Meet the A.CRE Team

AdventuresinCRE.com (A.CRE) was started by Spencer Burton and Michael Belasco during their first year of graduate real estate studies at Cornell University. The site was initially meant to fill a need for readily available resources online related to real estate financial modeling and Masters in Real Estate programs. It also was a tool for the two to expand their knowledge, network, and improve their writing capabilities.

Over the years, the site has grown substantially and today (as of 2025) over 100,000 unique CRE visitors per month. A.CRE focuses on sharing quality content around four main areas our users care most about: 1) learning and using advanced concepts in real estate financial modeling, 2) gaining and enhancing skills used in commercial real estate via formal and informal education, 3) preparing for and advancing a career in commercial real estate together with a comprehensive job board with hundreds of CRE jobs, and 4) leveraging AI in commercial real estate.

A.CRE offers two world-class training programs: one in real estate financial modeling and another in AI for real estate. Launched in 2019, the A.CRE Accelerator has become the most comprehensive financial modeling program in the industry, trusted by leading firms and top universities worldwide. In 2025, A.CRE introduced AI.Edge, a platform and community equipping CRE professionals to harness AI in practical, deal-driven ways and to lead the industry’s AI transformation.

SPENCER BURTON

Partner, Co-Contributor

Spencer Burton is the Co-Founder and CEO of CRE Agents, a Vertical AI Agentic Platform transforming how work gets done in commercial real estate. With over 20 years of experience as a fiduciary, principal, and founder, Spencer is a recognized innovator in applying AI to streamline workflows in CRE. Prior to CRE Agents, he was President and a founding team member of Stablewood, where he co-developed an AI-enabled digital coworker that analyzed 50,000+ transactions. Spencer also co-created Adventures in CRE (A.CRE), the industry’s leading platform for financial modeling, artificial intelligence, education, and career development.

Spencer Burton holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with an emphasis in economics from Florida State University and a Master’s in Real Estate with a concentration in finance from Cornell University.

You can contact Spencer on LinkedIn or by email. You might also visit Spencer Burton’s personal website.

MICHAEL BELASCO

Partner, Co-Contributor

Michael Belasco is a commercial real estate professional with over a decade of experience spanning $7B+ in transactions. He founded Firm Ridge Real Estate Holdings in 2023, an opportunistic PERE firm focused on RV park developments near national parks, and also leads A.CRE Consulting, a financial modeling and advisory shop that has supported $3B+ in projects. Previously, he was a founding member and COO at Stablewood Properties, where he built operations and managed 27 STNL acquisitions nationwide.

Before Stablewood, Michael worked at Hines in San Francisco on 2M+ sq. ft. of high-rise mixed-use development. He co-founded AdventuresInCRE.com, serving 1.5M+ annual readers, co-instructs the A.CRE Accelerator, and has authored dozens of industry articles. Michael holds degrees from Cornell University and Goddard College and lives with his wife and two sons in Newtown, PA.

You can contact Michael on LinkedIn or by email. You might also visit Michael Belasco’s personal website.

SAM CARLSON

Partner, Director of Strategy and Marketing

Sam Carlson has spent over 20 years in marketing, business development, and entrepreneurship. During his career, he has participated in several startup businesses, acquired and streamlined existing ones, and provided consulting to a wide spectrum of businesses. Sam joined the A.CRE team in 2018 with the launch of its flagship financial modeling program, the Accelerator. Since then he has taken on the role of Head of Marketing and Business Development.

To connect with and learn more about Sam, you can visit his LinkedIn Profile or email him directly.

KYLE HOLMBERG

Partner, Chief Operating Officer

Kyle Holmberg is the Chief Operating Officer at A.CRE. He first entered the industry in construction management with a residential builder then joined the US Navy and served as a linguist and signals analyst in a sub-surface direct support role. Prior to A.CRE, he was an Investment Associate for a $60 billion institutional real estate investor. He holds a BA from BYU and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

To connect with and learn more about Kyle, you can visit his LinkedIn Profile or email him directly.

