Fred began his barter career in 1979 with Blue Key Exchange in San Francisco; previously he spent ten years working for new car dealers in sales, finance, leasing, and store management and previous to that worked 8 years in display advertising production with the Ad-Art sign company.

Fred founded Sacramento Trade Exchange in 1982, organized reciprocal trading amongst local trade exchanges, and subsequently merged the local Trade World Exchange into Sacramento Trade Exchange. Through Fred’s early association with the International Reciprocal Trade Association he forged relationships with the newly founded ITEX Barter Systems, and was instrumental in the Sacramento National Commerce Exchange converting to ITEX. The continued reciprocal relationship built the foundation for Sacramento Trade Exchange to merge into ITEX three years later.

Fred was a cofounder of the California Trade Association, a political organization of independent trade exchange owners and a reporter for BarterNews. In 1979 Fred associated with the International Reciprocal Trade Association (formerly the International Association of Trade Exchanges) and was one of the first recipients of the association’s prestigious Certified Trade Broker (CTB) designation. Fred also is a past IRTA board member and served on the IRTA Legislative Committee from 1984 to 1986 to defeat the detrimental California Barter Bill proposed to the state of California. The IRTA, in 1987, honored Fred with the Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contribution to the Barter industry.

Fred is a past ITEX Brokers Association President 1992 to 1993 during that time he reformed the association by introducing the association’s first bylaws and adopting the IRTA’s code of ethics. In 1993 Fred also served as an alternate board member to ITEX Corporation prior to it becoming a public company.

ITEX Sacramento merged into the ITEX system in 1987, Fred and Ray Pelfrey, the existing ITEX Broker created a partnership to become the dominate exchange in the region. Seven years later Ray retired from the business and relocated to Oklahoma to pursue other business interests and Fred went on hiatus from the industry and returned to reopen an ITEX office in 1997. In November 2006 Fred purchased the other ITEX Sacramento Franchise and operates both brokerages at 3400 Cottage Way.

Carolyn is a born trader. At age four she filled up her little red wagon with old newspapers and went door to door trading and selling them and believe it or not she received flowers, pennies and books

She was a cosmetologist 1960-1970 learning to accept trade for things she was needing or wanting. In 1974 while staying home and raising her three children she started a business called The Plant Lady a very lucrative and successful part time business teaching the customer the correct way of watering and positioning the plants in their homes and businesses. At this time Carolyn was learning how to trade with the business owners swapping plants and monthly maintenance for their products. In 1979 one of her trade customers referred her to Fred Hammer at Sacramento Trade Exchange.

Carolyn learned about the trading world from the experienced and fair minded Fred Hammer She worked for 3 years and then Trade World merged with Sacramento Trade Exchange. Adding to her experience the new partners taught Carolyn new & interesting trade directing techniques.

In 1987 she left Sacramento Trade Exchange to join forces with the new, exciting & larger ITEX Sacramento office owned by Ray Pelfrey. Working with Ray was very different and taught her to think out of the box seeking the larger trades and deals. Carolyn was with Ray for 6 months when Fred Hammer merged his Sacramento Trade Exchange to ITEX Sacramento, she worked for the partners for 5 years.

Then deciding she needed a simpler way of life she became a massage therapist and was very successful teaching massage as well as running her own business. During this time she bought a Sports Bar and Restaurant. This started a new way to trading to help improve the appearance, restore old equipment and bring in the new clientele.

While trying to obtain a job from the State of California she worked part time for ITEX Sacramento and Fred Hammer. After working for Fred for 2 months he made Carolyn an offer she couldn't’t resist and is now working for Hammer Management permanently.

Fred, a bachelor, grew up in San Bernardino and has resided in the Sacramento area since the early ninety’s. He has a BS in Communications, served as a Ranger in the US Army Special Forces. Fred previously worked for ITEX Corporation as the Distribution Manager and when the company moved to Washington Fred worked for a printing company until closed their doors. Fred is experienced with the workings of ITEX and brings his skills to further customer satisfaction using ITEX.

Susan is a Trade Director in additona to helping assigned client accounts she manages scrip orders, orientation scheduling for you or your employees, marketplace listings and many other trade needs.

Clients who have accounts, but do not trade are assigned to Inactive Accounts and do not received proactive service. The E-mail sent to Inactive is not delivered.