Mark Long, Zimmer Real Estate Services, Senior Vice President-Principal
Real Estate, specifically with Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C., was a natural choice for senior vice president-principal, Mark Long. Long grew up hearing about corporate real estate in Kansas City from his dad, who spent years as the corporate real estate director for Hallmark Cards. Long said he grew up on real estate and the brokerage business.
“My dad had several dealings with Zimmer, and the Zimmer family, and he spoke very highly of the Zimmers,” Long said.
Some good timing in 1995 allowed Long to get involved and make a career with Zimmer, and some good timing on Monday morning allowed us to sit down with Long and hear about his work with the company.
What kinds of projects have you worked on at Zimmer?
I was able to play a key role in the University of Kansas Hospital’s acquisition of their 250,000 square-foot Cancer Research Center. I have been on the team that is handling the Unified Government’s Village West project and I’ve been involved with the leasing of the Crown Center office buildings. In addition, I’m the project manager for the marketing of CenterPoint Intermodal Center-Kansas City. I’m also particularly excited about a few things we’ve got in the works, like the Space Center in Independence, Mo. and work we’re doing for Truman Medical Center.
What are your thoughts on leading Zimmer’s brokerage group?
It’s very fun. Brokers are people that are self-starters. They are entrepreneurial and our role as a company is to help them be successful. It isn’t your typical management project where these people require a lot of oversight and direction. Our company gives them the tools to be successful. When you’re in a role like mine, you probably get more out of it than you put into it. It forces you to be involved and engaged in a lot of different types of projects. It’s great because the brokers here are very smart. I’ve learned a lot by being involved with all of them. In our company, we have people with 60 years of experience and people with 20-30 years of experience, and then you have a lot of people with 5 years or less. The people we’re hiring today are smart people who understand what it takes to be efficient. This new generation is really something to get excited about.
You mentioned a big project you’re working on right now, can you tell us about the intermodal project?
CenterPoint Intermodal Center-Kansas City is one of the most exciting real estate developments in the entire region. It’s hard to find a better industrial development project anywhere. This project is the accumulation of about 15 years of involvement for Zimmer. Actually, one of my first assignments when I came to Zimmer involved this project. At that time, the assignment was to study possible projects for reuse of the former Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base. We helped the city determine what the area was best suited for, which we found to be an industrial park redevelopment and intermodal center. During this time, Kansas City Southern Railway became engaged in Mexico and investing in a North-South route, which resulted in moving their intermodal operation to this site. They’ve utilized what was the main North-South runway — which is now two miles of track and intermodal operations. The rest of the project site stretches West to 71 Highway. CenterPoint Properties has committed more than $300 million to the park and has already spent more than $30 million on infrastructure — streets are paved and all sites have utilities and storm water retention in place.
The park is suited for a variety of users such as distribution centers and manufacturing companies. These companies can take advantage of the cost savings available at CIC-KC. Since this park was announced, we have seen a steady stream of activity and interest in the site. There is more activity today than we have ever seen. We are hopeful we will be able to announce our first tenant soon.
So when was the park first announced?
The infrastructure development was completed in the in the fall of 2009, and it was first announced in 2008.
Can you tell us anything about Centerpoint Properties?
Centerpoint has made a huge commitment to Kansas City. They have opened an office here and Senior Vice President, Jim Cross and his family are moving to Kansas City. We are very fortunate to have them in Kansas City because of their resources. They have a lot of expertise in intermodal and industrial development.
In addition, we have teamed with CenterPoint to create CenterPoint Zimmer LLC and act as the developer of the new NNSA/NSC campus which will be located directly across M-150 from the intermodal Center. This region of Kansas City is going through a very exciting time right now. This week’s announcement of a lease agreement with the General Services Administration adds to the excitement surrounding both of these projects. The federal complex is only the second billion-dollar development project in Kansas City. At Zimmer, we’re extremely proud to say we’ve played a prominent role in both.
An example of the types of large buildings that may be at the center.
Obviously, you’ve worked with CenterPoint on this project, but who else has been involved?
The Port Authority of Kansas City and the Kansas City Economic Development Council have also been involved with the project, as well as Cornerstone Architects, Lutjen Engineers and Kansas City Southern.
How many businesses and/or buildings do you look to have at the site?
The first phase is 375 acres. The way we’ve laid the park out, we’re suited for larger buildings. We are looking for larger users. We have building sites that can accommodate up to one million square foot buildings.
Is the recession impacting your work at the intermodal center?
Of course, that is of concern. What we are seeing is that businesses continue to look at ways to save money and improve their supply chain. They want to create the opportunities to reduce their expenses, and with efficient buildings and efficient transportation networks in place at CIC-KC, we continue to see a lot of activity. What we offer companies is a way to save money. Transportation savings alone can sometimes equal what a company is paying in rent. We can offer more efficient buildings. This intermodal center has practically every available incentive. We think one of the reasons we’re seeing so much activity is because of this push to make improvements in supply-chain management. But, I also think the economy is making people very methodical in their decision making and projects aren’t getting done as quickly as they once were.
So what’s the bottom line on this project?
CenterPoint is one of the most active development firms in the country right now. While a lot of firms are slowing down, CenterPoint continues to press forward and they are committed to Kansas City. They have the resources and the motivation to make sure this is a successful project — so I know it will be. It will be like nothing Kansas City has ever seen.
And just for fun, to bring this full circle and back to your home life, what are you and your family doing this summer?
We live out at Lake Winnebago and so our family spends a lot of time out there. My kids, George and Anna, enjoy fishing and wakeboarding. We have a big time out there. We just had a sailboat race at Lake Lotawana. My wife, Aimee, and I also do Fleet Races every weekend and we travel to a couple others. My boat’s name is Puff Daddy! Aimee and I enjoy sailing and entertaining. I also enjoy cycling and play bass guitar in a local band — Rock Cove. I keep busy coaching George’s T-ball team and I also run the children’s program at our local church.