Sandra J. Hartness has served as President of Asset Services Inc. since it was formed in 1979 to accommodate real estate exchange transactions pursuant to the Starker decision.  Over the years, she has participated in thousands of exchanges from simple deferred exchanges for one to four family dwellings to participating in the structuring of large commercial transaction throughout the United States. She holds a Master’s Degree in Taxation and is a frequent a speaker at seminars related to 1031 exchange transactions and the related tax issues. She has served as treasurer of the Federation of Exchange Accommodators and as a member of its board of directors. She has been a tax consultant specializing in exchange transactions and the related tax aspects for over twenty seven years and is well known in the industry. 

For years, she owned and managed a tax practice where she specialized in real estate taxation.  Her practice included tax preparation and planning for individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, sub-S corporations, estate and fiduciary returns.  

Prior to establishing Asset Services Inc and her tax practice, her first position in southern California was in Riverside where she was project director and manager of the Mission Inn. She was site director for the development team and participated in the project financing and construction efforts. 

During the 80's, she syndicated and was general partner of numerous real estate projects.  She was the organizing partner of Western Neuro Care Center, a neurological rehabilitation hospital, where she served as both a partner, a member of the board of directors and chief financial officer of the facility. 

Karen A. Ellis is Vice President of Asset Services Inc. and has more than twenty years experience as a contract attorney. Prior to joining the company, Karen was a partner in the law firm of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth in Newport Beach, California, where she specialized in public finance and acted as bond counsel to municipalities and counties throughout California.   Prior to 1985 when Karen joined Stradling, she was associated with Haynes & Miller in Washington, D. C., where she specialized in federal disclosure law, representing investment bankers throughout the United States. 

Karen received her law degree from Columbus School of Law in Washington, D. C., in 1979.  She received a Master=s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Virginia in 1975  and an undergraduate degree in Economics from George Mason University in 1971. 

In her spare time, Karen is involved with charitable organizations in the community.

Joint Venture Partners

Leonard Spoto oversees all of the sales and marketing operations for joint venture partner, Asset Exchange Company. He is a frequent keynote speaker and an accredited course instructor on the subject of 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges. He has presented his popular real estate and tax workshops to over 12,000 Realtors, lenders, title professionals and investors and is the author of dozens of published 1031 Exchange related articles.

Prior to co-founding Asset Exchange Company, Leonard worked for a major national title company affiliated exchange company. In this position, Leonard lead the company’s sales efforts by directing over 1,200 tax-deferred exchanges in Northern California in a single year.

Leonard also spent seven years working with LoopNet.com, the leading commercial real estate listing service on the Internet. As the Director of Sales and Marketing Leonard was responsible for negotiating strategic alliances with, among other firms, CB Richard Ellis, Coldwell Banker Commercial, Grubb & Ellis, Colliers International, Trammell Crow and the National Association of Realtors. Leonard has also spent two years with Franklin Templeton, a global investment management organization.

Leonard is a graduate cum laude from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, a minor in Economics and a concentration in Finance. Leonard lives in San Francisco and enjoys spending his free time biking, surfing playing soccer and skiing.

Adam Skarsgard is a California attorney, CPA, real estate broker and co-founder of joint venture partner, Asset Exchange Company. Adam oversees all exchange services for Asset Exchange Company. He has taught accredited 1031 Exchange seminars in five states and has written numerous published articles on 1031 Exchange. Adam has also taught seven semesters at UC Berkeley Extension, including classes on real estate principles and real estate taxation.

Prior to co-founding Asset Exchange Company, Adam served as Vice President and National Sales Manager for a major national title company affiliated exchange company. During his tenure, Adam hired, trained and managed 17 regional 1031 Exchange managers in ten states, nationwide. In a single year, Adam and his team facilitated over 2,000 exchange transactions, representing approximately $2.6 billion in exchange funds and lead the company to a 200% increase in profitability.

Adam previously worked as a sales manager for Prudential California Realty. He has worked for Grubb & Ellis in San Francisco and also as a real estate audit consultant at the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. During law school, Adam worked at The Modrall Law Firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Adam received a Bachelor of Arts degree from U.C. Santa Barbara. He received his Juris Doctorate from U.C. Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, where he concentrated on real property law and business taxation. Adam lives in San Francisco with his wife.