Managing principal, Hammes Partners
Chairman and CEO, Hammes Healthcare
Hammes Co. | Milwaukee
Since founding Hammes Healthcare 31 years ago, Jon Hammes has led the Milwaukee-based firm to become a national leader in health care real estate. Hammes Healthcare specializes in consulting with health care providers on the planning and evaluation of their new facilities, which has led to numerous project management contracts for construction projects. In 2014, Hammes Co. launched a private equity fund to bolster its capital for health care real estate investment and development, a strategic move to remain competitive with larger real estate investment trusts.
Hammes Co. has also managed the construction of major sports facilities, including the Kohl Center at UW-Madison, Ford Field for the Detroit Lions, MetLife Stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets and U.S. Bank Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings as well as the expansion of Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
A Racine native, Hammes recently gave $1 million to help fund a new athletic complex at Case High School in his hometown. He has also served on the boards of Teach for America, Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association, Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; master’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison
If you could time travel: “I would time travel to July 4, 1776, to be present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”
Traits you seek for new hires: “Do they fit the culture? Do they have wattage? And do they have a solid work ethic?”
Favorite part of the workday: “The first two hours.”
Historical figure you look up to: “Abraham Lincoln. He exemplified servant-leadership. He cared and he served for all people.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Real Estate and Development | Real Estate
Managing principal, Hammes Partners
Chairman and CEO, Hammes Healthcare
Hammes Co. | Milwaukee
Jon Hammes is the founder of the Hammes platform and launched Hammes Healthcare in 1993. Prior to that he was managing partner for Trammel Crow, serving as the firm’s regional partner in its Chicago office.
He grew Hammes into a national leader in health care real estate. He positioned the firm as a consultant to guide health care providers through the planning and evaluation process for building new facilities, which helped the company get awarded project management contracts for the construction projects. The company has been ranked as the nation’s top health care facility developer numerous times by Modern Healthcare’s Construction & Design Survey.
The company also became a major player in sports facility development, starting in the 1990s in managing construction of the Kohl Center for UW-Madison. After the completion of the Kohl Center, Hammes Co. became project manager for construction of several other major sports facility projects, including Ford Field for the Detroit Lions, the expansion of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, MetLife Stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets and U.S. Bank Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.
Hammes Co. also launched a private equity fund in 2014 to raise capital for health care real estate investment and development. The fund was necessary to help it compete with large real estate investment trusts. The company initially raised $400 million for the fund and three years later raised another $700 million. The money mostly came from state pension funds. By leveraging it with debt, the company generated more than $3 billion for its health care real estate investments and developments.
Hammes taught at UW-Madison for a time. He has served on several education-related boards including Teach for America, Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association, Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; master’s, UW-Madison
