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TEAM

The SunLight General Capital team has over 100 years of combined experience financing, engineering, and operating renewable energy projects.

Joe Shipley

Director – Acquisitions

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Joe Shipley directs the acquisition of operating solar arrays for SunLight’s growing portfolio. Managing a pipeline of potential additions, he performs diligence and closes on those that meet SunLight’s target return on investment. He also oversees the asset management and servicing of over 60MW in installed solar capacity. Assisting the co-founders in all aspects of project development, he manages a diverse range of client relationships, supports business development efforts, and oversees the marketing and trading of the portfolio’s environmental attributes. Joe was previously a consultant with a leading boutique derivatives advisor to private equity funds and project finance sponsors. Prior to working in finance and energy, he served as business administrator in a construction firm, where he gained technical expertise and project management experience. He has a B.A. from Indiana University.

James Pochez

Director – Project Development

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James Pochez specializes in new solar project development and RFP responses. He works on the team’s development and technical efforts as well as its business development and marketing activities. In addition, he participates in investor relations and works with SunLight Energy Group to connect the project development and energy consulting efforts. Previously, James worked as a commercial manager at GE Power, working on Wind and Gas Turbine sales, as well as in an ESCO brokerage company as head of US growth, and an internet tech company based in New York City. In these positions, he gained technical experience as well as sales and marketing know-how. He has a M.S. in Energy Strategies from the Ecole des Mines de Paris.

Erika Smith

Director - Project Development & Operations

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Erika Smith brings finance and structured credit expertise from her experience at Sound Point Capital, a $14 billion asset management company specializing in US Corporate Credit. Since joining SunLight in 2018, Erika has been instrumental in the development of several solar projects in New York, Washington DC, New Jersey, and other states where SunLight is active. She has facilitated several tax equity closings and currently oversees the ongoing operations of all solar projects in SunLight's portfolio. Erika is a graduate of New York University.

Mark Engle

Director - Finance

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Mark Engle manages SunLight’s financial operations and investor communications.  His role includes project, portfolio and fund-level reporting for investors and lenders, as well as managing the company’s team of accountants and auditors. In addition, he assists in the structuring and execution of new investments and tax equity transactions. Mark was previously head of finance and operations at a seed-stage venture capital fund, after serving as head of finance at one of the fund’s portfolio companies. Prior to working in VC, he worked on the corporate FPA team at Honeywell, after graduating from their Finance Rotation Program. He has a B.A. from Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

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