New Orleans CREW is pleased to shine the Member Spotlight on Board Member and Co-Chair of the Programs Committee, Janna Shearman. 

Janna is vice president and manager of the Louisiana and Arkansas offices of First American Exchange Company, a division of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a FORTUNE 500® company and America’s largest provider of business information.  She has worked in the exchange industry since 2004 and has attained the designation of Certified Exchange Specialist®.  In addition to facilitating all types of 1031 tax-deferred exchanges, including simultaneous and delayed exchanges of real, personal, and multi-asset properties, Janna also specializes in reverse and build-to-suit exchanges. 

Janna is a frequent speaker on the topic of 1031 exchanges and will be speaking at five continuing education seminars in Arkansas that are being sponsored by the Arkansas Land Title Association this year.

She is also a regular contributor to several trade journals. Her most recent article, “Reverse & Improvement Exchanges Expand Opportunities for Tax Deferral,” appeared in the annual January/February Tax Issue of Lagniappe, a publication of the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants. She also wrote an article for her company’s January Exchange Update newsletter entitled “Certain Capital Gains Now Exempt from Louisiana Income Tax.”

Janna has extensive experience in the field of real estate, having worked for 20 years as a commercial real estate paralegal and licensed title insurance agent. Her other professional memberships include the Louisiana Land Title Association, the New Orleans Real Estate Investors Association, and the Federation of Exchange Accommodators. 

Janna can be reached at 800-247-4035 or jashearman@firstam.com.

CREW Network’s latest white paper, “Glass Ceiling or Sticky Floor: The State of Women’s Advancement in Commercial Real Estate,” is a must read for the start of the new year.

Prepared by their 2009 Industry Research Committee, the white paper summarizes the relevant research currently available about women in business. It will be a precursor to the CREW Network’s 2010 benchmark study, which will be published in June 2010. 

Glass Ceiling or Sticky Floor: The State of Women’s Advancement in Commercial Real Estate

According to newly elected New Orleans CREW President, Donna Taylor of Stirling Properties, 2010 is poised to be a promising year for both our region and membership. Making her case, Donna shared some hard facts to back up her optimism at November's Annual Members-Only Luncheon:

Member Spotlight – Marie Moore

Marie Moore is a partner in the law firm of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. where she practices commercial real estate law, particularly leasing, but also acquisitions, workouts, financings, sales, and construction. In addition to being consistently recognized as one of the top real estate attorneys in Louisiana by Super Lawyers, she was recently selected for inclusion in the 2010 Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Real Estate Law by Woodward White & Company.

Marie’s list of accomplishments is a long one. In a nod to her longstanding commitment to both her profession and her community, she was recently honored by New Orleans CityBusiness as one of the 50 Women of the Year nominees.

She is a co-founder of New Orleans CREW, and served as the Inaugural President during which time she secured affiliation with the national CREW Network and won the bid to have the Winter 2004 Delegate Meeting in New Orleans. A dedicated member, she has also served on the Board of Directors and is currently the Chairperson of the Sponsorship Committee.

Marie has shared her passion and expertise for commercial real estate and law through her commitments to a variety of professional organizations. In addition to her memberships in CCIM and the International Council of Shopping Centers, Marie has been extensively involved with both the Urban Land Institute and the American Bar Association.

Since 2005, Marie has served as the Vice-Chair of the Louisiana District Council of ULI and on their Silver Flight of National Commercial and Retail Development Council. She has also served on their Executive Committee of Louisiana District Council since 2003.

Marie’s ABA commitments include Chair and Vice Chair of the Retail Leasing Committee, and Member of the Diversity Committee, all under the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law.  She has also been the Vice-Chair of the Sponsorship Committee and the Associate Articles Editor of the Probate & Property Magazine.

She is both a prolific writer for legal publications and seasoned speaker for professional organizations on the commercial real estate industry. Her latest article, “Landlord Lease Remedies: What Are a Landlord’s Default Rights and What Can It Recover?” appeared in the ABA Probate & Property Magazine, November/December 2009 issue.

Marie received her law degree from the University of Alabama in 1978 where she was Order of the Coif and associate editor of the Alabama Law Review.

Media Committee member Carrie Williamson, who is also a part-time journalist, had her latest article, "Is New Orleans Poised to Become Silicon Valley South?" published in the November issue of AirTran Airways' Go In-flight Magazine .  Diversifying the economy of New Orleans is key to rebuilding the city, sure to invigorate the commercial real estate market. This article detailing the influx of educated entrepreneurs flocking to New Orleans combined with the "best of class"  tax credits and other resources that are available for digital media businesses that want to relocate to or expand an existing business in our area is goods news for all of us. Help spread the word!