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1031X Company Information & Leadership

Our clients don’t stress about the unintuitive IRS rules or complicated investment deal structures.
We pair each investor (and their advisors) with a designated Exchange Officer and smart, digital solutions.

Founded in 1994 in Denver, CO

Attorney and investor Steven Hickox paired with broker Christopher Sayre and started “1031x.com, LLC” as an online exchange shop in the early days of the Internet. Today, 1031X is a top-ranked national Qualified Intermediary. For nearly 30 years, 1031X has dedicated itself to a client-obsessed business model: simplicity, trust, expertise, and on-time results. Whether you are a first-time investor with a single rental property or a business managing hundreds of assets nationwide, our team is here for you.

Officers

Image of Sean M. Ross, CEO

Sean M. Ross

CEO

Sean earned his B.S. in Economics and Political Economy from Regis University. He spent the next 10 years working as a retail banker, financial advisor, editor for various financial publications and entrepreneur. In 2016, Sean joined 1031X to spearhead business development and client servicing. Do date, Sean has bylined more than 3,000 articles on the topics of investment, taxes, debt, real estate, and private capital.

Image of Christopher T. Sayre, Co-Founder

Christopher T. Sayre

Co-Founder / Vice President Emeritus

Christopher Sayre has an MBA in Business Administration specializing in finance from the University of Denver and is a licensed Realtor in Colorado. In the past, Chris has worked in financial planning for both start-up ventures and fortune 100 companies. Chris co-founded 1031x.com, Inc. (1031X) in 1994 and has financed small and large commercial real estate projects–helping clients defer their capital gains taxes.

Image of Steven W. Hickox, Co-Founder

Steven W. Hickox

Co-Founder / Attorney / President Emeritus

Steven Hickox emigrated to Colorado in 1973 attending Colorado State University and graduating with a degree in Economics in 1977. He then attended University of Colorado Law School and received a JD in 1980. In 1981, He was admitted to the Federal and Colorado Bar. In 1994, he founded 1031x.com, Inc. (1031X), Inc. and holds an active law and real estate broker license in the State of Colorado.

Image of Michael A. Eloranto, Advanced Exchange Specialist

Michael A. Eloranto

Attorney / Advanced Exchange Specialist

Michael moved to Colorado after earning a B.A. from Plattsburgh State University, New York. He then attended the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder, receiving a Juris Doctor in 1999, and was admitted to the Federal, Colorado, and Washington state bars. Michael has nearly 20 years of experience in the 1031 exchange industry, including direct experience structuring hundreds of client exchanges, teaching continuing education classes and presentations for real estate and finance professionals, and authoring articles for industry publications.

Image of Denise Warfield, Operations Manager

Denise Warfield

Operations Manager / Exchange Officer

Denise grew up in Long Island, New York and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Jacksonville University, Florida. Upon graduation, she received a commission in the US Navy serving eight years as a Naval Officer. Following her military career, she worked as a Consumer Credit/Financial Counselor. Denise now oversees the forward exchange operations at 1031X.

Image of Scott A. Davis, Exchange Officer

Scott A. Davis

Exchange Officer

Growing up in the Midwest, Scott earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Winona State University, Minnesota. He has decades of experience in the capital markets, including mortgage lending, commercial title, and commercial property spaces. Before joining 1031X, Scott worked for Bank One N.A, Stewart Title of Denver, Acopia Capital Group, and New Penn Financial Group

Image of Michelle L. Rousseau, Exchange Officer

Michelle L. Rousseau

Exchange Officer

Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in fine and performing arts from the University of Akron in Ohio. She transitioned her professional career into residential and commercial mortgage lending, then title and escrow and into 1031 exchanges. Michelle specializes in regulatory compliance, risk management, quality assurance, training and development. She also holds an active State of Ohio title insurance producers license

Image of Jeremy M. H. Fahl, Exchange Officer

Jeremy M.H. Fahl

Strategic Implementation Manager

Jeremy cut his teeth in the real estate industry by representing banks at foreclosure sales while working through a Cleveland-based law firm in 2003. Jeremy pivoted to the title industry working mainly as a workflow analyst and product manager in residential and commercial title. Jeremy turned his attention to the 1031 exchange industry in 2012 to help streamline and simplify the process for taxpayers and their advisors. Since that time, Jeremy has successfully and personally facilitated over 5,000 exchanges nationally.

