flow optimization
- Tunnel and self-serve models
- EV charging and car wash co-location strategies
- Consumer behavior shifts and experience-driven retail
- Community engagement
- Digital marketing and app engagement
- Technology interoperability between POS, wash systems, and mobile platforms
- Private equity influence and industry consolidation
- Building destination-oriented forecourts
Meet Car Wash Vision Group
Roy Austin, Director, Director, Information Technology
Graham Enterprise, Inc.
Roy Austin, IT Director for Graham Enterprise, Inc., is responsible for Technology applications & operations in the organization’s Corporate and Retail business units.
Graham Enterprise, Inc. was in the midst of a major rebranding campaign of their legacy convenience store and car wash brands to the newly create Trio brand when Roy joined the team, which was an intriguing challenge to jump right in the middle of. The campaign has a focus on unified branding, a great new food service program including fresh and take-and-bake pizza, tunnel car washes and of course, the fantastic customer service that the Graham family is known for.
Prior to joining Graham Enterprise, Inc. in November of 2024, Roy was Director of IT Solution Delivery for Global Retail at Calgary, Alberta-based Parkland Corporation and was responsible for POS and BOS applications across Parkland’s vast estate of retail locations in 27 countries.
Roy worked in various roles for Kroger’s Technology division for over 20 years. During those years, he supported their various convenience store chains which were sold to EG Group in 2018.
With the EG Group acquisition of Kroger’s convenience store assets, he was named Head of Applications for the newly formed EG America. Roy was responsible for helping to lead the technological decoupling efforts from Kroger’s systems, as well as integrating EG Group’s other acquisitions (from 800 to 1200 stores) before departing in 2020.
His experiences in convenience store technologies are:
- Retail POS Deployment/Support – NCR RPOS, Gilbarco Passport, Verifone Commander, Bulloch, Artisoft POS, RapidRMS
- QSR POS Deployment/Support – NCR RPOS/Aloha/KPS, Subway, Charleys Philly Steaks, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Arby’s, Burger King
- Major Oil Brand Integrations – BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Sinclair, Cenex, Arco, Marathon, Valero, Chevron
- Loyalty – PDI Excentus, P97, KRS/Ignite Retail Technology, Artisoft SpeedPay, Major Oil Proprietary
- Mobile – P97, Zipline, Photon, Artisoft
- ERP Systems – PDI Enterprise & Envoy, SSCS, Dynamics GP, Eurodata
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Steve Evans, Chief Technology Officer
Haffner's Energy North Group
As the Chief Technology Officer at Haffner's, I spend me days building technology solutions that move our five lines of business forward. In that capacity, I've spent time learning our car wash business and our upgrading car wash technology.
I'm a twenty plus year veteran of the Oil & Gas business and have had the good fortune to work up and down the value chain.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Israel Getzel, Retail Network Manager
The Maxol Group
John Hadnett is a senior retail professional with over 25 years of experience in the retail and forecourt industry. In his role as Retail Network Manager with Maxol, John provides strategic leadership and direction across the company’s extensive company-owned and licensed retail network.
With a strong focus on commercial performance, operational excellence and customer experience, John leads initiatives designed to improve retail performance and drive the continued growth and development of the network. His responsibilities span retail operations, network standards, fuel pricing strategy, car wash performance, retail projects and performance improvement programmes.
John works closely with internal teams, retail partners and external stakeholders to deliver strategic retail initiatives and champion best practice across the network. His extensive industry experience has given him a strong understanding of the evolving retail landscape and the practical challenges and opportunities facing modern retailers.
Passionate about delivering sustainable performance while maintaining strong brand standards, John brings a wealth of practical knowledge and leadership experience to the conference.
Scott Holland, Director of Great River Wash
Wallis Oil
I have worked for Wallis Oil for 31 years.
I started my career in retail operations, working my way up to C-store Manager. I then became the Manager of Corporate Training, which is a position I held for 5 years. I was then promoted to Director of Facilities, oversee all day to day maintnence and capital projects for all Wallis owned properties. I was in this position for 18 years. In 2020, I was promoted to Director of Great River Wash, the car wash division for Wallis Companies, which owns and operates Brite WorX Car Wash. Since joining this team, we have grown our express exterior tunnel wash count from 2 locations to 11 locations, though opening new sites and 2 acquisitions.
Michael Lipton, CEO
Lipton Inc.
Michael Lipton graduated from Boston University in 1996 & moved back to Pittsfield, MA in 1998 to work in his family business. He is now CEO of Lipton Inc & has taken over as the 4th generation. Lipton Inc owns & operates 10 convenience & gas stations, 2 car washes, a propane rail terminal, & an oil/propane business delivering to homes/businesses. Lipton Inc was started my Michael's great grandfather in 1910.
Mike Mulhern, Sr. Director, Operations
Splash In Car Wash
Mike Mulhern, Sr. Director of Operations at Splash In
Mike Mulhern is a retail executive with over 30 years of experience in motor fuels, convenience retailing, and car wash industries. Mike currently serves as Splash In’s Sr. Director of Operations, representing over 60 facilities.
Mike’s extensive career at the Wills Group includes roles as Area Manager, Supply and Distribution Manager, Pricing Manager, General Manager, and Director wherein he was a key contributor in creating, developing, and implementing growth strategy, site development, and operating processes.
*Bio, Title and Position at the time of group membership.
cwVG Ally Supporters
Past cwVG Ally Supporters
What VGN members say:
Raymond Huff
HJB Corp.President
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