Gordie Zimmermann is currently minority co-owner of Z Mitch, LLC a commercial real estate developer and state certified building contractor, located in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Z Mitch, LLC is an owner/ developer, designer, contractor, and managing entity of a 150,000 square foot ice and multi-sport facility in Wesley Chapel, Florida called AdventHealth Center Ice. Gordie is a Managing Member of Z Mitch, L.L.C. AHCI has become one of the Premier Multi Million $ facilities in the country and ranked # 1 indoor ice rink facility by USA Today & Yelp.
Recently in Jan 2022, Gordie started Icemann Development, LLC , also a certified Florida state builder for the purpose of new project development and consulting in the Sports and Entertainment business, plus Real Estate Development in various levels in SFR, Multi family and Commercial projects. Icemann’s company mission is to build community projects that impact the area both in quality of life and economic growth.
Starting in 1994, Mr. Zimmermann moved from Canada to the Tampa area to develop, design, construct and manage the 80,000sf Ice Sports Forum, Brandon twin ice rink facility. From 1994 -2001 Gordie was a Project Manager with a local Development and Architectural group, James R Bradley AIA and Bradley and Bradley Development Inc.. Gordie was responsible for over $40 Million in construction and development during that period in both residential and commercial projects.
From 1995-2001 Gordie developed, designed, built and then managed in its first 4 years of operation the Ice Sports Forum now called TGH Iceplex in Brandon Fl., which today is one of the top income producing twin pad rinks in the country and home practice facility of the Stanley Cup Champions Tampa Bay Lightning. Gordie was responsible for initiating the agreement with the TBL back in 1997-2007 term with then president and founder Phil Esposito.
From 2001-2015 year Gordie owned ZBI, a local residential builder, who had been mainly doing business with Z Mitch partner George Mitchell of Mitchell Homes of Georgia constructing spec and custom home projects since 2009-2015.
Prior to moving to Florida during the 1985 to 1993 era, Gordie worked for General Motors of Canada for 8 years as an Automotive Product Control & Fabrication crew chief at the GM Oshawa AutoPlex. Multiple Extended Education certifications and heavy equipment operations certs were obtained during his tenure at General Motors of Canada.
He attended Durham College in Canada 1983-84 where he studied Civil Engineering, Electronic Controls and Metallurgy. During college, Gordie managed a hockey/fishing sport retail store and bait shop in Oshawa Ont.
Gordie has an extensive background in the Ice skating and the Hockey industry both in Florida, Canada and abroad. Prior to living in the USA, Gordie was born in the Toronto area, played AAA /Junior hockey in Canada as an Elite player and obtained scholarship offers from Dartmouth and Union in the NCAA Ivy League.
Since 2000-2017 Gordie obtained certificates in USA Hockey in Levels 1-4 and is currently a Level 4 certified Coach in USA Hockey since 2009, along with SafeSport, Age Specific High School/U16 and Positive Coaching Alliance certifications.
For the seasons 0f 1998-2017, Gordie was coaching/GM of Plant High School Hockey (2 years), Travel Hockey Bulls (5 years, U8-U14) Gulf Coast Flames U16 (1 year) the Wiregrass Ice Hawks High School Hockey Team (6 years) that plays in the Lightning High School Hockey League run by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Wiregrass finished twice, as finalist, in Fl state Championships. In addition, Gordie coached several events and allstar games with former Lightning NHL Players Nikita Alexeev, Brian Bradley, Dave Andreychuk, Glen Metropolit, Stan Neckar and numerous of NHL players and pros, college coaches, plus worked hand in hand with former Lightning GM Jay Feaster in helping grow the high school league and teams.
Gordie was also instrumental in bringing in a high level Hockey Prospect camp to Florida 2017-2022 seasons out of Canada, called Prospects, now as an part owner of Prospects, Gordie has helped launch a new Canadian company called Global Center Ice as President along with Prospect owner Roger Shannon as new CEO of GCI. This is now an annual event at AHCI along with a multitude of more than 40 local, regional, national and international tournaments, NHL Pro Camps, NHL Rookie Showcase, Isobel Cup, Four Nations Cup, USA Olympic Gold Medalist women’s 2018 team training, NCDC HUB tourny, NAHL camps, USPHL Showcases, camps and many more events & skating competitions per year.
Recently in 2021, Gordie launched the Global Prospect Academy and the start of the Sunshine Cup International youth AAA hockey tournament with Canadian Hockey expert Roger Shannon, CEO of Global Center Ice. Along with Gordie, they both launched and own the CJHL hockey team named the Fredericton Junior Redwings. In the 2020/21 season, the FJRW were named Champs in the second year of operations. Last season they lost in the final of North Division of the MHL to the Summerside Capitals, (2nd ranked team in country last two seasons.
Gordie’s vision has led to many awards, Economic Development Council Business of the Year 2017, Pasco County Resolution award for economic impact for a business 2021. Attraction of the Year from Florida Sports Coast 2022, and the Chairman Award North Tampa Bay Chamber for Extraordinary vision, leadership, and contribution to our community.
The economic growth since opening AHCI has generated a tourism spike that has provided this initiative of the rebranding of the Visit Pasco Tourism theme now called the Florida Sports Coast. Gordie is proud to be a part of the next phase in developing more projects that impact the region.