TDR Employee Highlight: Paige Zimmerman
My name is Paige Zimmerman and I am TDR’s Office Assistant. I love working for this amazing company, for Marissa, who is a role model for me, and with my inspiring colleagues!
I am a junior at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, studying marketing, data analytics, and studio art. In addition to being a college student, I am a working student for my trainer of 6 years, Olivia Steidle. Additionally, I am a commissioned artist specializing in horse and animal portraits. I love to participate in local and national art contests such as the USDF Yearbook Cover Art Contest, which I’ve won or placed in my age group several times.
I also enjoy volunteering at as many local shows as possible each show season, and recently became a board member for the Eastern States Dressage & Combined Training Association (ESDCTA) as the marketing and media chair. In that role, I am responsible for operating their multiple social media accounts and for communicating important information to members in a timely and engaging manner.
Like many kids, I was bitten by the horse bug early and began riding at a young age. I started as a hunter/jumper. When my mom acquired a spicy OTTB mare named Campfire Girl (aka Campie), I began riding her. I was too small and inexperienced to balance her and give her confidence when jumping, so I transitioned to dressage when I was 11, and have never looked back. When I first began riding with Olivia Steidle in 2017, she gave me the opportunity to ride and show her OTTB schoolmaster Buddy (aka A Year in Time), who earned me my USDF Bronze Medal over the following three years. I was 17 and he was 19 when we earned it. He is still going strong at 24. He is in full work, and he loves to squeal and run around in the pasture!
Since 2019, I have had the opportunity to ride Ducati, a Hanoverian gelding owned by Brenda Curnin. I am and have always been extremely grateful for that opportunity, which combined with Olivia’s steady training, has transformed my riding. Ducati brought me to 3 regionals championships, the US Dressage Finals this past year, and in 2020 we topped the 2nd Level Jr/Yr USDF year-end award standings. However, even if we had never reached the show ring, I would still love Ducati the way I do today. He is very sensitive, and a little quirky, but he has a ton of personality. Working with him is an absolute joy!
What does Paige love about The Distinguished Rider?
I have been working with TDR since June of 2021, and it has been a fantastic experience working with the team and watching the business grow and thrive! I love being a part of a close-knit team of inspiring, hard working women and working with fellow riders. There is a perfect boot for everyone.
Why is it important to deliver an amazing customer experience?
It is important to me to help deliver an amazing customer experience because it keeps our clients excited about their new boots while they wait for them to be manufactured, personalizes the entire process, and makes them feel special. In my opinion, that customer experience is what differentiates TDR from similar businesses. The unwavering support and transparency TDR provides our clients is truly indicative of how much TDR cares about their clients!
1 comment
Glad to know more about what you do with Boots