Some citizens love Tucson just the way it is. They don’t want to see it change. I see things differently. In my view Tucson is an extraordinary city that is coming of age, earning a well-deserved reputation as a center of culture, commerce, industry and recreation in America. I see a city whose thriving businesses — present and future — will help it flourish for the benefit of all its citizens.
Like many neighbors, I was not born in Tucson. Nevertheless, after 40 years of residency, I’m proud to call it my home. I enjoy Tucson’s culture, climate, topography and business atmosphere.
I admit Tucson has its problems. Poverty, homelessness and blight are here for all to see and solve. Our schools are underfunded, our roads are tired, and most importantly our current economy, while picking up steam, is still concentrated in a few core sectors with an overdependence on government spending.
As CEO of a decent-sized Tucson employer, I am personally and professionally committed to helping Tucson shine. Over the course of the last decade, Mister Car Wash has grown into the largest, most profitable company in our industry and we’ve done it the right way; by creating high-paying jobs for our people, consciously caring for the planet and giving back to the over 50 communities in 21 states we do business in.
We employ more than 8,000 people, of which 750 are in Tucson between our downtown headquarters and our 15 area stores. Our current commitment is to add 200 more jobs in the Tucson area by 2020.
We’re especially proud to be a part of the downtown revitalization scene. We consolidated our headquarters at 222 E. Fifth St. at Sixth Avenue three years ago. Later this year, we will expand across Sixth Avenue into a second downtown office, doubling our downtown footprint to make way for current and future team members, all while supporting Tucson’s urban core.
As our company continues its steady growth trajectory, we will continue to recruit top talent, promote from within and contribute rising wages to our local economy. Mister Car Wash gave away more than $900,000 in donations and grants last year and we expect to top $1 million in charitable donations this year. We proudly support local nonprofits in their fundraising efforts as well as local teachers and classrooms through our Inspiring Futures program.
Recruiting top talent is a challenge faced by every CEO in America today. At Mister Car Wash we meet it head on with a promise of a very bright future in a workplace that inspires and rewards those who want to succeed, regardless of gender, race, color or creed. From their first day on the job, whether it’s in entry-level customer service or in our headquarters, Mister Car Wash employees find opportunity for growth virtually unlimited.
We provide good wages, benefits, training, mentorship and career tracks. The experience and skills our employees gain under our tutelage prepare them for any number of solid careers inside and outside our industry. We’re not just washing cars. We’re impacting lives.
Longtime Tucsonans may disagree about the role that businesses like Mister Car Wash play in our city’s destiny, but one fact is clear: Tucson is no longer a one-horse town. We’re a vibrant city with opportunity to spare, boundless natural beauty and quality of life as far as the eye can see. Growing businesses like Mister Car Wash help this city shine.
