As Ziebart marks
65 years of providing premium automotive appearance and protection services,
the brand honored its top-performing franchise owners and stores at its
highly-anticipated 2023 Franchise Owner Celebration in Jamaica. The conference,
attended by Ziebart franchise owners and corporate executives, provided a
platform to celebrate significant achievements and milestones, while upholding
Ziebart’s longstanding promise to continually support its franchise
owners.
Among those recognized for providing exceptional
services was Morgantown, West Virginia owner Nick Lambie, who received the
coveted Dealer of the Year award, underscoring what’s already been an
impressive year for him:
In January, Lambie and his brother announced plans
for expansion, with a second store now in development in Washington,
Pennsylvania.
In February, the International Franchise Association (IFA)
recognized Lambie as a 2023
Franchisee of the Year.
As an Air Force Veteran, Lambie was a driving force behind
Ziebart’s 2024 initiative to donate to Mission
22 – a national veteran non-profit organization that provides support
to veterans and their families.
“As a Ziebart franchise owner, I am incredibly honored
to be recognized amongst the best in our network at this year’s annual
conference,” Lambie said. “Between the unwavering passion seen across the
Ziebart network and their true dedication to supporting and guiding franchise
owners to success, I’m proud to be part of the Ziebart franchise family.”
While Ziebart marks 65 years of service this year,
several franchise stores were also celebrated for their own milestone
achievements. Among those, Joe Walsh Hanley, Jr., whose store in Hilo, Hawaii
celebrates 50 Years of Service this year. This prestigious accolade
is a testament to Hanley’s resilience, innovation, and continuous pursuit of
excellence, embodying the spirit of Ziebart’s legacy of quality and service for
the past 50 years.
“It’s truly inspiring to see one of our distinguished
franchise owners reach the impressive milestone of 50 years of service, a
longevity that reflects not only on Joe’s strong dedication to our brand, but
also his unwavering commitment to exceeding customer expectations,” said Thomas
A. Wolfe, President and CEO of Ziebart. “We are always proud of the hard work
and remarkable achievements of our franchise owners. With this year being
particularly significant as we celebrate 65 years of protecting and defending
vehicles, we’re eager to see what more our franchise system can accomplish in
the years to come.”
This year’s New Dealer of the Year award went to
Mike Drizake, who opened his Ziebart franchise location in Triadelphia, West
Virginia in February 2023. In just one year of operation, the award recognizes
Drizake’s outstanding performance early in his franchising journey with Ziebart.
Matt Steiner was awarded Corporately Owned Store Manager
of the Year, celebrating his consistent efforts to going above and beyond to
drive success, foster teamwork, and uphold the highest standards of customer
service at his store in Fridley, Minnesota. Two stores were honored with
the Outstanding Customer Service award for achieving significant
high-mark ratings and reviews from customers: Dennis Ahearn of Ottawa,
Illinois, and Autumn Dougherty of McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
To find a Ziebart location near you, head to www.ziebart.com. For more information
on Ziebart’s franchising opportunities, visit ziebart.com/franchise-opportunities.
