Investment Team
US OFFICE
Tomakin Archambault
Managing Partner, CEO
Tomakin oversees the strategic direction and financial performance of GSSG Solar and its investments. Tomakin plays a key role in fundraising efforts and is involved in the structuring of all GSSG transactions. Before founding GSSG Solar, Tomakin was the VP of Finance & Investment and co-head of the Global Special Situations Group at SunEdison and oversaw the execution of several creative financing structures. Previously, he was an original member of a wind and solar investment platform at a private investment fund where he originated, structure, and invested in solar portfolios across the U.S. Earlier in his career, he consulted at the Rocky Mountain Institute. Tomakin received his B.S. in mechanical engineering with honors from University of Denver and his M.S. in civil engineering from Stanford University.
Charlie McDaniel
Partner, Head of Origination
Charlie leads origination and acquisition activities. As a co-founder at GSSG Solar, he sources new investment opportunities for GSSG Solar and has overseen the diligence of over 4.0 GW of utility-scale opportunities in Japan. Charlie spent 5 years at SunEdison where he was most recently a Director of M&A within the Global Special Situations Group where he sources and evaluated the preliminary financial, technical and strategic attractiveness of solar projects and led the acquisition of over 2 GW of project pipeline. He joined SunEdison in the distributed energy program and was an architect of SunEdison’s Channel Partner Program, which asses over 100 MW of projects in the commercial sector. Prior to SunEdison, Charlie was an FP&A analyst at Mervyn’s department store, where he developed the solar program for their store rooftops. Charlie earned his B.A. from Truman State University and was a member of the collegiate soccer team. Charlie also holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco.
Adrian Archambault
Partner, Head of Valuation
Adrian manages the valuation team at GSSG that develops and audits the financial models used in structuring and valuation for each GSSG project and portfolio. Since joining as a co-founder in 2013, he has overseen the valuation of over 4 GW of pipeline and manages the tax and debt structuring of each of the Company’s projects (including successful duct syndication in both Mexico and Japan). He also performs most of the policy research in both the U.S. and Japanese markets. Adrian graduated phi beta kappa from Stanford University with a degree in earth systems and a minor in economics. He was the Lorry I. Lokey intern at Environmental Defense Fund and conducted carbon cycle research on the remote Pacific Island of Palmyra Atoll.
Andre Herath
Technical Director
Andre Herath oversees technical activities and operations for GSSG Solar. His role involves assessing and monitoring technical and operational aspects of all solar assets at GSSG Solar to ensure they meet all requirements for investment. Prior to GSSG, he worked as a Senior Project Manager at Mott MacDonald supporting developers with early project siting and feasibility studies through the design, planning, and construction stages. Andre received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia and was a member of the collegiate soccer team.
PHILIP LAWRENCE
Senior Associate
Philip Lawrence is involved in the development and financing of the Company's US portfolio. He is a recent graduate of the University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in International Business with minors in Sustainability and Finance.
Xuan Wang
Senior Associate
Xuan is responsible for project valuation and market research at GSSG across all markets, with a special focus on Taiwan. She holds an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Environmental Science and Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Xuan is a native Mandarin speaker, fluent in English, and proficient in French.
Nina Peranni
Director of Financial Operations
Nina oversees the corporate finance teams within GSSG and its affiliates, including tax, accounting, financial reporting and compliance matters and is the key liase between the Company and its tax and audit partners. Prior to joining GSSG, she held lead accounting positions with private investment firms managing diversified portfolios in the energy and real estate markets providing leadership and strategic direction on financial operations. Nina holds a BBA in Finance from the University of North Texas and a Masters in Accountancy from Texas State University.
JENNIFER BEU
Accounting Manager
Jennifer oversees the accounting activities and reporting duties for GSSG Solar and its affiliates in the US and Taiwan. Prior to joining GSSG, she worked for a biotechnology company managing all aspects of accounting and human resources. Jennifer began her career as an audit associate with KPMG, LLP after receiving her BSBA/MSBA in Accounting at the University of Colorado.
JAPAN OFFICE
Yoshiyasu Sumi
Partner, Country Manager
Sumi manages GSSG’s Tokyo office and has developed the local asset management capabilities of the company in Japan. Prior to joining GSSG as Country Manager in 2016 (he started consulting for GSSG in 2014), he spent 6 years at Octave Japan KK and lead asset management, structuring, transaction management, reporting, accounting and compliance as an Executive Director. He worked on various transactions, including asset management of a loan portfolio for a major U.S. real estate fund ($1.0+ billion enterprise value), asset management of a European-based real estate fund, and the project development and asset management activities for two international solar investment funds. Previously, Sumi worked at Capmark Japan KK where he oversaw secondary market transactions, loan pricing on over 15 real estate backed syndication/securitization transactions and was responsible for working out defaulted real estate debt, developing pricing models, and implementing an in-house accounting management system. He started his career as a financial analyst at Hitachi Chemical and obtained a B.A. in economics from Keio University in Tokyo. Sumi is fluent in Japanese and English.
Motoki Yamasaki
Director, Project Finance
Motoki Yamasaki oversees project Finance and Debt and Equity relationships for GSSG Solar Japan. His role involves arranging and monitoring the project Financings in Japan. Prior to GSSG, he worked as an Export Credit Agency finance officer managing aspects of corporate and project finances for the Japanese and international banks located in Tokyo. Motoki Received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Tsukuba.
