December 18, 2025
Interview with Nate Burdine, Co-founder of Mud Mile Communications
What is your background in marketing?
I began my career in journalism, cable advertising, video production, freelance sports, and news, where I met my wife, Jolene Loetscher. She founded Mud Mile as a PR firm. As YouTube transformed how people consumed media, I shifted into video content, and Mud Mile expanded into video production. From there, media placement and creative work naturally followed, and we grew into a full-service agency offering content, strategy, and placement.
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Jolene is the visionary behind the agency, and I manage operations. We view our company as a true partner to vendors and as an extension of our clients’ marketing teams.
What kinds of clients do you have?
We work with clients all over the country in industries ranging from car washes and retail to financial services, higher education, and private equity.
How did you start partnering with Mammoth Holdings, one of the major players in the car wash industry?
Mammoth Holdings is a major express conveyor car wash platform that owns and operates a large network of branded car wash facilities across numerous states. Their portfolio includes brands like Busy Bee, Silverstar, Finish Line, PureMagic, Marc 1, Swifty, Ultra, Wash Me Fast, Wiggy Wash, and more.
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Our partnership began with a single car wash client in South Dakota that needed video content for television. Over time, that relationship expanded to include multiple locations, media placement, press releases, and design work. When Silverstar Car Wash was acquired by Mammoth, we started working directly with their marketing team.
Why are so many car washes popping up?
Demand is high, and the business model has gotten a lot stronger. Technology has improved, so you can get a fast, high-quality wash in 5–10 minutes. The subscription model has exploded. Car wash memberships are now one of the most loyal subscription types after gym memberships, so operators have predictable, recurring revenue.
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Professional washes are far more efficient than washing at home, using less water and recycling most of it. All of that makes the industry attractive and scalable, which is why you’re seeing so many new locations.
What’s a typical day like for you?
A typical day depends on what’s happening in the business. I might be onsite for a retail opening, in the studio working on post-production, meeting with partners to solve challenges, or negotiating deals. My role spans everything from creative work to operations, so no two days look the same and that’s what I enjoy about it.
Why did you choose to partner with Walraven?
We don’t just advertise; we connect and partner. We think outside the box and don’t just recommend digital or TV. As a national agency with a hyper-local approach, partnering with Walraven makes life easier. With Walraven’s expertise and beneficial connections with schools, it alleviates our pain points of how to get marketing in front of local families, which is our target demographic for car washes.