Upcoming Events

January 30, 2025 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:

MEREDA is excited to welcome two experts in their respective fields of Cost Segregation and 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges.   Join us on January 30th at the McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center in Portland to learn more about each of these significant tax saving tools.

Introduction to Cost Segregation and Significant Tax Savings
Come discover how owners of commercial real estate have been offsetting their taxable income down to $0 and doing it legally with an IRS-approved tax strategy called Cost Segregation.  Blessed by the IRS in 2004, Cost Segregation allows for the acceleration of depreciation deductions via reallocation of certain real property assets from long lives (27.5- or 39-years) to short-lives (5-, 7-, or 15-years)…naturally, depreciating assets over shorter class lives is more beneficial because larger annual deductions are generated, and therefore, more taxable income is able to be offset (i.e. – tax savings!). 

Understanding 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges: The Investment Real-Estate Tool for Preserving Net Wealth
Carol Redfern, Manager of Maine Exchange Services, LLC and Certified Exchange Specialist with the Federation of Exchange Accommodators, explains the necessity and application of 26 U.S. Code § 1031 allowing qualified taxpayers to completely or partially defer their Capital Gains taxes. This presentation will cover the basic qualifiers, rules, and regulations of the 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchange as well as the three primary exchange pathways: Forward Exchanges, Reverse Exchanges, and Improvement Exchanges. Maine Exchange Services, LLC holds Maine’s Exchange Facilitator License #1 and is the only Maine based member of the Federation of Exchange Accommodators.

Meet our Presenters:

Frank Giudici is a Sr. Business Development Director for the Source Advisors Team and although originally from New England is now based in Upstate New York. Prior to joining Source Advisors, Frank received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and then spent 13-years in the Construction Management industry working throughout the Northeast on a variety of project types in several roles.  Frank’s expansive construction background paired with his well-versed communication and detail-oriented nature bodes well for enriching peoples’ lives through Source Advisors’ specialty tax services, most notably Cost Segregation. Source Advisors is a top (3) provider of Cost Segregation and employs (6) of the ONLY (51) active Certified Cost Segregation Professionals (CCSPs) nationally.

Carol A. Redfern is a Certified Exchange Specialist (CES) with extensive experience managing the day-to-day operations of Maine Exchange Services, LLC. Carol earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern Maine and has been working alongside attorneys Tom Jewell and Paul Bulger since 2017. Notably, Carol and Maine Exchange Services are the only Maine-based members of the Federation of Exchange Accommodators, further demonstrating her expertise in the field. Outside of her professional life, Carol enjoys relaxing at her home on Little Sebago Lake with her husband, Peter, and their two dogs, Duke and Aldo.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by January 23. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after January 23.

Prices increase by $10 after January 23.

Thank you to our Breakfast Series Sponsor:

March 20, 2025 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:
On March 20th, MEREDA will host a breakfast event featuring a discussion on Portland’s updated ReCode. ReCode has been a nearly decade-long process of overhauling Portland’s Chapter 14 Land Use Ordinance, with its full adoption occurring in late 2024. This “upzone” of Portland’s zoning will have a tremendous impact on development in the years to come.

Join us for a conversation with Christine Grimando and Brandon Mazer, two of the architects of ReCode, to understand how the process transpired, and what lessons they learned along the way.

Meet our Presenters:
Christine Grimando has been an urban planner in Maine for nearly two decades. Currently a Senior Planning Lead with VHB, she provides consulting services to communities throughout Maine on the topics of land use, housing, transportation, and sustainability. Prior to VHB, Christine served as the Director of Planning and Urban Development for the City of Portland where she oversaw ReCode Phase I and 2, Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, and myriad other development, policy, and long-range planning initiatives relating to housing, transportation planning, climate resilience, preservation, open space design, and zoning and land use. Christine serves on the Board of Directors of GrowSmart Maine. 

Brandon Mazer is an attorney at Perkins Thompson focused on municipal and business law, and currently serves as Corporation Counsel for the City of South Portland. Prior to joining Perkins Thompson he served as General Counsel for Shipyard Brewing Company for over seven years. He has served on the Portland Planning Board since 2017, serving as Chair for over four years. During his tenure on the Planning Board, Brandon has helped approve over 1600 units of housing and, most notably, lead the Planning Board through both phases of Recode. Brandon is also on the Board of Trustees for the Maine State Music Theatre and the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Maine.

Moderating the program is co-chair of MEREDA’s Local Issues Committee, John Finegan. John joined The Boulos Company in 2020 and is an Associate Broker. He works throughout Greater Portland in all areas of commercial real estate including the buying, selling, and leasing of office, retail, industrial, and multifamily family properties. John also works on ground-up development, with a particular focus on multifamily development and economic policymaking as it relates to development.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by March 13. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after March 13.

Prices increase by $10 after March 13.

Thank you to our Breakfast Series Sponsor:

April 9, 2025 – 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Lunch: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Program: 12:00-1:00 pm

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:
Details Coming Soon!

Meet our Presenters:

Presenters will be announced soon.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by April 2. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after April 2.

Prices increase by $10 after April 2.

Mark your calendar to come bowl with MEREDA on May 1, 2025! 

As the event gets closer, be watching your emails for more information on how you can participate!

September 17, 2025 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:
Details Coming Soon!

Meet our Presenters:

Presenters will be announced soon.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by September 10. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after September 10.

Prices increase by $10 after September 10.

November 18, 2025 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:
Details Coming Soon!

Meet our Presenters:

Presenters will be announced soon.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by November 11. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after November 11.

Prices increase by $10 after November 11.

December 16, 2025 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:
Details Coming Soon!

Meet our Presenters:

Presenters will be announced soon.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by December 9. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after December 9.

Prices increase by $10 after December 9.