Born into real estate family, Zipes began working in the business in his teens. After graduating from New York University, his real estate career began in earnest, spending his early years managing multi-family apartment homes in the greater New York area. In 1977, Mr. Zipes changed course to focus on commercial real estate development and formed Omni Development Company, Inc. Since that time, Omni has been singularly responsible for the resurgence of downtown Albany, where today Omni owns, operates and manages several million square feet of office space. In addition, Mr. Zipes has owned and / or developed six hotel properties, four of which are located in Florida.

Mr. Zipes has lived in Westchester County, New York for the past 60 years and has been a seasonal resident of South Florida for more than 30 years. He has recently relocated his primary business and family to Fort Lauderdale, where he has brought his experience, passion and vision and is now taking on his most ambitious project to date, Las Olas River House.