In 1963, Ken Hart founded B. Kenin Hart & Associates, a local industrial real estate business focusing on Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.   He worked out of the basement of his home on Pine Street in Philadelphia along with one assistant and one salesperson.

By 1970, Hart Corporation was located in an office complex in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, and had become the most active industrial real estate brokerage firm in Philadelphia.   While meeting with companies in other states regarding situations in Philadelphia, it became apparent that real estate brokers were focused on their cities, and no one was servicing the industrial needs of companies with operations in outlying areas. Hart saw an opportunity, and the idea was born-

"SPECIALIZING IN MAJOR BUILDINGS IN SMALLER CITIES".

Once the decision was made to work nationally in secondary and tertiary markets, the next step was to identify the companies who owned the facilities in these areas.  Hart took the profits from the Philadelphia operation, hired additional personnel, and went from city to city visiting the Fortune 500 Firms.  At the time, the Fortune 500 actually represented 3,000 contacts, as many companies had divisions and operating groups that had the authority to search for real estate on their own.  It then became apparent that there were many firms that were not in the Fortune 500 category but still had multiple operations. The effort was then expanded to include these companies.

Information on the firms met around the country was used to create Hart's first contact relationship management database, and the company's core process of staying in touch with corporate America was born. To this day, Hart's corporate account representatives stay in regular contact with multi-plant and distribution center companies. The idea was, and still is, to stay in touch with these firms on a periodic basis to know in advance what they may be planning. On any given day, most companies do not have any projects in the works, but over time, companies either grow or contract.  Hart's goal is to match those that have facility requirements with those that have excess space.

By 1989, because of the relationships formed and Hart's established track record over the prior decades, clients often asked Hart for help in metropolitan markets. In order to address this need, Ken Hart and others personally visited the larger cities, met with brokers there and, under the auspices of Hart Group International, set up affiliations with the best industrial brokers in each city.  In this manner, it became possible for Hart to offer seamless coverage to clients buying or selling industrial properties anywhere in North America, including both larger cities and rural areas.

In 2000, when Hart's private plane crashed in Southeastern Kentucky, Hart Corporation lost four remarkable individuals, including the founder of our company, Ken Hart, a member of our national sales force, Denny Schalliol, a member of our Southeast/Atlanta sales team, Loy Thompson and our pilot, John Fare.  The days that followed were sad and challenging.  The loss of these individuals to their families was unfathomable and was also keenly felt by everyone at Hart Corporation.

Following this devastating loss and in tribute to Ken Hart's leadership, the company forged on, reorganized, and was purchased by the key salespeople.  Hart's best years soon followed.  The backbone of Hart Corporation's operations remains strong today.  Year in and year out we complete more transactions in rural areas than anyone in the U.S.  This is especially the case in difficult times, such as now, when buildings won't sell themselves.  Today, as a result of our team concept and our unique marketing program, Hart's track record stands out even more.

Bob Blackman has served as President of Hart Corporation since 2000.  Bob notes that "we are proud of our success and position in the industry. This is a direct result of our unique methods of operation and the expertise, experience and dedication of our people. We look forward to the next 50 years."