Marketer, Writer, and Strategist based in PDX

My name is Zach Zimmerman. Those glasses are real, although I don't always need them. I thought they would make me look smarter in this edgy work photo.

I grew up near Daytona Beach, Florida, before heading west to attend Stanford University. There, I got a degree in psychology that I rarely use and three years of Andrew Luck football. 

After six years of marketing and advertising in Los Angeles and Portland, I moved to Ann Arbor to get an MBA from Michigan. Two years of graduate school, one wedding, and a global pandemic later, I am back in Portland and currently serving as the VP of Marketing at FitLab, where I am building the future of hybrid fitness.

I consider myself a marketing generalist and love being kept honest by rapidly changing trends. My secret weapon is my writing, which is a career path almost chosen. I am a former editor in chief, ESPN copyediting intern (ask me about the AP Style Guide), and occasional travel/sports writer. Storytelling can be an overused term in our world, but I take a lot of pride in my ability to craft compelling narratives for global audiences.

Over the course of my career, I have sat on both sides of the client-agency table with brands like Red Bull, Nike, Gatorade, and Hurley. I know how to optimize for the good, how to (mostly) avoid the bad, and how to sustain healthy and collaborative relationships that push brands forward. These were tough lessons to learn, but they’ve paid dividends for a marketing approach that emphasizes reduced waste and increased efficiency.

Some non-work things about me: I am a diehard Orlando Magic and Stanford sports fan; I am a proud and humbled new(ish) dad; I enjoy lifting weights, writing, surfing, and playing poker; and I was invited to read a poem at a Young Authors Contest in 5th grade. The poem was about Dale Earnhardt (you can check it out here).

Interested in connecting? Get in touch at zbzimmerman “at” gmail.com.