2018 Shillelagh Man of the Year

While others are out “beating the Beast,” this year’s Shillelagh Man of the Year has literally built the Beast.

Andy Zimmerman has served as manager of code enforcement for the City of Erie for nearly 20 years.  He has been working in construction nearly his entire life, starting at age five when he began helping his father in his contracting business.  Since then, he has built just about everything, ranging from home remodeling to reconstructing a golf cart.

Andy has been leading the Barber Beast on the Bay building team since 2016, spending countless hours designing and constructing obstacles from his home workshop for both the 10-mile and adapted course.  He works year-round on the event, and his vision has resulted in challenges that have participants swinging across water holes and dangling from inverted monkey bars. Last year, he led a complete redesign of the adapted course that was enjoyed by more than 100 individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Andy has helped to ensure the success of this largest fundraising event benefitting the Barber National Institute, and considers his work on the Beast “an act of love.”  He particularly enjoys his work on the adapted course, where he delights in seeing the enthusiasm of the participants as they tackle the obstacles.

Andy and his wife, Lisa, reside in Fairview and have two daughters, Emily and Erika. When not wielding a hammer or saw, Andy enjoys hunting and golfing, and is an avid dog lover.