Meet our Founders, President/Vice President, and CEO/COO, Zach Schafer and Zak Courtney. Zach and Zak, started Band of the Strong after working through their own grief processes with the use of music, art, and writing. These two best friends have been helping children since 2016 through the development and execution of the organization’s programming. Z&Z have nearly a decade of experience working in both non-profit and for-profit fields, as well as extensive education and research backgrounds that aid in the development of programs that serve the community in the best way possible.