The Inside Line | Zach Watson

In the realm of sports, triumphs are often measured not only by the number of medals won, but also by the boundless spirit and determination displayed by the athletes. Behind the scenes, however, there exists a network of individuals working tirelessly to ensure that athletes, particularly those with disabilities, are given every opportunity to shine on and off the field. At the heart of this endeavor for KPF stands the unsung hero, the Operations Manager, dedicated to supporting all our athletes.

Zach Watson was introduced to The Kyle Pease Foundation in 2022. At the time, KPF had an opening for a race coordinator, but Brent and Kyle were still vetting candidates. For then-potential-employee Zach, the 2022 Publix Half Marathon was meant to be a chance to observe and study the inner workings of KPF on race day. But when a volunteer runner was sidelined due to an illness, the twenty-something offered to fill in and push. Pivoting to logistics volunteer, Mindy Louden, Zach asked:

“By chance, how long is this race?”

“Oh,” Mindy responded. “It’s a half marathon.”

“Great,” Zach replied, concealing a certain trepidation.

Before he could even comprehend the relentless 13.1-mile grind, he was already headed for rolling hills on broken-asphalt roads of inner-city Atlanta with athlete Noah Longshore. With zero training for long-distance running under his belt, Zach would be in the hurt locker for several hours, hobbling on stiff legs for several days thereafter. However, whether he realized it at the time, Zach had exemplified KPF’s mission and demonstrated his belief in its core values. This fast-tracked him to a job as the brand-new Operations Manager for KPF.

Zach grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, with a love for sports. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Entertainment Management, with a focus on Event and Facilities Management, then earned his graduate degree. The son of a former track star and basketball player, Zach played football and tennis while his sister shot hoops.  After school and practice, he’d hang out with his friends, one of whom had a sister with Duchesne Muscular Dystrophy. DMD is a debilitating genetic disorder that progressively deteriorates and weakens muscle cells, causing individuals to become wheelchair bound. Typically, the disease primarily affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls. Zach watched his friend’s sister slowly lose her ability to actively participate in sports. Greenville, being the small town that it is, did not have alternative outlets for her.  

“I wish we had something like this ( KPF) back home,” Zach would later reflect. “A lot of things were taken away from her. I would like to get her down to Atlanta to experience one of our races.”

At work, Zach wears a lot of hats, as does everyone in the lean contingency of KPF employees. From day-to-day operational tasks of warehouse upkeep, preparing KPF’s vehicle fleet, supervising the inclusive employment program, networking with donors and supporters of KPF, to assuring race chairs are in tip-top shape, Zach diligently gets it done. After each race, Zach recaps the event with a summary that includes statistics and highlights, as well as feedback on what KPF did right and what could be done better. 

Working closely with Morgan Pappas, KPF’s Development Director, Zach demonstrates teamwork skills that contribute to the success of our small nonprofit by collaborating, communicating, and working together effectively to achieve our shared goals.

"It has been a pleasure working with Zach over the past year. He's truly been our boots on the ground and a go-getter,” Morgan stated. “He shows grit and passion for each and every KPF Athlete we're proud to serve. Zach works hard to ensure each of our athletes has the best experience possible and makes all feel welcome - from our volunteers, our athletes, our partners, the list goes on and on!" 

It goes without saying that Zach is a very motivated guy. When he is off the clock, you can find him out running, training for his first full marathon later this year. But one would be remiss to discount all the events on KPF’s race calendar. In my estimation, Zach prepares for many more miles than he realizes as he is always ready to step in and run when needed.  

 “Zach has impacted my job so much,” shares Kyle Pease, Chief Inspiration Officer. “For me, he makes it easy for me to show up to an event because everything is taken care of with such detail. He is a joy to be around professionally and personally. He’s been a big part of our team, and I’m grateful for Zach.”