COLLEGEVILLE, PA — 1031 CORP. said three employees have earned the Certified Exchange Specialist designation, expanding the firm’s roster of credentialed professionals as demand for technical expertise in tax-deferred property exchanges continues to grow.
Katie Bromley, Gabrielle Durante and Laura Markham earned the CES designation through the Federation of Exchange Accommodators.
Markham serves as general counsel for 1031 CORP. and president of Reverse 1031 CORP., while Bromley and Durante work as exchange coordinators.
The CES designation is a voluntary certification for professionals who facilitate Section 1031 exchanges, which allow investors to defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting proceeds from certain real estate sales into qualifying replacement properties.
Candidates must complete at least three years of full-time exchange facilitation work before taking a comprehensive examination covering technical knowledge, operational competency and ethical obligations tied to handling client funds.
Designees are also required to complete continuing education coursework every two years and comply with the organization’s code of ethics.
President and Chief Executive Officer Margo McDonnell stated that the additional certifications strengthen the company’s technical bench as clients navigate increasingly complex exchange transactions.
“Our clients have always been able to count on a knowledgeable person to pick up the phone and walk them through even the most complex scenarios,” McDonnell noted.
1031 CORP. said McDonnell helped develop the CES certification program and was among the first exchange professionals to earn the designation in 2003. The Federation of Exchange Accommodators later established the Margo McDonnell Certified Exchange Specialist Perpetual Award in her honor.
The newly certified employees join six other CES-designated professionals at the company, including McDonnell, Marissa LoCascio, Cindi Platt-Elliott, Grace Rivera, Kristen McVeigh and Sabrina Richards.
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