Taking Care of Business — and Family

Andrew D’Eri greets every customer with a smile, whether they’re new or returning. If he doesn’t already know your name, he’ll likely ask for it. And if your vehicle has New York plates — his home state — be prepared for a chat when he finishes his work.

Welcome to Rising Tide Car Wash, a thriving, award-winning, family-run business in Florida that has been operating for nearly 14 years, with three locations and a fourth opening planned for 2026. The innovative company takes pride in its work and is dedicated to providing supportive employment opportunities for individuals who are neurodivergent, including Andrew, 35, and most of his coworkers. 

“Andrew is on the autism spectrum, and when he was in high school it became clear very quickly that to help him live a full adult life, we would have to take action,” explains Tom, Andrew’s 37-year-old brother, ardent protector and, as COO of the company, his boss. 

A Fresh Perspective

Their father, John, an accountant turned entrepreneur who served as the company’s CEO before retiring, was a visionary, according to Tom.

By implementing a structured, 46-step process with visual aids, Rising Tide helps its employees succeed while providing high-quality car wash services. In doing so, it is also working to change societal perceptions of autism.

“My dad strongly believed that this business would succeed, that Andrew would thrive, and that we could support others with autism,” Tom shares. “Over the years, many people have told us that this opportunity changed the trajectory of their children’s lives, gave them hope, and transformed their self-perception.”

Today, the business employs 90 individuals on the autism spectrum, predominantly male, with varying degrees of challenges, across locations in Parkland, Coral Springs and Margate. Among them is Shaun Paull, who rose to the position of supervisor and was near a promotion to assistant manager in late 2025.

More than 200 employees have transitioned to other jobs in the community, such as Watson Laurent, who developed a love for cars and became a mechanic; Andrew Stincic, now an assistant manager at a tire shop; and Zack Hopkins, who works as an aviation mechanic. Others have found employment at Jersey Mike’s, Home Depot, a Marriott and local hospitals.

The D’Eri family at Rising Tide’s Coral Springs location.

All-In

Growing up on Long Island, New York, Tom and Andrew are just 20 months apart in age, and they attended the same school for a while. Tom recalls that Andrew made friends easily, thanks in part to his childhood obsession with movies including “Star Wars” and “Back to the Future” that developed his ability to quote dialogue. 

Tom, who with his wife, Meghan, is raising their 2-year-old son, was in his junior year of college when he had a serious conversation with their father about Andrew’s future. Their dad and mom, Donna, were increasingly concerned that Andrew had turned 18, and his friends were moving on but he didn’t have plans. Learning that Andrew’s diagnosis allowed him to remain in high school until age 22 provided some welcome leeway, but they knew time was of the essence.

With a passion for dinosaurs and the Museum of Natural History, Andrew expressed a desire to become a museum tour guide or work at a movie theater. However, his parents realized that neither job would be sustainable for him, either intellectually or financially.

Fresh out of college in 2011 with a double major in finance and sustainability, Tom was initially skeptical when his father proposed the car wash idea. “I’m not someone who makes impulsive decisions; I like to think things through,” he admits, stating he wanted his business education to have a positive impact on the world.

“As I did my research, I began to understand what people with autism would excel at, and a car wash seemed to fit perfectly. We learned that individuals with autism often thrive in structured, detail-oriented tasks,” Tom explains. “At that point, I was all-in.”

John and Tom secured partners, hired a consultant who had previously built an employment program for a pharmacy, found a car wash manufacturer, and scouted locations. They decided on Florida, which required making the 1,100-mile move. 

In November 2011, the family purchased a struggling car wash in Parkland and began modernizing the site, implementing 11 major changes that included quick, high-quality exterior washes, self-service vacuums and interior cleaning options. They even ran a proof of concept that allowed Andrew to experience the work firsthand, interact with others, and earn a paycheck.

Working with the local school district, they developed a recruitment pipeline for individuals with autism that continues to this day. Tom says they approach each person individually, recognizing that the social aspect of an interview historically led to many individuals with autism not getting a job.   

Finally, the grand opening was on April 13, 2013. Three months later, after Andrew and his mom permanently joined John and Tom in Florida, Andrew started his first day on the job. Meanwhile, Donna also played a critical role behind the scenes, managing payroll and other administrative tasks.

People with autism have found meaningful employment.

Andrew’s Shining Mark 

The name “Rising Tide Car Wash” reflects the phrase popularized by President John F. Kennedy: “A rising tide lifts all boats,” which conveys the idea that a successful economy benefits everyone, regardless of their starting point, Tom notes.

The business boasts a retention rate that is five times over its competitors. For a business that was washing 35,000 cars annually at its first location, Rising Tide now washes more than 150,000 cars per year.  

As an after-care associate, Andrew is responsible for cleaning the interiors of cars. Tom acknowledges that vacuuming cars was initially challenging for him and not his favorite task, but he does it because he understands it’s part of his job. 

Andrew works staggered hours, four days a week at either the Parkland or Margate locations. And the customers love him. 

“He has gained a sense of pride, which is something we see with many of our employees. Our teams initially ensure they can perform their jobs, but because this is a supportive and well-structured environment, they thrive,” says Tom. 

Andrew also appreciates receiving a paycheck. Earning his own money has become important to him, and he mostly spends it on food and trips to Universal Studios. 

“Without Andrew, there would be no Rising Tide Car Wash,” says Tom. “My brother takes pride in knowing he’s the inspiration for the business, and he likes talking about it, too.”

Rising Tide Car Wash has earned several awards, and has been featured in newspapers, magazines and on TV. Sharing what the D’Eri family calls harnessing the operational advantage of employing individuals with autism, the University of Miami Center for Autism offers a course to interested business owners. Tom has also authored a book, “The Power of Potential: How a Nontraditional Workforce Can Lead You to Run Your Business Better.”   

Says Tom, “Every time a customer leaves happy, every successful year of business we complete, and every new store we open is a testament of the value individuals with autism bring to the workforce.”