b'JEFFREY ZIMMERly overseas or for long periods of time. But it was so nice being able to hear his voice over the phone, and then when he would come back, he would always bring me a soap from the hotel he stayed at. In 2016, after graduating college, she accompanied him on a trip to India.It made me realize how special our business is and how every-thing we do has our fingerprint on it, how we touch every piece that goes through our doors, she says.To see how he was doing this for 20 years before I went, and the conditions and those countries then, and how hes seen it complete-ly develop. He went over there not knowing anyone, knocking on doors. Seeing what he does over there, it just made me so proud. Following that trip, Rachel went on to get her MBA and, later, with her fathers encouragement, a law degree.The two have a special bond. He always has a great perspective. Whenever Im stuck and dont know what to do, hes the first one I look to, because hes right there, she says. And I just love seeing how he handles day-to-day challenges. Hes not always positive, but hes always extremely generous, always extremely fair. Though Rachels children are young now, she shares her fathers passion for keeping the business in the family for generations to come. As she was growing into a leader in her own right, she once asked Jeff, Dad, how did you get the business to this place?He responded, I took what [Arnold] handed down to me, and I put my own spin on it. Youre going to do the same thing; youre going to put your own spin on it. HOME SWEET BUFFALO While Jeff and Rachel are close in the businessthey literally share an officetheyre also close at home, living right around the corner from each other. Theres no place theyd rather be than in Buffalo. According to Jeff, the city is seeing a resurgence. Rachels son Sidney, 2, We had a tremendous drain of population, young, educated pop- loves coming to visit his ulation, when our industry started to fail in the 60s, 70s and 80s,grandpa at work.but Buffalo is back. It incubates a lot of tech now. M&T Bank is here. Weve got professional sports teams, like the Buffalo Bills and Sabers,The Zimmers philanthropy is extensive, she adds. and were the official jeweler of both, he says.There are endowments to local universities and hospitals in the Buffalos nickname is the City of Good Neighbors, and for theZimmer family name, and they make annual donations to chari-Zimmers, community is personal, playing an important role in theirties for the developmentally disabled, autism research, cancer and kids lives, particularly Sams.diabetes, and local high schools and colleges. They also sponsor local Hes like the mayor of Buffalo, Jeff says. Anywhere we go, peo- peewee and grade school sports teams and often make jewelry dona-ple come up and hug him. He knows people in every restaurant andtions supporting local hospital galas and other events. walking down the street.Theyre very charitable and giving and just wonderful people, in He certainly taught us that it takes a community to raise a child.and outside of the work environment. Thats why its such a pleasure Jeff says his main focus as Reeds continues to grow is to be a goodto work here, because that atmosphere carries over, Weyand says. citizen, build relationships, and give back to his community. Accord- She continues, That is a huge part of who [Jeff] is. He wants to ing to his team, hes achieving that every day.make sure his successes are not just kept within his four walls. Hes If you come to Buffalo and go to dinner with him, he knows thevery interested in sharing that with the community, the people who chef, the waitress, and the bartender. Half the people who are in thehe works with and his family. restaurant, hes buying them dinner or drinks. Hes a beloved personHe definitely will give everyone else credit for anything before he in this community, and his family is as well, Weyand says.ever takes credit for himself, but he does deserve all of the credit.NATIONAL JEWELER 41'