Jake grew up swinging a hammer during the summers at his father’s general contracting business. He watched as the business grew, shrank, and grew again across market cycles. Through this lens, he gained a deep understanding of the challenges owners face when growing their business.
Prior to NGP, Jake worked at City First Enterprises, an investment firm specializing in real estate, small business, and renewable energy projects that sought to generate both profits and positive social outcomes for shareholders. In this capacity, Jake was elected to serve on the industry association’s Board of Directors to advocate and set direction for the industry. Jake also served as the Development Director for a start-up nonprofit in Houston, TX helping grow the organization 150% during his tenure. He also worked in a variety of roles on political campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels.
Jake studied at Trinity University, in San Antonio Texas, earning a BA in Political Science. While there he played for the Varsity Baseball team and boxed in local Golden Gloves tournaments. Jake also graduated from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a MBA, concentrating in entrepreneurship, finance, and accounting.
Jake grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, where his family still resides. Outside of work, he tries to find any excuse to get outside and stay active – even in Chicago winters.
