Ex-1031 exchange specialist to join commercial-property investor in U.S. NE. Real-estate investment and management firm Grubb & Ellis has appointed former Compass Exchange Advisors
(CEA) executive Karen Hurd as a v.p. of its investment-services unit and a member of its private-capital group in Boston.

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"We are extremely pleased that Karen has joined our Private Capital Investment Group," says Stephen Brodsky, head of Grubb & Ellis' Boston office. "Her experience and knowledge serving private owners and buyers of commercial real estate investments builds upon our strength as one of the leading commercial property advisors in Boston and the U.S."

Hurd, a 17-year veteran of the real-estate and financial-service industries, spent the past three years working with clients and their advisors on the disposition and acquisition of property involved in tax-deferred 1031 exchanges
at CEA, an intermediary that specializes in such business (and a subsidiary of Plymouth, Mass.-based Rockland Trust.

Adds Brodsky: "Given the current state of economic uncertainty, where many companies are trimming staff, we welcome the opportunity to hire well respected, top industry performers who can offer the very best service for our clients."

Early in 2008, Santa Monica, Calif.-based Grubb & Ellis launched a wealth-management program -- with a $15 million minimum -- to help high-net-worth investors build or expand their commercial real-estate portfolios through direct investment in passive, sole-ownership vehicles. -FWR

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