For U.S. Air Force veteran Nick Lambie, leaving active duty was the start of a new kind of leadership. This Veterans Day, Ziebart is celebrating how he turned his service into an award-winning, multi-unit business rooted in his hometown.
From Mission Ready to Business Ready 
Nick spent nine years on active duty as a U.S. Air Force weapons director, guiding tanker and fighter aircraft through high-stakes missions. One wrong call could put everything at risk, so precision became his second nature. He also saw firsthand that the strongest teams are built on trust.
When Nick began planning his transition, he knew he wanted a business where he could lead a team and create opportunities in his hometown. He was drawn to the freedom and challenge of being his own boss, and he believed the leadership and mission-focused skills he built in the Air Force would carry over to franchising.
A visit to a Ziebart location in New York showed him what that could look like. The quality of service impressed him, and the friendly team made it feel like a place worth building. In 2019, Nick and his brother, Mark, opened their first Ziebart store in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Veteran Leadership in Action
Nick leads from the front and in the field. He has mastered every service Ziebart offers, and he’s often on the floor coaching and working through jobs with technicians. Just as important, he makes sure every voice on his team is heard.
“The best way to move forward is to listen to each other and be open to new ideas,” Nick said. “I am always looking for ways to improve, and I try to encourage my team to take initiative and find ways we can progress together.”
Those values have earned Nick some of franchising’s top honors, including IFA Franchisee of the Year. At Ziebart’s 2026 annual conference, he also received awards for Outstanding Customer Service and Outstanding Community Service.
“Nothing is more important than being honest with yourself and your employees,” he added. “I try to focus on being the best that I can be for my employees and my community.”
Under Nick’s leadership, the Morgantown store has grown into one of Ziebart’s top-performing locations in just a few years. The brothers have since expanded to a second store in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, building a multi-unit business on the same foundation of trust and teamwork.
A Brand That Serves Those Who Served
Giving back to fellow veterans has always mattered to Nick. He was the driving force behind Ziebart’s partnership with Mission 22, a national nonprofit that supports veterans and their families. That effort has grown into an annual Month of Giving each December, with stores across the system raising funds for the cause.
Ziebart brings that same spirit to its franchise opportunity. Through its active participation in VetFran, the brand waives 100% of the initial franchise fee for qualified U.S. military veterans. New owners also join a community that understands their background, with roughly 40% of franchise owners and 12% of headquarters employees having served in the military.
As one of Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Veterans, Ziebart takes pride in owners like Nick who prove that the mission to serve never truly ends.
Start your next mission with Ziebart. Begin your franchising journey today!
FAQs
Q. Is Ziebart a good franchise opportunity for veterans? Ziebart is a strong fit for many veterans, with structured systems that reward leadership and discipline. Qualified veterans receive a 100% waiver of the initial franchise fee, and Entrepreneur has named Ziebart a Top Franchise for Veterans.
Q. Does Ziebart offer incentives for military veterans? Yes. Ziebart waives 100% of the initial franchise fee for qualified U.S. military veterans as part of its active participation in VetFran.
Q. Do I need prior automotive or business experience to own a Ziebart franchise? No prior automotive or business ownership experience is required. Ziebart’s training programs are designed for first-time owners and cover operations, sales, marketing, and business management.