Zach began kayaking and guiding in California while in college and graduate school. After graduating he taught math and engineering for a few years before taking on a full time role as General Manager at ECHO River Trips. He founded Northwest Rafting Company on the Rogue River in 2009. "NWRC" now operates on the Rogue, Owyhee, Chetco, Illinois, and Middle Fork of the Salmon Rivers as well as a few select international destinations.