Cleaning cars is very therapeutic for Casey Gold, who has been detailing cars since his high school days in the northwest suburbsbefore he could even legally drive.
"It gives me a few hours to be myself, focus on doing a good job, and I can turn my phone off," he said. "My father suggested that I [clean] other people's [cars] and charge them for it. Eight years later, it's the longest relationship I have had."
Gold's car cleaning has led to, well, some unique finds, such as old French fries, fishing lures and more. He once was working on a Hummer and found a McDonald's chicken nugget stuck in the seat. "When I threw it on the ground, it shattered," Gold said, laughing. "I definitely reconsidered my eating habits after that … but that did not last very long."
Gold said his long-term goal is to work at a company "that believes in changing the world for the better and have fun doing so," he said, adding that he wouldn't be opposed to serving as the COO for an advertising agency. "I have a background in the agency world and loved every minute of it. And I have managed to keep my auto detailing service above ground, so I think that I could be the boss very easily and do it well."
Gold's car cleaning business has led to countless questions over the years about which cars he'd suggest for future purchases.
"I make happy clients because having a car detailed improves your gas mileage and resale value," Gold said. "Also, I get to work on my tan, [cleaning shirtless.] Enough said."
For more information about Gold Standard Auto Detailing, visit http://goldstandardautodetailing.com/index.htm.
THE STATS
Age
23
Neighborhood
Uptown
Relationship status
Dating Michael Craig
Job
Runs an automotive detailing service, Gold Standard Auto Detailing
Hobbies
Cooking and baking"I always show up to every party with a homemade treat."
Favorite movie
Spaceballs
Favorite TV show
Law and Order SVU
Four people (living or dead) who you'd like to have dinner with
"I would have to choose my four grandparents."
Little-known fact
"I love to read history books, [particularly] from the turn of the century. Great books I have recently read [include] Devil in the White City, Sin in the Second City and When Harlem was in Vogue."