Maressa Dice Helps Vehicles Look Their Best
Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography by Sarah Lemke
As manager of ONYX car wash services, Maressa Dice views a high-quality car wash as more than just a regular errand for vehicle owners. It protects a vehicle’s hard surfaces and removes potentially corrosive contaminants from road salt and tree sap to gravel dust and bird droppings. It enhances and sustains the fine look of exterior features that make vehicle beautiful and unique.
So, in Dice’s view, a good wash is not only necessary maintenance to keep high-end, luxury vehicles looking their best, but the before-and-after process itself serves as a boost to the driver’s mood and reflects pride in ownership.
“I think it makes you feel good,” she said. “It warms your heart a little, in my opinion, being able to see the difference of your car being muddy and then coming out clean.”
Dice has been in the car wash sector for nearly a decade and will soon complete her second year with ONYX. Every day, she brings clients the satisfying experience of departing in a vehicle that’s spotless on the outside and tidy on the inside. At the same time, Dice fosters the friendly and welcoming atmosphere that every facet of doing business with ONYX has become known for.
Dice oversees a premier wash experience that is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday/Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The wash experience also emphasizes a detail of care with features that include a grime soak and bug blaster, high-pressure underbody wash, rain repellant for glass, wheel clean and tire shine, hot wax, spot-free rinse, turbo dry, and more.
“We offer one wash, and that’s our top-of-the-line wash; it adds an extra shine,” Dice said, adding that even the conveyor that guides vehicles through the wash is top-notch. “We also have free vacuums to offer, and we have complimentary air fresheners and towels out there as well.”
She also emphasized the exclusivity of ONYX car wash services. Although ONYX customers can purchase family packages, the services are not available to members of the general public.
“IT WARMS YOUR HEART A LITTLE, IN MY OPINION, BEING ABLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE OF YOUR CAR BEING MUDDY AND THEN COMING OUT CLEAN.” —MARESSA DICE
“We are a private car wash, so you can only wash with us if you bought your vehicle from ONYX, or if you live or work in the Heartwood Preserve area,” Dice said. ONYX Automotive was the first business to launch operations at the development in 2020.
Dice, who’s in her mid-20s, said she’s driven the same car since she was 16 years old, and of course, it’s well-maintained and always clean. As practical as she is, Dice has also admired some amazing vehicles that have made their way through her car wash and is quick to name her dream car.
“It would be a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing,” she said. “Other than that, it would probably be a BMW M4. I just love the luxury of it.”
Dice enjoys her work so much that she’s brought in family members; a sister and brother-in-law both work for ONYX, and her father was once in the business as well. “It’s really cool to see my family sometimes walking through the hallway.”
When she is not at work, Dice said she enjoys spending time with her family. She occasionally puts another skill to use: having attended nail school, she sometimes does manicures for friends and family members as a creative hobby.
What makes ONYX a great place to work and what distinguishes the business from competition in the area and beyond, she said, is the team.
“It’s the people,” she said. “It is such a very friendly, motivating place to work. When you’re walking down the hall, you’ll see people just smiling at you. You say, ‘Good morning,’ and it just makes your whole day.”
Dice fits in well with the positive work culture. She said she has a commitment to high standards and a continuous improvement mindset that factored into meeting challenges, adapting to new responsibilities, and moving up to the position of a manager in her field at a relatively early age.
“(It’s due to) my willingness to learn and improve constantly,” she said. “I always enjoy wanting to learn new things and trying to improve myself in any way.”
For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.
