Inside the ICA: Kendra Johnson on the energy and growth of The Car Wash Show™

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Kendra Johnson, chief experience officer for the International Carwash Association, for a conversation from the floor of The Car Wash Show™ in Nashville. Johnson shares early attendance numbers from the 2026 show, the buzz surrounding a sold-out main floor and a fully booked second level — the first time in show history that exhibition space has spanned two floors of the Music City Center. Johnson reflects on where energy is highest at The Car Wash Show, pointing to the new company pavilion, which hosted more than 100 first-time exhibitors, and expanded maintenance and equipment education tracks that drew standing-room-only crowds. She also discusses the growing demand for pre-show carwash tours and the preview party, designed to give operators early access to new technologies and emerging vendor partners before the main floor opens. The conversation turns to the broader state of the industry, with Johnson noting that while the frenetic growth of recent years has stabilized, deal activity remains steady and operators across the board are prioritizing people, processes and wash experience. She closes with a look ahead to The Car Wash Show™ 2027, set for May 3–5 in Las Vegas, and encourages operators who missed Nashville to stay connected through industry media and publications. Watch here or find the audio podcast on Carwash.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. For more Wash Talk episodes, check out our Wash Talk playlist at    • Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast  . Follow us on socials! 📲 Facebook: @PCDOnline   / pcdonline   LinkedIn: @procarwashdetail   / procarwashdetail   Instagram: @procarwashdetail https://www.instagram.com/procarwashd...