Chairman, CEO & Founder

Marcel Arsenault

Marcel approaches the real estate business from an academic perspective, constantly reading and analyzing the industry to better understand the story behind the story of real estate cycles.  In over 40 years, Arsenault has purchased and managed more than 395 real estate investments totaling approximately $5.12 billion.  Marcel is one of the most active private owners of commercial real estate in the western United States.  By constantly monitoring developments in the real estate industry, he tries to be ahead of the game. Marcel describes himself as a “real estate theorist who lives in the real world.”

During his career, Arsenault has completed workouts on more than 21 million square feet of property acquired during the RTC and savings and loan crisis and accurately predicted the housing-led U.S. recession, selling 80 percent of his portfolio at market peak. His considerable entrepreneurial experience has enabled him to build strong teams and direct rapidly growing companies. He is frequently contacted by the media to share his expertise; he’s appeared in INC Magazine, Colorado Real Estate Journal, TIME Magazine and Bloomberg News.

Marcel Arsenault is also the Founder & Chairman of One Earth Future Foundation.

One Earth Future Foundation leads initiatives to improve systems that prevent armed conflict through governance. To date, Marcel and his wife Cynda have contributed over $100 million to OEF and two related foundations. With 75 current employees, OEF is growing rapidly and expects to employ over 400 in the next 10 years.  OEF’s areas of focus include: Enhancing maritime cooperation: Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) works to facilitate such cooperation around maritime piracy, and Secure Fisheries brings attention to global trends around illegal, unreported, and unregulated, fishing (which precipitates conflict and generated Somali piracy). OBP played an integral part in the release of 26 hostages after being held by Somali pirates in 2016.

Arsenault obtained a B.Sc. degree from McGill University and pursued a Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Colorado before embarking on his entrepreneurial career.

Chief Operating Officer

Judy Lawson

Judy serves as Chief Operating Officer for Real Capital Solutions. She joined RCS in late 1989 as an Analyst, and then expanded her role to include Marketing & Finance responsibilities for the company. She was promoted to Commercial Asset Manager in 1998, to Senior Asset Manager in 2007 and to VP and then SVP of Asset Management (2013 to 2020) and then to EVP of Corporate Operations & Asset Management beginning in 2020.

In 2024, she was promoted to COO, and she and her team oversee the entire real estate portfolio for RCS (valued at more than $2.4 billion and comprising ~ 80 projects and 18 million square feet of office, industrial, retail, hotel and multi-family space).  She also manages both the in-house legal and HR teams and drives the company’s day to day operations.  Judy serves as Chair of the Investment Committee, which has the final decision on all new commercial & multifamily acquisitions for the company, as well as Chair of the Strategic Operations Committee – a four-member group, including Mr. Arsenault, that drives the company’s macro strategies and investment initiatives.  She has had the distinct privilege of working closely with Mr. Arsenault throughout the years and learning from his unique perspective and creative, problem-solving style.

Chief Acquisitions Officer

Adam Abeln

Adam currently serves as Chief Acquisitions Officer for Real Capital Solutions and is a member of the Strategic Operations Committee (“SOC”), which drives the Company’s macro strategies and investment initiatives.  Since joining Real Capital Solutions in 2011, Adam has leveraged his two decades of experience in complex real estate transactions to drive the company’s acquisition efforts and spearhead new initiatives.  Throughout his career, Adam has successfully overseen more than $2.5 billion in real estate transactions, spanning diverse strategies and asset types. His accomplishments at Real Capital Solutions include the acquisition of over 15 million square feet of real estate. His background includes all aspects of investment management across all asset types and risk strategies – acquisitions, asset management, deal structuring, joint ventures, capital, leasing and operations, financing and sales.

Adam’s ability to navigate complex transactions and execute strategic initiatives positions him as a key leader in driving Real Capital Solutions’ growth and investment success.

EVP of Finance

Ian Webb

Ian is a highly experienced finance professional with proficiency in all aspects of financial planning and analysis including budgeting, forecasting, operational excellence and financial plan development. He is dedicated to providing Real Capital Solutions with actionable data. Ian has developed skills in creating valuation models, finance negotiations, designing reporting packages, industry analysis, variance analysis and annual reporting tools.