Profile

As a vertically integrated real estate platform, Ascendant is led by a managing partnership comprised of CEO Russell Gimelstob, Co-President & CIO Alex Halpern, and Co-President & COO Eric Calder, which has collectively acquired and developed more than $20 billion of multifamily, retail, hospitality and office assets. Founded on the basis of creating a more investor-friendly and specialized format of real estate investing, the firm has built a team of sector-level specialists across its three operating verticals, and relies on continuous, cross-pollenating dialogue with its limited partners.

Russell Gimelstob
Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Prior to founding Ascendant Capital Partners, Russell Gimelstob was Head of Acquisitions, Partner, Managing Director and Member of the Investment Committee of Dune Real Estate Partners, a manager of real estate private equity funds. Russell previously represented Ascendant on the board of Watermark Lodging Trust.

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Alex Halpern
Co-Founder, Co-President, and Chief Investment Officer

Alex Halpern is responsible for the oversight of Ascendant's investment activities, as well as the day-to-day management of the platform's hospitality, and select residential investments. Alex represented Ascendant on the board of Watermark Lodging Trust, is an active board member of Sentral, and is a board observer of DC Blox.

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Eric Calder
Partner, Co-President, and Chief Operating Officer

Prior to joining Ascendant Capital Partners, Eric Calder was the Co-Chief Investment Officer of Dune Real Estate Partners, a New York City-based real estate investment firm. At Dune, he was a member of the firm’s Investment Committee and led over $6 billion in transactions across the residential, retail, industrial, office and hospitality sectors.

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Ascendant has put together a world-class team of diverse individuals, each with an impressive background and knowledge base. Through close collaboration, we are able to continue to expand our services into new markets and locations across the globe.

Di Mo

Assistant Controller

Zach Gallin

Investor Relations

Dajana Cvijanovic

Executive Assistant

Jason Goldberg
Chief Financial Officer

Jason Goldberg is Ascendant’s Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s financial, accounting, tax operations, treasury, and compliance functions.

Prior to joining Ascendant, Mr. Goldberg was the Principal in the tax finance department at Apollo Global Management, Inc. in 2019 where he was responsible for Real Assets, Infrastructure, and the European Principal Finance Funds. Prior to his time at Apollo Mr. Goldberg was the Director of Tax at Dune Real Estate Partners LP, the predecessor of Dune Capital Management LP from 2007 to 2019 where he was responsible for the tax department and all reporting for the funds and management company.

Before joining Dune, Mr. Goldberg worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 2006 to 2007 in the Investment Management practice where he was responsible for providing tax advisory and compliance services to private equity and hedge fund clients. Mr. Goldberg started his career in the Financial Services practices at Ernst and Young LLP in 2003.

Mr. Goldberg received a M.Acc. in 2002 and a B.Acc. in 2001 from New Mexico State University.