COLLEGEVILLE, PA — 1031 CORP., a qualified intermediary serving real estate investors in tax-deferred property exchanges, expanded its roster of Certified Exchange Specialists as compliance complexity and technical demands continue to rise across the Section 1031 market.
The company disclosed that Katie Bromley, Gabrielle Durante, and Laura Markham earned the Certified Exchange Specialist designation through the Federation of Exchange Accommodators, an industry credential requiring years of transaction experience, continuing education, and testing on regulatory and fiduciary responsibilities tied to exchange facilitation.
The certifications increase the number of CES-designated professionals at 1031 CORP. to nine, strengthening the firm’s technical bench as intermediaries compete on execution expertise in increasingly sophisticated commercial real estate transactions.
CES candidates must complete at least three years of full-time exchange facilitation experience before qualifying for the examination. The certification also requires ongoing continuing education and adherence to professional ethics standards governing the handling of client exchange funds.
Markham serves as general counsel for 1031 CORP. and president of Reverse 1031 CORP., the firm’s reverse-exchange subsidiary focused on more complex transaction structures.
“Earning the CES designation reflects the kind of commitment we value at 1031 CORP. — continual learning, deep technical knowledge and the ability to apply it to real-life transactions,” President and CEO Margo McDonnell stated. “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.”
The company’s connection to the certification program dates back more than two decades. McDonnell helped launch the CES program through the Federation of Exchange Accommodators and was among the first exchange professionals nationally to receive the designation in 2003.
She later chaired the organization’s certification council through 2008 and was honored with a perpetual industry service award that now bears her name.
The additions come as qualified intermediary firms face growing pressure to demonstrate technical competency in tax-deferral strategies tied to commercial real estate investment activity, particularly in reverse exchanges and other structurally complex transactions.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.