Image of Eric Lewis, Advisor and Cosultant

Eric Lewis

Advisor and Consultant

Eric joined 1031X as a consultant in 2018. He is a critical voice for the company's business strategy, technical development and brand reputation management. A resident of Houston, Eric also plays a role in expanding operations in Texas. Throughout his career, Eric has worked extensively in commodities, equities, derivatives, capital markets and digital marketing.

Image of Sean M. Ross, CEO
Sean M. Ross
CEO

Sean earned his B.S. in Economics and Political Economy from Regis University. He spent the next 10 years working as a retail banker, financial planner, editor for various financial publications and entrepreneur. In 2016, Sean joined 1031X to spearhead business development and client servicing. Sean has bylined more than 3,000 articles on the topics of investment, taxes, debt, real estate, and private capital.

Image of Christopher T. Sayre, Co-Founder
Christopher T. Sayre
Co-Founder / Vice President Emeritus

Christopher Sayre has an MBA in Business Administration specializing in finance from the University of Denver and is a licensed Realtor in Colorado. In the past, Chris has worked in financial planning for both start-up ventures and fortune 100 companies. Chris co-founded 1031x.com, Inc. (1031X) in 1994 and has financed small and large commercial real estate projects–helping clients defer their capital gains taxes.

Image of Steven W. Hickox, Co-Founder
Steven W. Hickox
Co-Founder / Attorney / President Emeritus

Steven Hickox emigrated to Colorado in 1973 attending Colorado State University and graduating with a degree in Economics in 1977. He then attended University of Colorado Law School and received a JD in 1980. In 1981, He was admitted to the Federal and Colorado Bar. In 1994, he founded 1031x.com, Inc. (1031X), Inc. and holds an active law and real estate broker license in the State of Colorado.

Image of Michael A. Eloranto, Advanced Exchange Specialist
Michael A. Eloranto
Attorney / Advanced Exchange Specialist

Michael moved to Colorado after earning a B.A. from Plattsburgh State University, New York. He then attended the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder, receiving a Juris Doctor in 1999, and was admitted to the Federal, Colorado, and Washington state bars. Michael has nearly 20 years of experience in the 1031 exchange industry, including direct experience structuring hundreds of client exchanges, teaching continuing education classes and presentations for real estate and finance professionals, and authoring articles for industry publications.

Image of Denise Warfield, Operations Manager
Denise Warfield
Operations Manager / Exchange Officer

Denise grew up in Long Island, New York and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Jacksonville University, Florida. Upon graduation, she received a commission in the US Navy serving eight years as a Naval Officer. Following her military career, she worked as a Consumer Credit/Financial Counselor. Denise now oversees the forward exchange operations at 1031X.

Image of Scott A. Davis, Exchange Officer
Scott A. Davis
Exchange Officer

Growing up in the Midwest, Scott earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Winona State University, Minnesota. He has decades of experience in the capital markets, including mortgage lending, commercial title, and commercial property spaces. Before joining 1031X, Scott worked for Bank One N.A, Stewart Title of Denver, Acopia Capital Group, and New Penn Financial Group

Image of Michelle L. Rousseau, Exchange Officer
Michelle L. Rousseau
Exchange Officer

Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in fine and performing arts from the University of Akron in Ohio. She transitioned her professional career into residential and commercial mortgage lending, then title and escrow and into 1031 exchanges. Michelle specializes in regulatory compliance, risk management, quality assurance, training and development. She also holds an active State of Ohio title insurance producers license

Image of Jeremy M. H. Fahl, Exchange Officer
Jeremy M.H. Fahl
Strategic Implementation Manager

Jeremy cut his teeth in the real estate industry by representing banks at foreclosure sales while working through a Cleveland-based law firm in 2003. Jeremy pivoted to the title industry working mainly as a workflow analyst and product manager in residential and commercial title. Jeremy turned his attention to the 1031 exchange industry in 2012 to help streamline and simplify the process for taxpayers and their advisors. Since that time, Jeremy has successfully and personally facilitated over 5,000 exchanges nationally.

Image of Eric Lewis, Advisor and Cosultant
Eric Lewis
Advisor and Consultant

Eric joined 1031X as a consultant in 2018. He is a critical voice for the company's business strategy, technical development, and brand reputation management. A resident of Houston, Eric also plays a role in expanding operations in Texas. Throughout his career, Eric has worked extensively in commodities, equities, derivatives, capital markets, and digital marketing.

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