Zach was born and raised in the Midwest, specifically East Peoria, Illinois. After attending Southern Illinois University and attaining a Master's Degree, he started a career in the fitness industry with great paying job after college as a Personal Training Director. While a training director Zach was attending fitness competitions and modeling for a few supplement companies and even landed a few images in a few mainstream magazines. During this time Zach and the late Greg Plitt crossed paths. Zach credits Greg as being one of the most influential people in his life and the reason he finally decided to pick up his life, move to California and pursue his dream.