“People Over Profits” More Than Words to Fox

Bellevue West graduate Brian Fox is the owner-operator of Cornhusker Auto Wash – Bellevue’s original full-service car wash. He also runs two other businesses on the same corner of 25th and Cornhusker: Cornhusker Express Lube and Cornhusker Quick Stop. Fox shared a little of his journey, his challenges in operating a business in 2023, advice he has for current students, and why he believes “People Over Profits” is the best way to run a business.

Fox grew up in Bellevue and attended Bellevue West High School, graduating in the year 2000. While at West he played football, wrestled, ran track, and was also a powerlifter. Fox said that his favorite place to hand out during school was the commons, “I really enjoyed being social in the commons. Some great memories were made there.”

His favorite teacher was Jim Jennings. Fox shared, “My all-time favorite teacher was Jim Jennings. He taught Business and much of what he taught me about business, I implement in my work every single day.”

Both of Fox’s parents graduated from Bellevue High. His brother, Curt, is a Bellevue West graduate as well. “I had the privilege of attending Bellevue West with Curt and playing football with him for one year. Unfortunately, Curt passed away in 2012,” Fox said.

After high school, Fox attended Concordia University on a football scholarship and studied Education. He transferred home after two years, enrolled at Bellevue University to finish his Bachelor’s Degree, and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. He also earned his Master’s Degree from Bellevue University in Social Services. Most recently Fox earned a Certificate in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare-Multi-System Integration from Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

After college, Fox worked at Boys Town for 12 years. He started out by mowing lawns but he strongly believed in the mission at Boys Town and worked his way up through the organization in various leadership roles. Fox spent his last seven years at Boys Town as a Director of their In-Home Family Services division handling child abuse cases in the 30 counties of Western Iowa. 

Around ten years ago Fox left his job with Boys Town, returning to Bellevue to run the family business. Fox shared a little about how Cornhusker Auto Wash started and what brought him back, “Cornhusker Auto Wash opened its doors in February of 1986. My grandfather Ray built the business along with my dad Mark. At that time, the full-service carwash model was unheard of. Many thought that Ray was taking a major risk of turning the vacant land into a full-service carwash. From 1986 to 2012, my Grandfather Ray, father Mark, and brother Curt all ran the business. 

When Curt died in 2012, and Ray dying just 6 months later, I left my career at Boys Town to help Dad run the businesses while he coped with the death of his son and father. Unfortunately, Dad was then diagnosed with Dementia and ultimately had to be moved to a Memory Support level of care in a nursing home. I now own and operate all of our businesses with Ray, Mark, and Curt on my mind every single day.”

Although Fox generally doesn’t like to talk about it, he did share some information about the mindset that leads to the generosity at Cornhusker Auto Wash, “I view business as a true community service. I am not in business for my family and me. I am in business for our employees, customers, and our community. Every decision that is ever made on this corner is based on the best interest of YOU, not ME. As tough as times are for so many right now, choosing PEOPLE over PROFITS only seems right.”

Fox estimates that between Cornhusker Auto Wash, Cornhusker Quick Stop, and Cornhusker Express Lube – they usually give back around $50,000 each year to local schools, charities, and causes. However, since COVID in 2020, they have increased their donations to over $90,000 per year. In fact just last month they donated 1,600 free full-service car washes to all Bellevue Public Schools employees – approximately 1,600 individuals. That donation alone adds up to roughly $40,000.

While many people know that Cornhusker Auto Wash is a full-service and express exterior carwash, they also offer express oil changes, express and premium detailing, auto remote start installation, new car packages at a fraction of the price, and they are also a WeatherTech Distributor. They also offer bodily fluid cleanup and disinfecting services.

The Fox’s also own the Shell Gas Station on site (Cornhusker Quick Stop) and also have a Cornhusker Auto Wash and Cornhusker Express Lube in Fremont, Nebraska.

Fox talked about owning a business in 2023 and what the biggest challenges are for him, “Owning a business is easy. The challenges come while operating the business.  The real challenges are what my amazing Management Team in each business face to adequately staff their business to ensure a high quality of service is provided 100% of the time. It’s hard to recruit new staff and it’s hard to retain staff with us living in such a competitive work environment. This is a daily challenge faced by our Managers and I want to give all the credit in the world to them for fighting hard to find and keep great people. We have some amazing people on this corner and we are always looking to add more great people.”

At the end of our interview, Fox added some advice for current students, “Start building your resume and post-graduation skill sets now. Get a job, even on a part-time basis. Develop quality social skills and use work opportunities to develop your employability and customer service skills. As competitive as the job market is after graduating high school, those with good social skills, work ethic, and sustained work history will be chosen over those without these skills.”