Katsumi Tanno
Senior Project Manager, Asset Management
Katsumi is responsible for overseeing project development, module design layout and construction of solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Japan. His role involves managing the activities relating to these project stages, and ensuring the projects achieve quality, budget, and schedule performance metrics. He started his career managing telecommunication construction projects with a focus on quality control, safety and schedule management. Prior to joining GSSG in 2018, Katsumi worked as a project manager with experience in sales, PV design and construction management of 5 solar projects in Japan.
Takashi Ikeda
Senior Project Manager
Takashi manages project development activities in Japan. He supports all development activities including permitting, interconnection, site control, and local stakeholder management. Prior to joining GSSG, he worked for several renewable energy companies primarily focused on project due diligence and development. He received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Aoyama Gakuin University (Japan).
Shouhei Saiki
Asset Manager
Shouhei manages current and future renewable energy project asset management activities during construction and operation in Japan. Prior to joining GSSG, Shouhei worked for an O&M start-up established by a foreign renewable energy firm where he developed a business strategy as Director. Shouhei also managed multiple roles from O&M services development and sales activities to internal cash management with the goal of a profitable solar business with overseas and domestic clients. Shouhei received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Chuo University and is fluent in English and Japanese and proficient in Thai.
Hidemitsu Arai
Manager, Project Development
Hidemitsu manages project development activities in Japan. He supports all development activities including permitting, interconnection, site control, and local stakeholder management through the start of construction. He has been in the solar industry since 2010 as CFO of a racking manufacturer and as head of M&A for a module manufacturer and has overseen the development activities of various projects. Prior to renewables, he managed a science museum, and supervised the accounting systems, business planning and finance departments within a chain of restaurants. As CFO of an IT company, Hidemitsu directed various M&A operations. Hidemitsu majored in economics at Ryutsu Keizai University and holds a masters in accounting from Waseda University.
Tomoko Ogasawara
Accounting Manager
Tomoko manages accounting activities for GSSG Solar Japan and its affiliates in Japan. She brings experience in accounting and FP&A along with US GAAP and Japan GAAP. Prior to joining GSSG, she has worked as finance controller with solar power businesses and as accounting manager for insurance businesses. Tomoko earned her Associate’s Degree in Business from Otaru University of Commerce and a B.A. in Economics from Hokkaigakuen University.
Shinobu Yoshitomi
Director, Public Relations
Shinobu manages Public Relations and Government Relations activities for our Japan office. She is an experienced coordinator for complex working environments and projects and has extensive experience facilitating international business, trade, culture and education relations in Japan and U.S. She served as Executive Director for Japan America Society of Colorado for 6 years in the U.S. and was involved in variety business, cultural and educational programs working with both public and private sectors. She also served as General Manager, Consumer Affairs, Research & Communications for the U.S. Meat Export Federation for 5 years in Japan—responsible for marketing, advertising, PR programs, research projects, and other consumer related projects to promote U.S. meat industry. She received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from University of Colorado, Boulder. Shinobu is fluent in both Japanese and English.
Nanae Komiya
Office Manager
Komiya-san oversees the administrative activities of GSSG’s largest office in Tokyo. From daily operations to plant asset management activities, Komiya-san is dedicated to the efficient execution and documentation of our businesses.
TAIWAN OFFICE
BRANDON SHENFIELD
Director, New Markets
Brandon is responsible for the origination, development, and financing for GSSG’s new markets. He is currently living in Taipei, overseeing the Company’s portfolio in Taiwan following several years managing GSSG’s project portfolio in New England. He has spent over a decade in consulting, investment, and development in the energy space. His experience includes production analysis for upstream Oil and Gas and financial modeling for a portfolio of energy companies for a venture capital firm. Most recently, he was responsible for the budget formation, financial analysis, project development, and contract negotiation for a portfolio of energy storage projects at RES Americas, growing their constructed projects from 8 MW to 280 MW in 5 years. Brandon earned his BSBA at the University of Colorado and holds a PMP certification.
Michael Wu
Senior Manager of Project Finance
Michael manages project finance relationships and negotiations with financial institutes. Prior to joining GSSG, Michael spent 10 years within the finance department in URE (previously named NSP) for PV solar power plants. Michael was involved in overseas investments in the Dominical Republic and the first phase of the world’s largest airport-based solar project in Indiana, USA. Before entering the PV solar field, Michael worked with DBS (HK), Taipei Fubon Bank (both in HK and Taipei), and Taishin International Bank (Taipei). Michael was awarded a Master of International Management in 2002 from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. His native language is Cantonese and is fluent in Mandarin and English.
Bruce Hsu
Project Site Manager
Bruce provides on-site construction management to ensure successful achievement of key project metrics with an emphasis on safety, schedule, budget, and quality management. Prior to joining GSSG, Bruce spent more than 15 years in relevant EPC management roles at Cheng Loong Corporation, Far Eastern New Century Corporation, and CIEL ET TERR TAIWAN Co., Ltd. He is fluent in Mandarin, Hakka, and Taiwanese.