My name is Dan Galvin and together with the love of my life, my wife of twenty years – Heather – we own and operate East Coast Powerwashing Inc. Our original company’s name was S.A.M.S. Mobile Wash which started off as a Fleet Washing (truck washing) company and would also clean houses and sidewalks as the jobs came along.
I joined the power washing business in 2003, when I purchased S.A.M.S. Mobile Wash from my uncle Ken. Prior to that I worked 13 years in the insurance business and also served six years in the U.S. Navy. (USS Oliver Hazard Perry FFG-7)
My wife was totally against me starting in the power washing business because she had no knowledge of the industry and asked me, “How the heck are you going to make a living with a G.D. garden hose!!!!!” She was not very happy with me.
Well it has been over 7 years since I started in the power washing business and I am proud to say that I have accomplished more than most power washers have. I would say the one main key to my success in the power washing business is because I joined Power Washers of North America (PWNA), www.PWNA.org, when I first started in business in 2003.
I mention the PWNA because it is one of the only power washing association out there today and its members are the core of the industry. I immediately became strongly involved with the PWNA. Through community projects organized by PWNA, I even got to work on washing the Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, for which I was rewarded one the most prestigious award in our industry – the Robert Hinderliter Award (founder of the PWNA) – “PWNA’S Most Valuable Member of the Year” in 2007. And as a result of the work I did with PWNA over the years, I was also recognized with the Merit Award in 2008.
I am very proud to say that in 2008 I was elected to the industry’s highest position as President of Power Washers of North America. It is truly an honor to be elected to this position and work with an incredible board of directors.
Prior to my election as President of the PWNA, I was a member of the PWNA Education Committee which designs and approves certification courses for the power washing industry across North America such as House Washing, Fleet Washing, Flat Surface Cleaning and More. We worked very hard as a committee to design courses that are the proper and professional way to power wash all while protecting the home and business owners.
I tell you all this because one of my goals is to educate the public about the power washing industry. We are NOT “Splash-and-Dashers” looking to make a few bucks for beer money; we are an actual industry of professionals that care about our businesses, our customers, and the communities in which we live and work.
However, our industry has a dark side; it often attracts a large number of “fly by nighters” – people that don’t understand how to properly get the job done and are often willing to cut corners on quality and safety just to make a few bucks. You, the homeowner, have to be aware of them, because while getting “a deal” might be an attractive proposition, if something is too good to be true – well, it almost always turns out to be a bad decision in the long run.
The good news is that there is a large and growing number of Professional Power Washers who are continually investing in educating ourselves and our employees how to do our job safely and correctly.