Dr. Ben Guillon, CFA - CEO
Ben is the founder and CEO of Conservation Investment Management. He is a recognized expert in conservation investment and conservation finance in the U.S. Prior to founding Conservation Investment Management, Ben was a shareholder at WRA, Inc, a environmental consultant and project developer. Ben worked at New Forests, a sustainable timberland investment group, and at the World Bank Ben has a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine focused on wildlife and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Tim DeGraff, PWS - Adviser, Mitigation and Conservation Banks
Tim is an advisor to Conservation Investment Management and the Western Region General Manager for RES, the largest ecological restoration project developer in the U.S. He has served as the lead biologist for a wide range of wetland mitigation and restoration projects. Tim has developed restoration and enhancement designs including planting plans, soil specifications, and conceptual grading plans to meet the mitigation requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has prepared and implemented vegetation monitoring reports for restored wetlands, including development of sampling protocols and contingency measures to meet performance criteria. Tim is also experienced in designing, permitting, and managing wetland mitigation and wildlife conservation banks in California.
Will Huckin - Adviser, M&A and sustainable real estate
Will has spent the last 9 years with NeoVerde, a lower middle market private equity firm focused on the environmental sector. His primary role was analyzing and executing buyout transactions in a varied investment capacity including, resource rich land, environmentally sustainable real estate, debt portfolios, and environmental operating businesses. As a managing partner, Will oversaw a $76 million land portfolio including timber, mining and mitigation bank assets.
Kate Hamilton - Adviser, Carbon Markets
Kate is specialized in environmental markets and reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). Her consulting work has included creating a training program for Peruvian journalists on REDD; producing an analysis on REDD+ reference level submissions for The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, and Union of Concerned Scientists; and serving as a strategic advisor for the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force where she focused on REDD finance as well as marketing and media outreach. She is currently working as a consultant for the City of Boulder to develop and implement outreach strategies around climate change and resilience.