The International Carwash Association (ICA) Board of Directors said Associate Executive Director Eric Wulf will assume the role of Executive Director and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2009. Wulf succeeds Mark Thorsby who served as executive director of the organization for more than 15 years.
“We are thrilled to see Eric take the reigns of the organization,” said ICA President Neil Hitchcock. “We are fully confident that Eric’s executive management skills will guide the Association to new areas of growth while building upon our fifty-five years of proud tradition.”
This decision is a result of the association’s board of directors’ continual focus on succession planning. Wulf was hired more than two years ago to meet ICA’s growing needs and help ensure that the right leadership was in place to further the association’s leadership in the car wash industry.
Wulf has been instrumental in the creation of new programs to deliver knowledge and proven best practices to the professional car wash industry. His work partnering with car wash owners and operators includes the creation of a best practice networking program BIGs (Business Improvement Groups), the launch of a new Web site, and the development of best practice video programs including The Cleaning Edge, Maintenance Minis and Insight, a weekly video newsletter.
As executive director, Thorsby led the Association and industry to unprecedented success. Membership in the organization now stands at more than 2,000 member companies and Car Care World Expo has become recognized as the largest car wash trade show in the world. Thorsby will continue to serve as executive director emeritus, allowing ICA to utilize his extensive industry knowledge and acknowledged leadership skills. It also allows Thorsby, a recognized expert in the association management industry, to focus on his role as the vice president of consulting services for SmithBucklin, a professional association management firm who has been the ICA management partner since 1994.
“Mark leaves lasting impact on the International Carwash Association and the professional car wash industry,” said Hitchcock. “His leadership guided us to unprecedented growth and his impact on current and future members is impossible to measure. His vision continues to serve us in the progressive manner in which we govern the Association and serve our members.”
Wulf joined ICA as associate executive director in 2006. He has more than 10 years of association management experience, including his previous role as the executive director of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity’s national headquarters in Memphis, Tenn.