The Art of Business

C&C Auto Detailing

Corbie Pecora and Cris Thibodeau of C&C Auto Detailing
Photo by Carla Rozman

New Paltz’s newest business entrepreneurs can’t vote. They can’t buy cigarettes or alcohol, or anything else that has age restrictions. Cris Thibodeau and business partner Corbie Pecora, founders of C&C Auto Detailing are still teenagers.
They have known each other since infancy in Grahamsville, Sullivan County.

“They’re more like brothers than friends,” said Cris’s mother Gina. “They’re a nice balance for each other.”

Pecora will soon say goodbye to his home in Ithaca to follow his friend to New Paltz, who made the move a year and a half ago. Pecora gained two years auto detailing experience, having worked for a business run by a friend’s father. And Thibodeau has been working out of his own garage for the past eight months as a hobby. The two had similar ideas to open shop.

At age 12, Thibodeau was laboring on construction sites. His mother described him as a “hands-on, doing” type of person and a “hard worker.” At age 15, he began washing his parents’ cars, then his own, and later worked for locals and friends. Then a neighbor, having already assisted his own son in building a business, approached Thibodeau and proposed the idea of taking his pastime a step further.

Soon enough, with the complete support of his parents, Thibodeau rented a two-bay garage on the corner of North Chestnut Street and Henry W. Dubois Road, in New Paltz.
“We’ve had an alternative upbringing, and not very conventional,” said his mother. “In my opinion, this is part of the education process. I think it’s a good experience. I’m happy to do this,” she said of her support.

Though the space is under his parents’ names, Thibodeau looks confidently toward the future, when his own name will appear on the deeds. He is grateful for the help of adults.
“If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are now,” he said. “They’ve been very helpful and we can ask them for help anytime.”

The business is scheduled to open March 1 and will offer car services, such as hand washing, waxing, buffing and interior cleaning, including any particular custom packages requested by the customer. Don’t like the job? Bring it back and they’ll fix whatever is unsatisfactory. C&C also plans to offer a local shuttle to transport customers from the shop to their home or workplace. But for those who stay, a waiting area with magazines, snacks and air hockey will also be available.
While their peers play video games, the intentions of this duo are purely professional. They don’t consider their age as an obstacle to success.

“We do a great job,” said Thibodeau. “We have the experience and I hope that [our age] doesn’t get in the way of business.”

C&C is serious about becoming a part of the New Paltz community. Pecora and Thibodeau have become members of the Chamber of Commerce and turned toward it for direction, taking a business course with SCORE, a mentoring program to aid new businesses. And Right Look, a school in San Diego, provided instructional videos on auto detailing that have helped to develop their skills.

Though their energies are being directed toward the business, these boys are not dismissing a proper education. They want to obtain the recognition of competitors and customers by earning a formal degree. Thibodeau plans to get a bachelor’s degree in Business through the Distance Learning Council of Europe (DLCE). The curriculum offers courses and assignments through the mail and via Internet, which will monitor business methods and progress. He is not fully committed to this program though, because he would not be accepted until September, when he turns 17. In the meantime, Thibodeau does not allow himself to become a slacker. He is currently enrolled in a homeschooling program that operates out of his basement. He formulated the idea with his parents after a program change at his school left him dissatisfied. Now twice a week, two teachers come to his house to instruct four students. Pecora no longer attends school, but will be practicing business management upon his move to New Paltz.
What are Thibodeau’s plans for the future? “To get a lot of experience, learn from it, get my degree, and to eventually buy the business,” he said. “So far it has helped being able to learn business, like balancing a checkbook and talking to people.” Taking these small steps to reach bigger goals, plus hard work and dedication (and a little aid from their parents) has helped these teenagers to get miles ahead.

—Sarah Moskowitz

C&C is located at 76 N. Chestnut St. (corner of Rte. 32 N and Henry W. Dubois Rd.), New Paltz. It will be open with tentative hours 8:30 am to 6:30 pm, seven days a week and any time by appointment. For more information, call Cris Thibodeau or Corbie Pecora at 255-4010.