ATHLETE . COACH . ENTREPRENEUR

Growing up and living in and around South Miami, over the course of his forty years, Lee Zohlman has achieved a great deal, making his passion for sport a successful business venture as well.

In his early years, Lee swam competitively for Palmetto H.S., and then went on to FIU to earn his BS degree in Broadcast Journalism (1995).  As a teenager growing up in South Miami, he helped his mother Barbara, a co-founder of the Miami Youth Museum (now Miami Children’s Museum), which had its facilities located at the Bakery Centre here in South Miami.

Lee’s roots are in South Miami.  While he didn’t compete in running at the time, in 1995, he bought his first running shoes at FootWorks, and when he became engaged in tri-sport competition, Mack Cycle & Fitness was the place he bought his tri-gear.  “I owe a great deal to these South Miami businesses….”  Today, he coaches the Mack Cycle Tri-team.  In fact, Lee is a certified as a USA Triathlon Elite Level Coach, a NSCF Certified Fitness Trainer and a United States Cycling Federation Certified Coach.

A gifted athlete, he was a competitive swimmer since the age of six.  He quickly learned the value of hard work and that all the little things add up to success. At the age of 24 Lee immersed himself into the endurance sports world and quickly found success.  Whether rock climbing, mountaineering or completing in Ironman triathlons he has always known that with a solid plan and attention to detail there will be success. Lee has taken these core principles and used them to build two successful businesses.

Yes, those who know Lee, know him to be a very detailed and very exacting person.  Now, take for example, Lee’s passion for coffee.  Lee is so particular about his cup of Joe, that he now has his own coffee brand.

As founder and lead coach of BodyZen, Lee has elevated himself to the top of the triathlon coaching profession by being one of the very few Elite Level III certified coaches in the world. Lee has coached and advised some of the world’s top Olympians and Ironman champions.

Not satisfied with just that, Lee founded Universal Multisport. And on the website, Lee is listed as founder and “Chief Thinker.”  And think he does – and act.  Through his company he has represented many sporting and lifestyle events.  Lee has served as a personal manager to Ironman champions and Olympians while successfully negotiating their corporate contracts, developing media training for the athletes and lending an ear in the rough patches which every athlete goes through.

Universal Multisport works to maximize various multisport events’ revenue through sponsorship acquisition, relationship management, and brand awareness programs.

UMS specializes in building successful corporate sponsor programs with triathlon, duathlon, running, and other endurance events.  UMS have negotiated sponsor contracts with some of the biggest brands in the world including Pepsi, Gatorade, Samsung and others.  Currently UMS represents: Ironman Miami 70.3, Ironman San Juan 70.3, ING Miami Marathon and the multirace.com series.

As part of his community service, Lee currently is a Board Member with the Runwell Foundation, which links fund-raising running events to benefit substance abuse programs.  He is past Chairperson and Board Member for the USA Triathlon Age Group Committee and USA Triathlon Florida Region.  Lee has worked as a consultant for Leukemia Society and Team to End Stroke. He is also a charter member of the South Florida Triathletes.

And when he’s not competing in triathlons, rock climbing or swimming, he spends as much time as he can with his seven year-old daughter
Kaia Blu, teaching her that the little things do add up to success.  So add “DAD” to the list: Athlete, Coach, Entrepreneur.