Ricky B. Novak currently serves as president of Strategic 1031 Exchange Advisors (“SEA”), an Atlanta based consulting firm and qualified intermediary that provides real estate and tax consulting services for clients structuring complex real estate transactions, with a specialization in 1031 exchange structuring for real estate investors and developers.  SEA’s clients include many of the most sophisticated global commercial and residential developers.  Ricky has spoken both locally and nationally on various 1031 related topics, and has served as a guest lecturer for numerous universities, colleges and law schools.  Additionally, Ricky’s writings have been published in a varying array of periodicals, including Commercial Investment Real Estate (The Magazine of the CCIM Institute).  Recently, Ricky was honored by his legal peers for his real estate and tax expertise by his selection as a 2009 Georgia Super Lawyer® Rising Star, an honor bestowed upon only the top 2.5% of attorney’s under 40 years old.   

Ricky obtained his undergraduate degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, graduating magna cum laude while majoring in International Affairs with Certificates in International Business Management and Spanish.  He later received his Juris Doctor from Emory University’s School of Law, with a concentration in tax, real estate, and international law.  Ricky is credited with study at both the European Union and NATO in Brussels, Belgium during his tenure at Georgia Tech.  He has attended the Jagiellonian University School of Law in Krakow, Poland, concentrating in the Eastern and Central European business and law.

Post-law school, Ricky joined Arthur Andersen’s Atlanta International Tax practice, where he assisted multinational clients with global tax strategy, corporate restructuring, and mergers & acquisitions.  He later joined Deloitte & Touche’s Atlanta Real Estate Tax practice, where he furthered his tax expertise by structuring real estate transactions for major national & international real estate investors, including REITs, partnerships, and corporations. 

After leaving Deloitte, Ricky served as the complex exchange specialist and In-house Counsel for an Atlanta-area qualified intermediary specializing in facilitating tax-deferred like-kind exchanges under Internal Revenue Code Section 1031.  Ricky assisted his clients in structuring reverse exchanges, construction exchanges, leasehold exchanges, non-safe harbor exchanges, personal property exchanges, and multi-asset business sales, and other such complex 1031 transactions. 

Ricky currently lives in the metro Atlanta area with his wife of over six years, Lisa, and their son Aidan.  In his spare time, Ricky enjoys real estate investing, golfing, deep sea fishing, reading motivational/inspirational books, and watching college athletics.  He is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Board of Commercial Realtors, Real Estate Group of Atlanta, and the Rotary Club of Lanier-Forsyth.  Ricky currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Bar Association Real Estate Section for 2009-2010, as well as the Board of Advisors for several Atlanta-based real estate developers or businesses.    Ricky is also a member of various community and volunteer organizations, and he and his family are active members of their church.

Please contact Ricky Novak at 678.522.8801
E-mail: rbnovak@sea1031.com

James W. Freeman currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Strategic 1031 Exchange Advisors (“SEA”), an Atlanta based consulting firm that provides real estate and tax consulting services for clients structuring complex real estate transactions, with a specialization in Section 1031 exchange structuring for real estate investors and developers. SEA’s clients include many of the most sophisticated commercial and residential developers in the southeast.  James has spoken both locally and nationally on various 1031 related topics.  Additionally, James’ writings have been published in a varying array of periodicals, including California Shopping Centers.  Recently, James was honored for both his real estate and tax expertise as well as for his contribution to the field of Section 1031 Exchanges by his selection as the recipient of the Georgia Society of CPA's Outstanding Member in Industry Award for 2009. 

 
James obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Biology with minors in both Chemistry and Business Administration and later received his Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, with a concentration in Tax and Real Estate.  Mr. Freeman later received his Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business with a concentration in International Economics. He is also a licensed practicing CPA in Georgia and Kentucky.

At the beginning of his career, James joined Arthur Andersen’s Global Tax practice, where he assisted multinational clients with global tax strategy, corporate restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. He later accepted a three-year expatriate assignment to the Brussels, Belgium office where he continued this work and expanded his network of clients. James later joined Deloitte & Touche’s Brussels Tax practice where he furthered his tax expertise by structuring complex tax models for major national & international clients in close cooperation with the Washington DC national tax practice.

More currently, Mr. Freeman worked for Valvoline Oil Company first in International Tax and most recently as the National Managing Director of Valvoline’s business in Germany. There he managed and balanced all aspects of Valvoline’s business in Germany and is credited with doubling the company’s business during his tenure.
James currently lives in the metro Atlanta area with his wife, Jessica, and their dog, Barley. He is an active member of the Georgia Society of CPA’s, the Fuqua Alumni of Atlanta, the Harvard Business School Real Estate Special Interest Group of Atlanta, and sits on the boards of a handful of national firms and non-profit organizations.  Both Mr. & Mrs. Freeman are also members of various community and volunteer organizations including Big-Brother-Big-Sister and Junior Achievement. He and his family continue to enjoy being active members of their church.

Please contact James Freeman at 678.481.3359
E-mail: jwfreeman@sea1031.com

Kenya Anderson offers nearly a decade of marketing experience in the commercial real estate industry. She currently serves as marketing director for Strategic 1031 Exchange Advisors (SEA), an Atlanta-based consulting firm that provides real estate and tax related consulting services for real estate investors, developers and allied professionals. Ms. Anderson is responsible for leading the company’s overall marketing platform.

Prior to joining SEA, she served as marketing director for a qualified intermediary based in Marietta, GA. During her tenure at this firm she led, developed and implemented marketing strategies that positively impacted the organizations brand, market position and financial success.

Ms. Anderson began her career with Chicago-based, Equity Office Properties where she developed an interest in commercial real estate and parlayed this interest into a marketing/leasing role. At Equity Office Properties, she was an integral part of a team that was responsible for leasing over 4 million square feet of office space throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area. She also gained valuable marketing and real estate experience with Texas-based, Trammell Crow Company, prior to their merger with CB Richard Ellis. At Trammel Crow Company she was worked to successfully execute marketing strategies for Atlanta’s Global Services Group and helped to position Trammell Crow Company as a local thought-leader in Atlanta’s corporate real estate community.

Kenya is a graduate of State University of West Georgia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She is active in professional and non-profit organizations. Currently, Kenya is an active member of The National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP); and is active with the Atlanta Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA). She is a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors and Atlanta Young Real Estate Professionals (AYREP). She is also actively involved with Chayil, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides life skills and resources for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

Please contact Kenya B. Anderson at 678.913.3658
E-mail: kanderson@sea1031.com