While serving as a senior airman in the U.S. Air Force, Lenny Geibel began to wonder what career options awaited when he was discharged. Since his father was also in the Air Force and he lived on bases his entire life, the military was essentially all Geibel knew, but he wanted to expand upon that.
Geibel's experience in ground radio maintenance technology gave him several options to pursue, but he was definitely looking for something different.
"After traveling the world for four years, living everywhere from Oklahoma to Japan, the last thing I wanted to be was chained to a desk from 9 to 5," Geibel said.
After leaving the Air Force in 1993, Geibel worked various telecommunications and electronics jobs, trying to figure out which industry was the right fit for his skills. When none of his positions proved to be "the one," he met with a franchise broker to figure out other options.
Owning a business had always been one of Geibel's goals, but deciding to do so was a monumental one. Given the urgency, he made sure he considered every option, and with the guidance of his broker, Geibel explored myriad opportunities he had never even thought of.
"I was really surprised by how the reality of a certain type of business suited me, as opposed to my initial perception," Geibel said. "Knowing what you want isn't a bad thing, but if I'd focused on just one industry, I could have missed an opportunity that was a much better fit."
Even before his time in the military, Geibel always had an outgoing personality, enjoyed working with his hands and spending time outdoors, so when his broker mentioned Spring-Green Lawn Care, his interest was piqued. Though Geibel wanted to immerse himself in a venture that was a departure from his past, his time in the military made him a perfect candidate for the lawn-care industry.
"In order to succeed in this business, you must be a perfectionist with an eye for detail and strong work ethic. These kinds of people -- the ones who know how to dig down three levels deeper than the average person to get the job done -- are made in the military," Geibel said.
"Spring-Green's corporate support understood this and already had a military assistance program in place. The financial benefits of the program initially drew me in, but it was the value the company placed on military personnel that held my interest. After attending the company's discovery day and speaking with countless people and seeing everyone was just as dedicated to success as I was, [that] made my decision easy."
Geibel opened his Spring-Green Lawn Care in January 2007 in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Though he is new to the business, Geibel already has a client base of almost 400 in the northern Atlanta area and has earned more than $100,000 in revenue. Plainfield, Illinois-based Spring-Green is a recognized leader in the lawn and tree care industry that has been beautifying the environment for three decades.
Spring-Green currently has 114 franchises operating in 24 states. With summer just around the corner, Geibel is looking forward to spending long days in the sun, satisfying his customers' wishes of greener, healthier lawns.
"My time in the military taught me many things, but one of the most important was always taking pride in your work," Geibel said. "The lawn is one of the first things people see when they approach your home, so why not make it as beautiful as possible?"
Find the Right Veteran Job
Whether you want to polish your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Subscribe to Military.com to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox.
