CHICAGO -- The International Carwash Association (ICA) Board of Directors announced that Eric Wulf, the association 's associate executive director, will assume the role of executive director and CEO on Jan. 1, 2009. Wulf will succeed Mark Thorsby, who served as executive director of the organization for more than 15 years.
Wulf 's selection is the result of the Board of Directors ' “continual focus on succession planning,” according to the ICA. Wulf was hired about two years ago to meet the growing needs of the association and help ensure that the right leadership was in place [image-nocss] to further the association 's leadership in the car-wash industry.
During his time with the ICA, Wulf has been instrumental in the creation of new programs to deliver knowledge and best practices to the professional car-wash industry, officials said.
Those include partnering with car-wash owners and operators in the creation of a best practice networking program called BIGs (Business Improvement Groups), the launch of a new ICA website and the development of online video presentations, including The Cleaning Edge, Maintenance Minis, and Insight, a weekly video newsletter.
“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 55 years of proud tradition.”
Thorsby will continue to serve as executive director emeritus. In addition, he will focus on his role as vice president, consulting services, for SmithBucklin, the ICA 's 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 the 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. Wulf has a bachelor 's degree from the University of Iowa, a master 's degree in business administration from Union University and holds the title of certified association executive from the American Society of Association Executives.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.