Content From: The Wash Watch, Fall 2009

Top Car Wash Award Winner 2009

When Ohio State fraternity brothers Casey McKinley and Brian Cook graduated in 1996 and headed their separate ways, little did they know that 10 years later, they would reconnect as business partners in their own car washes in the Charleston, SC area.

McKinley was in Tennessee participating in a family marina business when he made the leap into car washing. After designing, building, growing and subsequently selling his first wash, he got a call from Brian suggesting the two of them explore the car wash industry in the Charleston area.

The partners now own and operate three locations of self-service Wash Wizard Carwash, with one each in Moncks Corner, North Charleston, and Walterboro, SC. All sport Jim Coleman brand automatic Water Wizard equipment. With each new site, the partners hire a local part-time car wash attendant to handle the day-to-day operations and facility cleaning. A manager visits the site at minimum every three days to handle oversight and equipment maintenance; and the owners visit once per week for financial management. In addition, the sites are visited monthly by a HOWCO chemical specialist to ensure high wash quality as well as coordinate eye-catching custom signage.

In addition to on site marketing, Wash Wizard is known for its various humorous radio and television commercials. And in the fall of 2008, Wash Wizard signed on as Berkeley Electric Cooperative's first GreenPower Partner. The Moncks Corner location sponsors block of "green power," or alternative energy, to cover some of their monthly energy use. The company also practices environmentally sounds measures such as installing a reclamation system that reduces fresh water consumption by up to 70% and using biodegradable cleaning products.

"Our goal is to establish Wash Wizard as the premium local self-service exterior and interior auto car facility in each of our markets," McKinley said, "and to solidify the brand, refine the designs, standardize operations, and grow the chain to 10 car wash locations."

"We chose HOWCO because of its capabilities, equipment offered, and reputation for support," continued McKinley. "Having utilized a different supplier when I was in the business earlier, I was reluctant at first to change. But we made a great decision to switch to HOWCO. The quality of equipment and support is wonderful. We feel like we are their only customer, and we look forward to working with them on subsequent new car washes."

When not washing cars, McKinley and Cook spend personal time enjoying Ohio State football and trips with their families.