Adam Carswell, Cameron Iuvancigh, and Vanessa Haynes sit down for the inaugural human episode of The CREIC Podcast to tell the origin story of the Commercial Real Estate Investment Conference. From a chance encounter three years ago to a 12:30 AM phone call that sparked a movement, discover how the perfect sequence of events brought together a trio determined to create something different in the real estate space.
0:00 - Introduction
Adam introduces the episode with Cameron and Vanessa, diving into how CREIC came to be.
0:49 - Cameron's Teaser
Cameron hints at a perfect sequence of individual experiences that led to everyone connecting in the private real estate space.
1:18 - Vanessa's Teaser
Vanessa shares her insight: sometimes you feel like something's coming but can't discover what it is. For her, CREIC was the discovery. She emphasizes patience, it took three years.
1:50 - The Orlando Connection (3 Years Ago)
Adam recounts meeting Vanessa at a conference in Orlando about three years ago. It was inexplicable, he knew he needed to know her.
2:48 - The Vancouver Inspiration (January 2026)
Adam and Cameron travel to Vancouver for a conference and are blown away by the event format. They realize there's nothing like it in the commercial real estate space.
3:18 - The Missing Calendar
A month after Vancouver, they attend a CRE event and realize something crucial: there's nothing on the calendar where they can all see each other and connect.
3:34 - The 12:30 AM Call
Adam gets a call from Cameron at 12:30 AM in his kitchen (Adam's a night owl). Cameron says, "Dude, I think we need to do this." The 80/20 rule gets established.
4:14 - The Spider-Man Meme Moment
Within weeks, Cameron coincidentally connects with Vanessa on a deal structuring call. He casually mentions the Miami event in November. Vanessa texts Adam: "Hey, we need to talk." Everyone connects.
4:55 - Cameron Goes Deeper
Cameron explains the real motivation: four to five years of relationships in the private markets, renewed and reminded of the depth of those friendships. Those relationships are infinitely more valuable than any new opportunity.
5:55 - The Philosophy
Cameron articulates the mission: Foster relationships and connect the right people together so deals get done. It's about making relationships fruitful in every way.
6:50 - Vanessa's Word Choice
Vanessa reframes "lucrative" to "fruitful" because the value extends beyond just money. This encapsulates the CREIC philosophy.
7:14 - The Promise
Vanessa expresses excitement about unpacking more of the story in future episodes. Like Christmas, there's a lot to unpack.
7:37 - Work Talk & the Naval Ravikant Close
Adam shares the team culture at CREIC: they call it "work talk"—it feels like play. He quotes Naval Ravikant: "Continue to pursue the thing that looks like work to others but feels like play to you, because there's something to it."
8:07 - Outro
Thanks for tuning in.