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 real estate 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.

Continue Reading

Russell Gimelstob, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

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.

Continue Reading

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

Eric Calder
Co-Founder, 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.

Continue Reading

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

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.

Lara Kiefer, Senior Vice President

Lara Kiefer

Senior Vice President

Zach Gallin, Chief of Staff, Investor Relations

Zach Gallin

Chief of Staff, Investor Relations

Dajana Cvijanovic, Executive Assistant

Dajana Cvijanovic

Executive Assistant

Luke Watts-Russell
Vice President

Luke Watts-Russell joined Ascendant Capital Partners in 2024 and serves as a Vice President on the Investments Team. Mr. Watts-Russell is responsible for underwriting new acquisition opportunities and supporting the asset management of existing assets. Prior to joining Ascendant Capital Partners, Mr. Watts-Russell worked at Blackstone’s Chicago-based residential portfolio company, LivCor. While at LivCor, he was involved in the firm’s U.S. acquisitions, dispositions, and management of existing assets across the residential sector. In his role, he closed transactions across BX’s core/core+ and value-add/opportunistic strategies. During his tenure at LivCor, he was involved in over $3 billion of transactions and underwrote in excess of $30 billion of real assets. Mr. Watts-Russell graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Finance & Real Estate and served as the undergraduate President of the Leeds School of Business Real Estate Club.