Derek Gabriel Sr. serves as the Chief Commercial Officer, a position through which he develops, originates, and manages tax equity relationships with utility scale developers and investment-grade entities throughout the United States. With over 15 years of experience in solar development and banking, Derek has successfully originated and managed a cumulative portfolio of transactions totaling over $4.5 billion, underscoring his expertise and leadership in the industry.
In his many affiliations and relationships, Derek also serves as an independent advisor and partner with the structured finance firm, SunRocket Capital. In that position, he is responsible for the origination and management of a $1.2 billion portfolio of C&I and Community Solar pipeline, and played a key role in increasing the growth of SunRocket Capital by some 49% in less than a year.
Before his tenure at SunRocket Capital, Derek was V.P. of Renewable Energy Lending and Business Development at National Cooperative Bank, N.A., where he managed and originated a portfolio of solar clientele in the C&I, community solar, utility-scale, battery storage, and solar business development sectors, totaling over $500 million in assets nationwide. His contributions to the Active Equity team are built upon a foundation of substantial experience in solar development, origination, solar policy implementation, tax-equity structures, and debt-financing.
Prior to his role at National Cooperative Bank, Derek worked directly on the project development side of the industry as Director of Solar and Business Development with DSM Solar USA. At DSM, he managed residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar development projects worth over $500 million across the United States and the Caribbean, including significant contributions to solar design and implementation in Barbados.
During his tenure at DSM Solar, Derek collaborated with policymakers to co-author and pioneer solar farm zoning laws in the Southeast, leading to the development of one of the largest solar farms in Georgia at the time with Simon Solar. The facility, built in 2013, powers approximately 8,000 homes in Social Circle, Georgia, and was among the first to be developed with both private and public funding. It remains operational today as part of the GA Power utility-scale portfolio.
Mr. Gabriel, Sr. is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana and completed graduate research at the University of Notre Dame in History and Finance.