Experience

Gazelle Finance

• Georgia
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CEO, Owner, Founder, Investment Committee Chairman

  • Nov 2013 - Present

  Growth-capital private equity fund targeting small & medium enterprises (SME) in Eurasia region; $36M AUM, 20 staff. • Lead $36M AUM fund investing in 43 portfolio companies, 83 transactions in Eastern Europe, ten exits, and 20% portfolio IRR. • Raised $31M fund (Gazelle Fund LP) from four investors for social impact investing in high-growth early-stage companies in Eastern Europe initiated by raising $2M of seed capital to launch a fund management company. • Raised $4.6M in grant funding for blended financing purposes and achieved 30% exposure to women owned/led businesses. • Created process to appraise investment potential of companies by assessing quantitative data, operations, markets, and goals. • Designed equity, structured equity, income participation loan (quasi-equity), and term loan with equity (warrant) investments. • Counsel portfolio companies on sustainable business strategy, tactics, mergers, acquisitions, growth capital, and restructuring. • Recruited, trained, evaluated, and developed 20 diverse, top-performing investment staff across four countries. • Created ESG-impact metrics, AML KYC compliance, systems, marketing, media, human resources and other business functions. • Secured Flagship 2.0x gender lens certification for the fund and convened multiple Gazelle Women in Business conferences. • Secured $16M in LP commitments for Gazelle Fund II targeting Ukraine prior to February 24, 2022 war and $2.5M post-war. Show less



Sindicatum Renewable Energy Company Pte. Limited

• Singapore
• Renewables & Environment
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Director

  • Apr 2011 - Oct 2013

  Finances and operates global clean energy projects to produce sustainable resources from the utilization of natural resources. • After Sindicatum acquired Verdeo in 2011, during the earn-out period, led the Fund’s U.S. subsidiary investment operations. • Created strategy and deployed plan reducing dependence on carbon offset credits by new sources of renewable revenue. • Structured and implemented an innovative $5M US coal mining methane emissions abatement project, the first of its kind. • Supervised deal sourcing, investments, operations, other functions, board of directors relations, and ten staff. Show less



Verdeo Group

• United States
• Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Director, Co-Founder

  • Jan 2008 - Apr 2011

  Provided project and finance solutions to identify, develop and monetize greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction opportunities. • Raised $3M Series A round from Cargill’s Black River Asset Management, Wolfensohn, and other green energy investors. • Led company formation, strategy, fundraising, project origination, deal sourcing, and transactions with co-founders. • Achieved 30% exit premium by selling Verdeo to Sindicatum, a $150M global renewable private equity fund. • From start-up to sale, originated $10M in financing deals in coal and oil and gas producing states such as West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Wyoming; developed $3M in contracted revenue and supervised five staff. • Built the leading waste methane gas project development company serving the U.S. coal and non-metal mining industry. • Awarded Best Project Developer – North American Mandatory Markets by Environmental Finance. • Authored numerous articles in trade publications. Show less



Climate Change Capital Ltd

• Investment Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President

  • Jan 2007 - Dec 2007

  $1.0 billion carbon sequestration and cleantech fund that helped avoid 100M+ tons of greenhouse gas emissions. • Created $200M clean energy investment pipeline trading EU emission reduction credits in China, Russia, and Eastern Europe. • Modeled deals, gained investment committee approval, and secured capital for carbon credit and energy sales projects. $1.0 billion carbon sequestration and cleantech fund that helped avoid 100M+ tons of greenhouse gas emissions. • Created $200M clean energy investment pipeline trading EU emission reduction credits in China, Russia, and Eastern Europe. • Modeled deals, gained investment committee approval, and secured capital for carbon credit and energy sales projects.



IFC - International Finance Corporation

• United States
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Investment Officer

  • Jun 2001 - Dec 2006

  • Raised capital from other DFIs to build a $30M in-house corporate VC fund that grew into IFCs VC cleantech vertical and deployed $6.3B to 200 projects. Invested in Waterhealth International and MBA Polymers - two $1M deals. • One of two investment professionals who led the origination, structuring, and investment activities for the fund’s portfolio • Originated, valued, and closed $1.2M equity in $2.5M Series A round for a water purification technology company in India. • Originated, valued, and closed $1.2M in $7.5M Series D round in a plastics recycling company enabling their launch in China. • Structured $465M energy efficiency finance and renewable energy risk sharing facility (CHUEE) with $46M of IFC capital in first and second loss positions with Chinese banks Industrial Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, and Bank of Beijing. • Created, designed, and funded renewable energy, clean tech, water, agribusiness, and forestry projects in emerging markets. • Raised 22M+ from multilateral, bi-laterals, and foundations for renewable energy, efficiency, and environmental projects. • Hired, trained, evaluated, and developed 20 global investment implementation staff. Show less



IFC - International Finance Corporation

• United States
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Country Director

  • Jan 1998 - Dec 1999

  • Managed Northeast Asia office in Mongolia, deal origination, investment portfolio, and three staff. • Built ecosystem services deal leading to IFC’s $2.0M Global Environment Facility; restructured non-performing $1.7M loan. • Managed Northeast Asia office in Mongolia, deal origination, investment portfolio, and three staff. • Built ecosystem services deal leading to IFC’s $2.0M Global Environment Facility; restructured non-performing $1.7M loan.



Carrier HVAC

• Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Business Development Specialist

  • Jan 1998 - Dec 1998

  • Sourced $10M in HVAC sales to McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wal-Mart, and other firms via local joint ventures. • Sourced $10M in HVAC sales to McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wal-Mart, and other firms via local joint ventures.



Dawson Forte Cashmere

• United States
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Asia Operations

  • Jun 1996 - Dec 1997

  Manufacturer of Kinross Cashmere wool fiber and private label luxury apparel and accessories for high-end retailers.• Led strategy and operations from zero to achieve $5M annual revenue within four years; and 40 staff in China and Mongolia.• Directed $15M private label cashmere garment purchasing operation in China.

• General Manager, Mongolia Operations

  • Jan 1994 - Jun 1996

  • Created a $2M cashmere processing factory, the first private US joint venture in Mongolia.