Zimmerman Marine Celebrates 45 Years
Zimmerman Marine Celebrates 45 Years of Craftsmanship, Service, and Employee Ownership
Founder Steve Zimmerman marks four and a half decades of leadership as the employee-owned marine repair and services company continues to grow across its mid-Atlantic locations.
MATHEWS, VA — [July 23] — Zimmerman Marine (ZMI), a full-service marine repair and refit company, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this month. Founded by Steve Zimmerman in 1981, the company has grown from its original yard on the East River in Mathews VA into a nationally trusted name in yacht repair, maintenance, and refits. The company has grown to 6 locations in MD, VA, NC, and SC.
Over the past 45 years, Zimmerman Marine has built a reputation for craftsmanship, customer service, and integrity.
“Yacht maintenance and repair is a challenging space. Our success would not be possible without top notch people in all phases of our company. Recruiting, retaining, and rewarding skilled personnel is critical to our success.” said Steve Zimmerman, Founder and CEO of Zimmerman Marine.
The Legacy Continues as an Employee Owned Company
In 2019 Zimmerman took the company employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a decision that reflected his long-standing commitment to the people who built the company alongside him. Today, ZMI’s employee-owners share directly in the company’s success, a structure Zimmerman credits as central to the company’s culture and longevity.
Zimmerman has led the company for the entirety of its 45-year history while building a leadership team prepared to carry the company’s values into its next chapter. Kathryn Wallace, President, and Steve Wallace, Chief Operating Officer, both long-tenured members of the ZMI team, now lead day-to-day operations alongside Zimmerman.
Looking Ahead
As Zimmerman Marine enters its next chapter, the company remains focused on maintaining its culture, stability, and measured growth.
“As the industry has shifted toward ownership by private equity corporations, ZMI remains committed to providing personal service to its customers, and gratitude for its employees. Employee ownership sets us apart and rewards those who make our
success possible.” – Kathryn Wallace, President
About Zimmerman Marine
Zimmerman Marine is an employee-owned marine repair and services company headquartered in Mathews, Virginia, with additional locations in Deale MD, Deltaville VA, Oriental NC, Holden Beach NC, and Charleston SC.
Founded in 1981 by Steve Zimmerman, ZMI provides a full range of repair and maintenance services to cruisers and boat owners throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
Media Contact: Steve Zimmerman, Founder and CEO,