Ron is the Founder and President of Atlanta Deferred Exchange, Inc. He has over 25 years of experience in the 1031 exchange services arena. Ron sets the vision of the company, trains staff, consults on complex projects and takes the lead on the more complicated transactions. Building ADE with a foundation of educating others on 1031 exchanges, Ron offers continuing education courses for professionals which include CPAs, attorneys, realtors, and investor groups. He has also been a lecturer in academia at Georgia State University, Mercer Law School, Georgia Tech and Emory University’s graduate real estate programs. Ron’s articles on various exchange topics have appeared in the CCIM Journal, the Journal of Accountancy, the Georgia Society of CPAs’ Current Accounts, Realtor Magazine and others. Ron enjoys being a national expert in an area that is frequently misunderstood. He explains, “Over the last 25 years, we have developed successful strategies that comply with the tax rules and still work in the real world. This allows us to help clients orchestrate transactions that maximize the benefit of their 1031.” He also finds that having over 35 years of real estate transaction experience has been key. Ron is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology. He also holds a CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation. He has been a board member of The Federation of Exchange Accommodators, kidz2leaders and board chair at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. When not working, Ron may be on the golf course, taking a walk, riding a bike, in a yoga studio or lost in meditation. Ron enjoys spending time with his family, his wife and two children. This year he looks forward to taking his wife to visit the Scottish Highlands, home of her ancestors. Ron has no plans for retirement. He intends to work well into his seventies but will make a bit more time for other interests and travel.

Steve LaMontagne is a Partner at Moore Colson and leads the firm’s Real Estate Practice. Steve has extensive experience in all sectors of the real estate, construction and hospitality industries, including fund managers and advisors, registered investment advisors (RIAs), REITs, developers, institutional investment vehicles, operating properties, and syndication of private and public partnerships. During his 35+ years of experience in the real estate industry, several years were spent in capital markets working exclusively on real estate transactions. In his role as leader of the Moore Colson Real Estate Practice, he works with a variety of real estate clients. His expertise includes real estate investing, accounting, financial reporting, and auditing matters. Prior to joining Moore Colson, Steve was an Assurance Partner and leader of the Southeast Real Estate Practice with the international accounting firm of KPMG, LLP. Steve worked with KPMG, LLP since 1983 as a CPA. Steve became the leader of KPMG’s Atlanta real estate practice in 1997 and shortly thereafter became the Director of the Real Estate Practice for the entire southeastern United States. He also served on several National Committees utilizing his expertise in the area of real estate finance including leasing, mergers and acquisitions, financings, public offerings and sales of real estate.