In this episode, ICA CEO Eric Wulf sits down with economist Alex Chausovsky, Director of Analytics at The Bundy Group - a business intelligence and analytics firm that helps organizations anticipate change, manage risk, and identify opportunity through data-driven insights, for a clear-eyed look at the U.S. economy and what business leaders should be paying attention to right now. Alex breaks down today’s uneven economic reality through the lens of a K-shaped economy, where growth, opportunity, and pressure are not being felt equally across industries or income groups.

The conversation explores how industrial and consumer sectors are diverging, why spending remains resilient despite inflation fatigue, and what jobs data, consumer debt, housing, and interest rates reveal about where the economy may be headed. From AI-driven infrastructure investment to the challenges facing younger workers and middle-income households, Alex helps translate complex data into practical insights for operators, investors, and leaders trying to make informed decisions in a highly uncertain environment.

(:40) How is the US Economy doing right now? Alex breaks this into two parts and talks about a K-shaped economy.

(4:45) Jobs, debt and wages. Alex weighs in on each of these, where things are right now and how they could affect future spending. Alex quotes the Consumer Spending Panel Report and the K-Shaped economy.

(12:55) Eric asked about job concerns for recent graduates and their concerns about entering the job market.

(16:12) What other consumer events and choices might influence on spending…such as mortgages. (70% are on ARM’s right now). Also learn about the Fed’s different interest rates and how they influence the economy.

(20:55) Eric asks if the economy is currently building toward growth.

In this episode, ICA SVP of Growth Kendra Johnson sits down with Kyle Doyle, Vice President at Salespath, to discuss what separates high-performing frontline sales teams from those that struggle—especially in the car wash industry. Salespath is a sales enablement and coaching platform built specifically for frontline teams, integrating point-of-sale data, performance tracking, and AI-powered coaching tools to help operators improve consistency, accountability, and conversion rates at the site level.

Kyle shares how simple, repeatable sales scripts, consistent coaching, and data-driven insights create muscle memory for frontline employees, reduce sales fatigue, and improve the customer experience. The conversation explores the critical role of site managers in reinforcing best practices, how small behavioral improvements compound over time, and why even modest gains in conversion rates can drive meaningful revenue growth.

(1:40) Kyle talks about the indicators he’s seeing in the marketplace that identifies the difference between the high and lower performers. Scripts and practice sessions are key. Let’s also talk about muscle memory!

(5:20) What are the four important components of a good script? Warm greeting, explain value, validate, make the offer.

(7:46) Learn how to validate customer choices.

(8:50) Kyle explains coaching and what it looks like for the operator and site managers.

(13:00) Learn about how to hold weekly sales meetings and how make them effective.

(16:10) Kyle explains how consistent practice of small behaviors compound and have great results.

(16:57) Learn the 36-month value of a member vs. the value of a retain customer and the difference that small conversion rates can make.

(17:46) How does someone get started with Salespath?

(19:20) What is Kyle seeing in the shifts in culture from those who are working on a sales system?

(21:26) How do you begin to layer in Salespath and make it actionable?

(23:40) How often does Salespath check in with clients using Salespath

(26:30) Join Kendra and Kyle in future episodes for updates on sales tips and trends

Listen to the full episode at carwashmagazine.com and subscribe to ICA for timely data, trusted insights, and business intelligence built for the car wash community.

In this episode, ICA CEO Eric Wulf sits down with a living legend of the car-wash world: Henry Dubinsky, founder of Waterway Carwash and the newest inductee to the Car Wash Hall of Fame. Named among the industry’s greatest, Dubinsky joins a long line of pioneers whose innovations shaped the way America washes cars.

Henry reflects on a storied career — from law school and a stint at a major accounting firm, to the unlikely path that led him into the car-wash business. He shares how Waterway evolved from its humble beginnings in a St. Louis suburb in 1970 to become a respected, multi-state operation.

(1:00) Henry begins with his story…where he grew-up and how he got into the carwash business. Hear his story about law school, working for Arthur Anderson and how this pointed him on the road to the car wash business.

(4:26) What were his businesses’ clear points of differentiation? And hear about his third-generation employees.

(6:09) How did Henry navigate working with family…and having his son Bob work with him? What advice would he offer to families in similar situations?

(7:55) How have Bob’s business ideas evolved? Learn about The Clean Car Club membership program.

(10:55) How had the industry evolved since Henry’s involvement? And how does Hanry maintain a sense of closeness with his employees?

(12:55) What are some of the charitable groups Henry spends his time supporting?

(14:10) He talks about his early days with the ICA and some of the key decision points he’s seen shape the industry.

(15:45) What advise does Henry have for private investors wanting to get into the industry? Would he do it again today and why?

(18:04) What were henry’s thoughts as he accepted the ICA Award?

Listen to the full episode at carwashmagazine.com and subscribe to ICA for timely data, trusted insights, and business intelligence built for the car wash community.