About Us
Ground + Space
Our Approach
Ground + Space is a net lease retail brokerage firm that leads with an emphasis on personalized relationships. Michael Zimmerman and his team have curated a brokerage firm and investment sales platform focused on boutique amenities and down-to-earth service. Ground + Space is rooted in more than 20 years of experience aimed at providing the best data, relationships and success rates in the business.
01
Personalized
Personal connections with clients are our specialty. We thrive on simple, direct communication.
02
Innovative
Our collective unique personalities and confidence in our team are impactful on influencing the industry in a positive way.
03
Trustworthy
Simplify the process and focus on the finer points. We are straightforward and strive for the best with every client, every time.
Our business is being at the top of the industry for best-in-class net lease retail.
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Our Team
Michael Zimmerman
Founder
Michael has worked in commercial real estate for nearly 20 years.
Prior to founding Ground + Space, he was a Managing Partner at Atlantic Retail. He was brought on board in 2014 to build the company's investment sales platform, and his team did nearly $100 million in sales during their first 15 months of operation. It was during his time in this role that the concept for Ground + Space was formed.
Michael founded Ground + Space in 2018 with a specialization in the brokerage of single tenant and triple net retail centers, along with a focus on 1031 exchange buyers. Michael has personally sold more than $750 million worth of property for his private, public and institutional clients throughout his career, and with Ground + Space, he’ll build upon that while offering personal attention and a boutique experience to his clients.
Born in Michigan, Michael was raised in California and received his BA from San Diego State University. Michael spent the first 15 years of his career in Florida, before relocating to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2014, where he lives with his wife Dana and daughters Carly and Dylan. Michael is a licensed broker in Florida and North Carolina. He is an avid sports fan and a collector of rare Marvel comic books, and he loves relaxing with his dogs.
Get in touch with Michael.
Brett Sheldon
Principal
Brett has worked in commercial real estate since 2015.
Prior to joining Ground + Space, Brett was a net lease broker at Atlantic Retail in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, then subsequently with Sands Investment Group in Charleston, South Carolina. During this time, Brett accumulated over $100 million in sold retail assets over the span of three years.
After graduating from Florida State University in 2014, Brett went on to attain his Master's degree in Business Administration from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida while serving under an accomplished sports agent for the likes of NFL icons Josh Norman and Bryant McKinnie. It was after this exciting experience that Brett realized his long untapped passion for commercial real estate. His first opportunity in the industry came under the tutelage of Beth Azor of Azor Advisory Services in South Florida.
Brett has since returned from the Carolinas to his hometown of Boca Raton with his fiancée, Chelsea, and their two dogs, Dino and Dakota to work alongside Michael, Allison and Caroline again at Ground + Space. Brett is currently licensed in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. In his spare time, Brett can be found at a rock show with his fiancée or sitting in his prized Florida Panthers season seats at the BB&T Center.
Get in touch with Brett.
Caroline Lawless
Marketing Coordinator
Caroline first joined Michael Zimmerman's team as a Marketing Coordinator in 2017.
Since that time, she has worked alongside a team of brokers and analysts to promote various real estate transactions through her knowledge of design. Away from the office, Caroline spends a great deal of time pursuing artistic endeavors—photography, illustration and creative writing are her go-to free time activities. She doesn’t leave her home without a book, and is an avid listener of podcasts and audio books. Although Caroline was born and raised in Virginia, she has called North Carolina home since graduating with a BA in Graphic Design from Emory & Henry College in 2011. She currently lives in Chapel Hill with her boyfriend and her cat.
Get in touch with Caroline.