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MOTIONS AND PROMOTIONS
Northville, MI-based Belanger Inc. has announced several staff
additions. David Nugent has been appointed to the position of western
regional manager. Nugent most recently worked for Continental Pipeline
and previously spent 16 years with Gilbarco, a pump manufacturer.
He holds a degree in Industrial Management from the University of
New Mexico. Jill Marquette has been added to the company's marketing
team as marketing coordinator. Marquette holds a degree in Communications,
specializing in corporate communications and public relations, from
the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Paul Kalscheur was recently
hired to manage various Belanger distributors. Kalscheur graduated
cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Stout with a degree in
Industrial Technology. He came to Belanger from Cleaning Systems
Inc. where he spent four years as a regional manager. Rich Andreas
was appointed midwest regional manager. Andreas was previously employed
with PDQ Manufacturing in Green Bay, WI as purchasing manager before
forming Belanger of Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University
of Wisconsin Stout and holds a degree in Business Administration.
Standard Change-Makers Inc. of Indianapolis, IN has announced the
appointment of Michael J. Coons to the position of national sales
manager. Coons joins SCM with over 18 years experience in various
sales and marketing capacities in the industrial-process-controls
and business-services industries, including 5-1/2 years in advertising.
Coons replaces Barry T. O'Brien, who retired effective February
1, after 16 years of service at Standard Change-Makers. O'Brien
began his career with Standard in Philadelphia as eastern
regional sales manager. In 1990, he was promoted to vice president/national
sales manager and moved to the home office in Indianapolis. "Barry
has made many friends over the years, not only within our corporate
family, but with the customers we serve. All of us here at Standard
wish him nothing but the best in the years to come," said Jim
McNutt, Jr., company president.
COLLEGE OF KNOWLEDGE
Jim Coleman Company recently hosted its third College of Knowledge
Service School for car wash operators. The school is designed to
educate and enhance service strategy, and be fun and
informative at the same time. During this event, Mark Curtis, representing
WashUSA/Make-A-Wish, shared the many marketing advantages of an
association with Make-A-Wish.Everyone in attendance - 36 individuals
from 19 different states - had a chance to "see it, hear it,
and feel it," and to go away from Houston with more tools and
strategies to better serve clients. Clients are the real beneficiaries
of the efforts made by all involved with the College of Knowledge.
R.W. MERCER TO DISTRIBUTE BELANGER
The R.W. Mercer Company in Michigan has become an official distributor
of Belanger car wash systems and equipment, including the Vector
Rapid Wash. R.W Mercer, founded in 1960 by Robert W. Mercer, was
established to provide maintenance service to gas station equipment,
including gasoline pumps, car washes, and air compressors. The company
has seen steady growth and has expanded to cover areas of construction,
petroleum sales, electrical contracting, and general contracting.
NEW CAR WASH IN BONITA SPRINGS, FL
Bonita Bubbles, a modern car care center on the Tamiami Trail in
Bonita Springs, was recently completed by Brooks & Freund, LLC,
a commercial construction company.
The state-of-the-art car wash facility occupies a 3-acre corner
site and includes five bays for detailing and hand waxing services,
an automated wash tunnel, offices, customer lounge, and auto accessory
boutique. The southern-style buildings feature green metal roofs
with a large white gazebo in front. RTN Holdings Inc. owns the building.
QUALITY SYMBOL
John Guest USA has announced its Genuine JG program to highlight
the benefits John Guest brings to
business: quality, reliability, and support across a broad range
of products.
The Genuine JG symbol helps customers to identify distributors,
OEMs, and installers who care enough about their customers to provide
"Genuine JG" products. The symbol assures customers that
they are truly receiving John Guest products as ordered not substitutes.
MARK VII/ WESUMAT ALLIANCE
Mark VII Equipment of Arvada, CO has announced a strategic partnership
with Wesumat Cleaning
Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of WashTec AG of Augsburg
Germany. Under this arrangement, Mark VII becomes the exclusive
USA distributor of Wesumat friction car wash systems.
Mark VII manufactures the AquaJet GT(tm) series of touch-free automatic
rollover car washes. The new agreement will allow Mark VII to distribute
Wesumat's state-of-the-art friction machines - SoftWash, SoftWash
High Speed, and Choice Wash - increasing the German company's presence
in the USA while strengthening the Mark VII product offering. Likewise,
Wesumat and the WashTec network will have access to Mark VII touch-free
products for multinational offerings.
