Eco-Capital Advisors was founded by principals Charlie Kauss and Charlie Thompson to help bridge the gap between the investment and environmental science industries. We are proud to be the only third-party financial advisory firm fully dedicated to this dynamic space.
Charles Kauss, Principal
Charlie Kauss began his career as an investment banking analyst with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey before moving on to work as an acquisitions analyst for the real estate investment firm Jamestown, where he focused on deploying capital into traditional ground-up commercial real estate investments.
Kauss transitioned to an Atlanta investment management firm with the largest pool of private equity dollars focused on wetland mitigation and habitat conservation projects in the U.S. As a senior associate, he was responsible for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, negotiating joint ventures, valuation and quantitative analytics and operation of fund assets for a $250 million private equity fund. He developed a proprietary discounted cash flow model for the acquisition, valuation and on-going asset management of the fund’s mitigation and conservation banking portfolio and was instrumental in the development of a FAS 141 compliance valuation policy employed in investor reporting.
Kauss graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a bachelor of business administration degree and major of finance and investments and banking. He is an active member of the National Mitigation Banking Association.
Charles Thompson, Principal
Charlie Thompson began his career as an attorney in the Financial Transactions Practice Group of King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta. He also served as Counsel to the Georgia House of Representatives Judiciary Committee during that time.
Thompson further developed his real estate background while working in project development and capital markets at Barry Real Estate Companies, Inc., an office and hotel development and investment company. He then spent four years at an Atlanta investment management firm with the largest pool of private equity dollars focused on wetland mitigation and habitat conservation projects in the U.S, where he served as director and portfolio manager for over $300MM of committed capital. Thompson was responsible for the day to day management of the ecosystem investment platform, including sourcing and underwriting investment opportunities, negotiating joint ventures, executing acquisitions, investor relations, and overseeing management of acquired assets and operating partner relationships.
Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia, a JD from the University of Georgia School of Law and a master of business administration degree from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, a former board member of the National Mitigation Banking Association, and a founding board member of the Georgia Environmental Restoration Association.
Brian Normanly, Principal
Brian Normanly began his career as a consultant where he assisted public and private-sector clients obtain Clean Water Act Section 404 permits by applying the principles of avoidance, minimization and compensation. Over the past 10 years, Brian has focused exclusively on environmental markets. He has worked in these markets from the prospective of a consultant, a project developer, and a portfolio manager for an investment management firm responsible for entitling, developing and managing investments in ecosystem services markets representing over $300MM in committed capital. In his current role, Brian works extensively with resource agencies, local governments, private landowners, the development community and conservation groups to identify market opportunities and develop ecologically sustainable projects that generate attractive returns while also supporting local economic development initiatives.
Normanly received a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and a Master of Science degree in Forest Hydrology from the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. Brian is certified as a Professional Wetland Scientist by the Society of Wetland Scientist and a Certified Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America. He currently serves as Treasurer for the Georgia Environmental Restoration Association and is a former co-chair of the Ecological & Environmental Mitigation Banking Seminar and former board member of the National Mitigation Banking Association.
David Jacobson, Principal
David Jacobson launched his career in 2004 with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Real Estate Business Advisory Services group in New York. During his tenure with the firm, he was involved in consulting engagements that focused on the review of real estate operating performance, market and feasibility studies, real estate transaction due diligence and the facilitation of loan underwriting for securitization and ratings evaluation.
David went on to spend five years in the gaming, hospitality and entertainment industry — first as an Analyst with Seven Gaming & Entertainment, then as an Associate with boutique investment banking firm, Heller Gaming & Leisure. During this time, he developed comprehensive business acquisition plans and financial models to pursue a start-up regional casino acquisition company, securing financial backing from investors. He also, assisted a major institutional investor in connection with its holdings in one of the largest regional gaming companies in the U.S. and advised a subset of creditors in the Stations Casinos bankruptcy.
Most recently, Mr. Jacobson was Portfolio Manager of environmental investments for an Atlanta-based timberland investment management organization where he focused on the underwriting and financial analysis of prospective investments and managed existing assets purchased through the funds.
Mr. Jacobson holds a B.S. in Finance with a concentration in Real Estate from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He is also a former board member of the Georgia Environmental Restoration Association, a collaboration of mitigation bankers, environmental consultants, engineers, contractors, conservation non-profits, and other professionals that are active in and committed to an ecosystem restoration.