Suzanne Huisman of Belgium’s car wash association (BBRV) and Brian Madderson of the UK’s Car Wash Association (CWA) were honored September 18 at an awards dinner hosted by International Carwash Association at Car Wash Show Europe, the continent’s premier event for the car wash industry. Huisman and Madderson were recipients of ICA’s Distinguished Achievement Award, recognizing unique and exemplary contributions to the car wash industry.

Both the Belgian and British markets have been plagued by criminal activity at illegal hand car wash locations, many of which were involved in tax fraud, unsafe working conditions and human trafficking. Thanks to Madderson and Huisman’s leadership, their associations have played a major role in gaining the attention of authorities and improving conditions for workers and communities.

In the United Kingdom, the CWA has played a role in the creation of the Safe Car Wash App, allowing customers to report questionable situations at illicit hand washes throughout the country. By aggregating this data, the CWA brought the issue to Parliament Committees and the House of Commons. With national attention on the issue and data to back them up, CWA lobbying initiatives carried real weight, and local authorities began to crack down on the sites.

In Belgium, the BBRV has been similarly tenacious and vocal about the issue, championing regulations to block illegal wash sites and educating both operators and the market about the many serious ongoing violations. Under her leadership, the BBRV is developing a certification program to recognize truly professional car washes and help customers identify them. Huisman has also been a dedicated supporter of sustainability in car washing, focusing on opportunities for car wash professionals to reduce their environmental footprint.

In recognizing these leaders with Distinguished Achievement Awards, ICA highlights the powerful good that associations and collectives of professionals can create. As we serve our industry and profession, we can also bolster our communities.