"Our decision to integrate advanced German technology alongside
our own advanced product offering creates a new, full line of top
products in both touch-free and friction. This agreement also furthers
our number one strategic priority of strengthening our distributor
network," said Rick Green, Mark VII president and CEO.
WashTec is the largest car wash manufacturer in the world, with
market share of over 50 percent in Europe and 30 percent worldwide.
The company employs 1,650 and distributes its products in more than
60 countries.
TIM McELROY FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED
Proto-Vest Inc. and the McElroy family are proud to announce that
the Timothy McElroy Foundation has been established. Timothy McElroy
was president of Proto-Vest, Inc. from 1995 until his death in 2001.
After lifelong involvement in all facets of the car wash industry,
he held four of the many patents on drying equipment manufactured
by Proto-Vest, Inc.
The purpose of the foundation is to receive and administer funds
for educational purposes in memory of Timothy McElroy. Scholarships
are available on a non-discriminatory basis to full-time students
in the general public who have limited income and resources. All
administrative fees to maintain the fund will be paid by the McElroy
family allowing 100 percent of the fund to be used for educational
needs. All donations to this 501(c)(3) foundation are tax deductible.
To make a tax-deductible contribution or to receive more information,
please contact the Timothy McElroy Foundation, Proto-Vest, Inc.,
7400 N. Glen Harbor Blvd., Glendale, AZ 85307, or call (623) 872-8300.
ROWE to RETAIN CHANGER BUSINESS
Rowe International Inc. of Grand Rapids, MI, the global commercial
music and amusement technology company, has announced that it will
retain its currency changer business and devote full resources into
rebuilding it. Rowe announced its intent to divest its vending and
changer businesses in October 2002 as an initial phase of the company's
strategic refocus on opportunities in the emerging digital pay-for-play
entertainment market. Rowe is completing the sales transaction of
its vending business, which will enable the company to retire senior
debt and apply all investment, engineering and marketing resources
to aggressively pursue its new business direction in the music,
games, and money-changer sectors.
Rowe recently introduced several major improvements to its changer
software and will be adding other new features in the months to
come. "Our decision to continue in the changer industry is
a positive development for Rowe equipment distributors and operators,"
said company chairman and CEO J. Douglas Johnson. "We are excited
about our renewed commitment to the money changer industry and we
believe greater market share and profitability will be achieved,"
he added.
Distributor information is available at (616) 243-3633 or at Rowe's
web site, located at www.roweinternational.com.
CHEMICAL SAFETY SUMMIT
The International Carwash Association sponsored the first Chemical
Safety Summit, held February 10-11 in Hollywood, FL. Thirty-five
leaders, representing 25 different companies that manufacture and
supply chemicals to the car care industry, met to discuss what can
be done to improve product safety and how the industry can address
related safety issues.
This event promoted open and candid communication between fiercely
competitive companies and established several "action items"
to be implemented in the coming months. Among these are:
A commitment to educational programming at Car Care World
Expo and other industry venues.
Improving the collection and dissemination of knowledge
in the handling and application of chemicals.
Improving communication with automobile manufacturers.
For further information contact ICA at (888) ICA-8422, or visit
www.carcarecentral.com.
NEW SELF-SERVE WASH FOR TRIANGLE
The Triangle Park Region in North Carolina has long been known as
a bastion of high technology, Now it has a premium car wash that
is appropriate to its reputation. McCuller's Car Wash, a new high-tech
wash located at McCuller's Crossroads Shopping Center, opened late
last year to long lines of enthusiastic customers.
The wash features six self-serve bays and one in-bay touchless
automatic Water Wizard by Jim Coleman Co. According to co-owner
Ronnie Currin, all of the equipment was recommended, supplied, and
installed by Howco. The site also boasts eight vacuums, including
a super vac and a combo vacuum with shampoo and fragrance, plus
a "Swipe & Clean" credit card center, which has been
a huge hit with customers.
The new high-tech McCuller's Car Wash in Garner, NC has an appraised
value of $1.25 million.
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