Ziebart in Troy, a global leader in vehicle appearance and protection services, has announced The Mattiacio Group, a longtime operator group, has acquired 17 additional Ziebart stores from The Harris Group.
With the strategic acquisition, The Mattiacio Group becomes the largest ownership team within Ziebart’s U.S. franchise system, now operating 26 locations across New York, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida.
The Mattiacio Group’s roots in the Ziebart brand date back to 1989, when family patriarch Tony Mattiacio opened his first location. Since then, the group has grown to successfully operate nine Ziebart locations, primarily in Buffalo and Rochester, New York, as well as Fort Myers, Flor.
The company evolved into a family business throughout the years, with Tony Mattiacio’s children — Mark, Zach, Ryan, and Meghan — all playing a role on the leadership team. Earlier this year, Tony Mattiacio transitioned ownership of the group to the next generation, while retaining his role as CEO.
“We have always believed in the power of the Ziebart brand,” says Tony Mattiacio. “This acquisition is about building on the foundation established by Jim Harris and his team, while continuing to invest in the people and processes that make Ziebart an industry leader. We’re excited to bring our family values and growth mindset to even more communities.”
The Harris Group, led by franchise veteran Jim Harris since 2015, has grown across 17 locations, primarily in the Indianapolis and Dayton markets. The acquisition comes following Harris’ decision to enter retirement.
As part of the transition, the team is proud to announce the promotion of Brandi Gehring to the position of president, where she’ll oversee daily operations and report directly to the board of directors.
Gehring has worked with The Harris Group’s Ziebart stores for more than 20 years, from customer service representative to most recently CFO. There will be no changes to day-to-day operations across The Harris Group as a result of the acquisition.
“The Harris Group’s contributions to the brand are immeasurable, and we thank them for their decades of dedication,” says Thomas A. Wolfe, president and CEO of Ziebart. “As The Mattiacio Group integrates these new stores, their leadership is committed to supporting staff, maintaining high service standards, and creating new opportunities for growth.”
Founded in 1959, Ziebart International Corp.’s products and services are made and sourced in the United States. Ziebart operates more than 400 locations, with more than 1,000 car dealer partners, in 37 countries.
For more information about Ziebart, including franchise opportunities, visit ziebart.com.
