Following graduation from The Wharton School and service in the Air Force, Hugh Zimmer returned to Kansas City, in 1953, to work as a salesman for his father, an individual commercial real estate broker. When his father died suddenly, Hugh Zimmer found himself as a somewhat inexperienced real estate broker in a highly competitive business where most competitors and potential clients were 20 to 40 years older.
Not letting that stop him, Zimmer often used the sales pitch, “I don’t have anything like that, BUT I will build you one.” Then having a prospect in tow, he would find an investor partner to finance the project. In 1958, Zimmer negotiated a major sale for Kansas City Power & Light to Tension Envelope Corporation.
The handling of this major transaction confirmed Zimmer as a meaningful name in the industrial real estate brokerage industry and helped launch Zimmer Companies. Tension Envelope also hired Zimmer to manage the building, which became the company’s first real estate management account and a significant part of business operations.
With 60 years of experience, more than 30 million square feet of new building space, and 2000 acres of business parks, Zimmer is now one of the leading commercial real estate providers in the Midwest.
Dedication to successful client results and commitment to unquestioned integrity have been the cornerstones of the Zimmer Companies.