Meet the President

Zach Harris is a former Tulane football captain turned entrepreneur, leading the way in construction and business mentorship through his company, Zach the Builder.

A New Orleans native, Harris made his mark as a starting linebacker and team captain for the Green Wave while excelling academically at the A. B. Freeman School of Business. He earned a B.S. in Marketing and later completed a Master’s in Homeland Security from Tulane’s School of Professional Advancement.

Instead of taking a traditional corporate path after graduation, Harris chose entrepreneurship, blending the discipline and teamwork he learned on the football field with the business acumen he gained in the classroom. Seeing a gap in skilled trades, he launched Zach the Builder, a construction firm specializing in roofing and full-scale renovations.

When Hurricane Ida devastated New Orleans in 2021, Harris and his team stepped up, repairing over 100 roofs and helping to rebuild the city he calls home. His strong Tulane network played a crucial role in growing his business, with word-of-mouth support leading to exponential success.

Beyond construction, Harris is passionate about mentorship and education, hiring and training former student-athletes to become "new-generation" business owners—leaders who forge their own paths outside of traditional corporate structures.

Harris believes success isn’t defined by a 9-to-5 job or a suit and tie—it’s about creating value, building something lasting, and empowering others to do the same. Through Zach the Builder, he’s not just constructing buildings—he’s laying the foundation for a new wave of entrepreneurs.