Tim Zimmerman, co-owner of First Choice Drug Testing & Occupational Health Services in Little Rock, is the first to admit he was “not a fan of education,” at least in the traditional sense. While he might have eschewed college for the workforce straight out of high school, the once-green delivery driver turned seasoned businessman picked up valuable lessons from every peak and valley in his career.
Initially, Zimmerman’s path up the corporate ladder seemed set. After four years working his way up from delivery to outside sales at a rubber company, a 23-year-old Zimmerman was given the opportunity to open a branch location in Fort Smith.
“That operation was in the black in six months and thrived,” he said. “The company prospered, and after 25 years there, we achieved $48 million annually in sales and had 12 locations in six states.”
A quarter-century of proven success put Zimmerman in line to be company president, but just when the story seemed to be writing itself, he and the current president began having difficulties. The tension proved insurmountable, and Zimmerman was fired. While he did get the benefit of having his stock in the company bought out thanks to an employee stock ownership plan, Zimmerman also found himself subject to a five-year non-compete clause.
Unwilling to leave Arkansas, Zimmerman was unmoored. He tried a few different paths forward, such as insurance and consulting, but nothing seemed to stick. Tiding him over while he planned his next steps was a job with another business owner who had taken him in. That stop proved to be a teaching moment in disguise.
“His employee-management style was the opposite of mine. He was a gentle soul and would avoid employee conflict, even to the detriment of the business,” Zimmerman said. “However, his employees loved him, and he had a very successful business. Working for him softened my approach to employees when unpleasant discussions had to take place. For that, I’m thankful.”
Zimmerman’s breakthrough came in the form of a few acquaintances who had grown up in his neighborhood. They invited him to run their fledgling drug testing company. One look at the financial statements was enough to put Zimmerman off of the project, so he declined — more than once.
“They kept asking me, and I kept declining until one day they said, ‘What if we give you part of it?’” he said. “I jumped at this opportunity.”
That was in 2010. Over the next few years, Zimmerman bought out his former neighbors and brought his son, Adam, into the company. Now the father and son are co-owners of First Choice Drug Testing, a full-service third-party administrator that provides everything from Department of Transportation drug testing to tuberculosis skin tests and physical exams for a variety of industries.
It was very refreshing to discover that the same business principles work no matter what the product or service,” Zimmerman said. “I used the knowledge I had gained in the rubber business … applied those principles to the employment screening industry, and the business flourished.”
Shaped by various mentors and his cross-industry experiences, Zimmerman has developed what he called an “open book” management style. Employees are actively involved in reviewing financials and discussing what services are most profitable. Every team member knows what the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are. Plus, the staff’s monthly bonus is based on how well First Choice is doing, so staff members have all the more motivation to ensure their collective success.
Although “not into legacies,” Zimmerman has undoubtedly had a lasting impact on the people around him. He is an active volunteer for SCORE, a national nonprofit that provides advice and education to aspiring entrepreneurs free of charge. Whether he is lending insight to friends and family looking to start their own ventures, teaching employees to be problem solvers, or sharing industry-specific advice with different organizations, Zimmerman believes strongly that it pays to “give more than you get.”
“I always felt that I had talent in starting and growing small businesses, and when I can use that talent to help others, I feel that is my calling,” he said. “The funny thing is when you have that attitude, you wind up getting more than you give.”
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