Marketer, Writer, and Strategist based in PDX

My name is Zach Zimmerman.

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. 

Marketing has always been a big tent for me — strategy, brand, performance, creative direction. Earlier in my career I was worried about not being a specialist. Now I'm grateful I didn't pick a lane.

Writing has always been my edge, and a career path almost chosen. I was editor in chief of my college paper and an ESPN copyediting intern, and I write a dad blog on the side. Good marketing is really just good storytelling with a budget, and that's a belief I bring into every brief, campaign, and brand I work on.

Over the course of my career, I've sat on both sides of the client-agency table with brands like Red Bull, Nike, Gatorade, and Hurley. I've led marketing organizations at PFF and FitLab, and learned how to optimize for the good and (mostly) avoid the bad. Those lessons have shaped a marketing approach that emphasizes reduced waste and increased efficiency.

Some non-work things about me: I am a 2x girl dad; I suffer from Orlando Magic and Stanford sports fandom; 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).

I'm available for select freelance and consulting projects and always happy to hear what you're working on. Reach out at zbzimmerman "at" gmail.com.