How a legacy driver’s ed brand is entering a bold new era with a mission to save lives—and help franchisees build meaningful businesses along the way.
Jungle Driving, the newly relaunched teen driver’s education franchise with a life-saving mission to make roads safer for the next generation, is rolling out a bold new vision in 2025 under new leadership. Backed by a powerhouse leadership team and a fully rebuilt, tech-forward program, the brand is now poised for rapid national growth through newly launched franchise opportunities.
A Legacy Built on Safety
Originally founded in 2003 by Fred Westdale, Jungle Driving was created with one goal in mind: to prepare teens for the wild roads ahead. The name reflected both the unpredictable nature of the road and the serious responsibility of learning to drive safely.
Over the years, the brand introduced a more robust curriculum, added family-focused programming, and continued to evolve to meet the needs of modern learners.
Now, after more than two decades of impact, Jungle Driving is reemerging stronger than ever, paying tribute to its roots while embracing a forward-thinking, franchise-focused model designed to grow its reach and results.
Franchise Leadership with Proven Success
At the center of the relaunch is CEO Zach Beutler, a franchise growth expert and multi-brand founder best known for co-founding HorsePower Brands. Beutler has built and scaled multiple national franchise systems, and now he’s bringing that expertise to Jungle Driving.
“When I looked at Jungle, I saw something more than a business,” says Beutler. “I saw a brand that was already making a meaningful difference, with the potential to do so much more. Our job now is to modernize, streamline, and scale it so more families can benefit.”
Beutler isn’t doing it alone. He’s assembled a leadership team of seasoned franchise professionals with deep expertise in training, technology, operations, creative strategy, and development, all focused on supporting franchisees and building a best-in-class system.
- Cheryl Price (Onboarding & Training) brings a rich background in instructional design and employee development. She excels at translating complex business concepts into accessible, engaging learning experiences for franchisees and their teams.
- Cody Kindschuh (Technology & Operations) is a systems integration specialist who has led digital transformation projects in franchising. With expertise in process automation, technology solutions, and Microsoft Power Platform, Cody ensures Jungle Driving’s tech stack is built for scalability and real-time performance monitoring.
- Tavis McVey (Marketing & Creative) is a brand strategist and creative leader with a proven track record of launching and scaling franchise brands. He specializes in building bold, cohesive brand identities and producing high-impact design and video content.
- Jen Wherrell (VP of Franchise Development) is a franchise development veteran with a passion for helping others grow. A former CEO and multi-state franchise co-founder, she brings real-world operational experience and a relationship-first approach to recruiting and supporting new franchise partners.
“I joined Jungle Driving because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with an all-star team of franchise experts, people who have built, developed, and scaled more locations than anyone in the business,” Wherrell says. “This brand is more than a business to me; it’s a mission to save teen lives and help others build something truly meaningful in the process.”
A Mission That Matters
Driver’s education plays a crucial role in keeping teens safe, but many programs haven’t evolved with the times. That’s where Jungle Driving sets itself apart.
Jungle Driving’s approach blends immersive classroom learning with real-world behind-the-wheel experience. Its revamped curriculum includes safety techniques originally developed by a founding partner at one of the world’s largest package delivery companies—techniques that helped reduce accident rates systemwide. That same framework now forms the backbone of Jungle’s driver education model.
This safety-first philosophy is built into every part of the Jungle experience, from the curriculum and instructor training to the technology now powering the program. Through its recent upgrades, Jungle has also added real-time vehicle tracking, giving parents peace of mind and helping instructors tailor lessons in the moment.
“Jungle Driving isn’t just another driver’s ed school, it’s a program built to save lives,” Beutler says. “We’ve reengineered it from top to bottom, built out the right tech and systems, and are now ready to grow with franchisees who care about making a real impact in their communities.”
Building a Brand That Gives Back
As Jungle Driving begins franchising across the U.S., it’s looking for mission-minded owners who see the potential to serve their communities, not just build a business. For franchisees, it’s a chance to offer something of real value to local families, while tapping into a scalable model supported by a team that knows how to grow.
For more information about Jungle Driving and its franchise opportunity, visit https://jungledriving.com/franchising.