Mr. Hammer was born and grew up in Newton having attended the local public schools. He is the third generation of his family to be a lifelong resident of the city. He began his career at Court Square Press, where he was involved in sales and management. Thereafter, he founded Hammer Graphics, a printing and promotional products company. After successfully growing the business, he negotiated its profitable sale. He began a career in real estate acquisition and development specializing in multimillion dollar homes in the Greater Boston area.

Mr. Hammer holds a B.A. degree in marketing from Ohio University, and has been involved in numerous local philanthropic organizations including Newton Jaycees and the Men's Associates at HRCA. Mr. Hammer's hobbies include cooking, walking