Vaughan Industries, Inc., Detroit
Vaughan Industries is a manufacturer of parts, equipment and cleaning compounds for car wash and light industrial cleaning solutions.
Founded in 1977 by Lawrence Balash, this family owned business is now run by his daughter Katie. At it's inception, the business focused primarily on car wash cleaning compounds. Mr. Balash had identified a need for better car wash cleaning chemistry which was not readily available at the time. As the business took hold and grew, Mr. Balash expanded his facility, staff, and services In the late 1980's, Mr. Balash's son, Andy, joined the business. Together, the pair continued to address wider needs in the car wash industry and moved into the creation and production of equipment manufacturing.
In the early 2000's, production began on patented OEM replacement parts and equipment, and the business expanded its reach in the national market.
In 2014, Andy Balash died suddenly of a heart attack. This left his aging father, and his sister, Katie, to run the business. As Mr. Balash was seeking retirement - he turned the responsibility over to Katie.
In the few short years since the death of Andy, Ms. Balash has worked tirelessly to lead a team of dedicated employees. She re-branded the company, created strong mission and vision statements, and has offered tangible added value to their customers through increased production, product improvements, and reduced delivery times.
Katie Balash, President & CEO
Founded in 1977, current leadership since 2014
Primary Business: Parts, Equipment and Cleaning Compounds for car wash and light industrial
Sites in Michigan: 1
FTEE in 2017: 25
To listen to the full interview please click on the embedded SoundCloud PodCast below!
