About me

Hi, I'm Zach. I'm a creative specialist based in southern Minnesota and a 2026 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, where I studied Communication Studies with minors in Studio Art and Film & Media Studies.

My work includes photography, video production and editing, and content for social media and marketing. I've photographed concerts, theatre, events, portraits, and landscapes, and I edit in Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.

I care about getting the details right, from lighting and composition to the final edit, and I enjoy telling real stories about people and places.

Education

Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies | Minors in Studio Art and Film & Media Studies May 2026 GPA 3.67 | Dean's List (5 semesters)

Luther College (Transferred), Decorah, IA Courses toward Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications September 2022 - May 2023

Experience

First Farmers & Merchants Bank - Minnesota

Cannon Falls/Le Sueur, MN

Marketing Assistant | May 2026 - August 2026 Marketing Intern | June 2025 - May 2026

  • Managed Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the full branch network. Built monthly content calendars around the bank's five content pillars and published 406 posts from January to July 2026, up from 277 over the same months in 2025.
  • Grew reach 348% (31,185 to 139,815), engagement 76%, and website link clicks 90% from January to July 2026, compared with the same months in 2025.
  • Wrote monthly analytics reports for the board that turned Hootsuite data into plain-language findings and recommendations, including moving LinkedIn toward business and community content.
  • Handled print, social, and radio requests from branches and departments, and traveled to branches to interview staff and gather content.
  • Proposed and launched Branch in Action, a bank-wide employee advocacy campaign. Built the points system, branch pairings, training deck, and weekly email series to keep branch-submitted content coming in.

Gustavus Adolphus College - Fine Arts Department

St. Peter, MN

Photographer | November 2024 - May 2026

  • Photographed fine arts events and performances, including jazz ensemble and symphony orchestra concerts, theater productions, and Christmas in Christ Chapel.
  • Edited and delivered photos for college marketing, events, and communications, working with staff from multiple campus departments.
  • Filmed, edited in Premiere Pro, and produced a series of 5 videos for Applause for the Cause 2025, which supported a 36-hour fundraising campaign that raised $200,000 for Gustavus Performing Arts.

Radermacher's Fresh Market

Le Sueur, MN

Night Manager/Shift Lead | June 2023 - October 2025 Cashier/Grocery Stocker | June 2020 - June 2023

  • Promoted to Night Manager after three years with the store. Supervised evening shift operations and served as the point of contact for staff and customers.
  • Trained new team members, assigned and delegated tasks, and kept shifts running smoothly during peak customer volume.
  • Managed cash handling and end-of-shift reconciliation, following company policy and procedure.
  • Monitored inventory and restocked products to keep the store organized and ready for customers.

City of Le Sueur - Aqua Valley Outdoor Pool

Le Sueur, MN

Head Lifeguard | June 2020 - August 2023 Lifeguard | October 2018 - June 2020

  • Promoted to Head Lifeguard after two seasons. Supervised, scheduled, and trained a team of 15+ lifeguards.
  • Tested and maintained pool chemical levels, enforced safety regulations, and ran routine safety drills to keep the facility safe and up to standard.
  • Taught swim lessons to children and adults of varying skill levels.
  • Served as the primary point of contact for visitors, resolving on-site issues and communicating clearly with the public during peak hours.

Additional Experience

  • Contracted Trumpet Instructor, Forte Fine Arts, Le Sueur, MN (September 2023 - May 2026)
  • Seasonal Laborer, City of Le Sueur Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant, Le Sueur, MN (May 2024 - August 2024)
  • Grocery Stocker, Hy-Vee, Inc., Decorah, IA (November 2022 - May 2023)
  • Cafeteria Server, Luther College - Sodexo, Decorah, IA (September 2022 - January 2023)

Campus Involvement

Trumpet Player/Treasurer/Social Media Coordinator, Gustavus Wind Orchestra, St. Peter, MN September 2024 - May 2026

  • Managed the ensemble's finances as elected treasurer by collecting dues, tracking expenditures, and reconciling the group's operating budget each semester.
  • Ran the organization's social media accounts to promote events and engage members.

Also:

  • Trumpet Player, Gustavus Symphony Orchestra (November 2025 - May 2026)
  • Trumpet Player, Gustavus Jazz Ensemble (January 2025 - May 2025)
  • Member, Tri-Alpha Honor Society for first-generation college students (September 2023 - May 2026)

Skills

Creative: Photography, video production and editing, color grading, copywriting, social media analytics

Software: Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Lightroom, and Express, DaVinci Resolve, Canva, Hootsuite, Meta Business Suite, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini), Python

Languages: English (native), Spanish (basic conversational)