Joe Prendergast

Co-Contributor, Director of Enterprise Partnerships

Joe has spent the last eight years in commercial real estate, raising capital for KBS Capital Markets Group and TwinRock Partners. Most recently he helped build the sales infrastructure at Bullpen, the workforce behind the CRE industry.

At A.CRE Joe is responsible for building relationships at institutional firms, top universities, and government agencies that want to educate their people with the Enterprise Accelerator program.

You can contact Joe on LinkedIn or by email.

REBECA LOPEZ

Content Manager & Operations Support

Rebeca is the Content Manager at A.CRE, where she oversees daily social media activities across platforms, develops content calendars, and manages publication in both English and Spanish. In addition to content management, she provides operations support by updating and maintaining the WordPress site, performing data entry, and assisting with SEO and administrative tasks.

Outside of work, Rebeca is passionate about fitness and enjoys practicing CrossFit.

You can contact Rebeca on LinkedIn or by email.

TUCKER WELLS

Co-Contributor

Tucker became the president of the Real Estate Club at Southern Methodist University, where he found a passion for helping his peers get jobs. He has spent the last five years recruiting and hiring professionals in Commercial Real Estate.

Tucker Wells holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate Finance from Southern Methodist University.

You can contact Tucker on LinkedIn or by email.

NELA NIKOLOVSKA

Graphic Designer

Nela is A.CRE‘s graphic designer. You’ll notice her work all over both the main site and the Accelerator. Originally from North Macedonia, she currently resides in Vienna, Austria, studying Higher Graphical Federal Education.
She loves all types of art and design, drawing, painting, and interior design. In her free time, she will often spend time with photography and exploring new places.

ARTURO PARADA

Financial Analyst

Arturo is a Financial Analyst at A.CRE. With a background as a Mechanical Engineer, he further honed his skills by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Industrial Maintenance. His experience spans over a decade as a university professor, and he has dedicated 3 years to the real estate domain, holding an instrumental role in administering the A.CRE Accelerator real estate financial modeling program and helping its members master complex modeling solutions. Arturo’s passion lies in building, improving, and analyzing real estate financial models. Arturo loves being with his family and climbing mountains in his free time.

You can contact Arturo from his LinkedIn page.

EMILIO TOVAR

Financial Analyst

Emilio is a Financial Analyst with A.CRE. He has a diverse background, with experience in import and export economics, blockchain, marketing, programming, and trading. He has built his career engaging in projects he is passionate about, which has led to his interest in commercial real estate and A.CRE.

As for his interests, in his own words, "My free time is for cooking. While learning more about food and its relationship with people, of course, it’s much more enjoyable when you put together the perfect playlist and good friends."

You can contact Emilio from his LinkedIn page.

ALEX LOPEZ

Product Manager & Operations Support Specialist

Alex fills many roles with A.CRE, chief among them as a Product Manager, Technical Support and Customer Service expert.

He is a System Engineer with great expertise in technical support and quality assurance. Alex is an upbeat team player, and loves working with technology.

To connect with and learn more about Alex, you can visit his LinkedIn Profile or email him directly.

LUIS E FERNÁNDEZ

UX/UI Designer

Luis is a UX/UI designer with a medical background. This gives him a unique perspective on user needs. His knowledge of human psychology and physiology helps him create designs that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. In addition to his design skills, he has knowledge of front-end technologies, which allows him to create proposals that are technically feasible.

To learn more about his journey, you can check out his website.

Alesandro Kamcev

Video Editor

Alessandro is a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Audio and Video Technology. He has spent over 14 years working as professional video editor.
He has worked on several national TV stations in Europe. He is a licensed drone operator and loves to take drone photography in free time. You can contact Alessandro from his LinkedIn page.

EXEQUIEL CASTILLO

Video Editor

Exequiel is a talented video editor on the A.CRE team. Passionate on applying his creativity on creating videos that have an emotional impact on viewers. With a passion for storytelling, he skillfully crafts narratives that have the potential to positively impact viewers. Through his expertise, Exequiel creates engaging videos that leave a lasting impression. You can contact Exequiel from his LinkedIn page.