About Us
Karl Israelsen, JD
Founder & Managing Director
Mr. Israelsen is a founder and Managing Director of Blue Field Capital. Karl manages the operations and investments of Blue Field Capital’s funds, where he leverages his background and his experience in fund operations, real estate development, investment management, business operations and business development. Since formation of the firm, Karl has overseen the creation and deployment of approximately $100M of capital into 40+ real estate assets, and exits with transaction value of $400M.
Prior to Blue Field Capital, Mr. Israelsen was a founder and managing partner of Carman Lehnhof Israelsen LLP, a corporate and securities law firm. Mr. Israelsen has over 15 years’ experience structuring and organizing real estate funds, strategic partnerships and joint ventures, capital formation, M&A and private equity transactions, corporate governance, and advising owners and investors on general corporate matters.
Over the past 10 years, Mr. Israelsen has been involved personally as a founder, director or early investor in a number of real estate projects and other business ventures. Karl is an adjunct professor of Economics and Finance at Utah State University and serves on the board of Ho’ola Lahui Hawaii, a native Hawaiian healthcare system.
Mr. Israelsen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Utah State University, a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago.
Justin VandenAkker, JD
Founder & Managing Director
Mr. VandenAkker is a founder and Managing Director of Blue Field Capital. Justin manages the operations and investments of Blue Field Capital’s funds, where he leverages his background, his long-standing relationships and his experience in fund operations and investment management. Justin is an entrepreneur with 17+ years’ experience in real estate transactions, real estate development, business operations and business development. During his time at Blue Field Capital, Justin has managed the formation and placement of approximately $100M of capital into 40+ real estate assets, and exits with transaction value of over $400M.
Before founding Blue Field Capital, Mr. VandenAkker was a founder and manager of WV Investment Properties, LLC. WV Investment Properties invested in and developed diverse real estate projects across multiple asset classes specializing in value-add/rehab, ground up development, and land rezoning/project development.
Mr. VandenAkker has been deeply involved in consulting and advising multiple real estate managers and developers throughout his career and is also personally an investor and operator of various real estate projects. Throughout his career, Mr. VandenAkker has developed a robust network of strategic partners that has resulted in the successful acquisition, management, development, and disposition of various commercial real estate assets throughout the country greatly broadening the economic reach and potential of Blue Field Capital.
Mr. VandenAkker holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Utah and a Juris Doctor from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Brian Karren, JD
Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Karren serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Blue Field and is responsible for deal sourcing, structuring equity, strategic planning, and portfolio management. Mr. Karren has actively managed investor capital over the past 16 years and has successfully overseen the acquisition, financing, and management of over $400M in commercial real estate deals.
During his career, Mr. Karren has directly sourced and overseen the execution of multiple value-add apartment projects. Mr. Karren has acquired and overseen the operations of ~3,000 apartment units over the past 6 years. Mr. Karren also spent a number of years as an operating executive at Pinnacle Security where he worked closely with institutional investor partners.
Mr. Karren holds a JD from the University of Utah’s SJ Quinney College of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Utah’s Business School.
Zain Jaffer
CHAIRMAN OF GROWTH EQUITY
Mr. Jaffer is the Chairman of Growth Equity with Blue Field Capital and principal in the Blue Field Strategic Fund I. He is a technology entrepreneur who sold his last company to Blackstone for $780M. Prior to joining Blue Field Capital, Mr. Jaffer invested in real estate globally through his family office at Zain Ventures. His firm partnered with Blue Field Capital to advise and manage a distressed portfolio of multi-family assets. Mr. Jaffer is a regular contributor to real estate publications and is a guest lecturer at University College London (UCL) where he talks about entrepreneurship and investment. He holds a Master Degree in Technology Entrepreneurship from University College London, and a Bachelor Degree in Business Management from King’s College London.
Nate Adamson
President of Operations
Mr. Adamson is the President of Operations with Blue Field Capital, where he brings experience in real estate research, reporting, and acquisition work. Nate is responsible for financial and performance analysis of the Blue Field portfolio assets, preparation of periodic reporting materials, investor relations support, fundraising and underwriting for potential acquisition opportunities.
Nate holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with an Emphasis in Real Estate from Brigham Young University.
Scott MacMeekin
Director of Financial Operations
Mr. MacMeekin recently joined Blue Field in 2018. Previously he was in acquisitions and asset management for a sponsor of commercial real estate acquisitions. Prior to that, he worked for the largest multifamily brokerage in Utah as an analyst. In his career, he has underwritten over two billion dollars in value of real estate and has closed over two hundred fifty million in commercial real estate transactions.
He has been an integral part of asset management, helping to manage a portfolio of approximately one hundred fifty million dollars overseeing primarily financial performance and reporting, tax appeals, and insurance concerns. In addition, he was critical in establishing the most comprehensive multifamily research report in the state of Utah and is still involved in that project. Mr. MacMeekin graduated with honors with a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Utah in 2012.