J.P. Williamson

Mr. Williamson graduated from Brown University (B.A., Urban Studies, 1990) and the University of Virginia (M.S. Land Development, 1992). Between 1992 and 1995, Mr. Williamson worked for several real estate development companies in the Mid-Atlantic. Mr. Williamson was Project Manager on projects totaling $200 million including a 400-acre mixed use development with over 250 residential units, 150,000 square feet of office and various commercial outparcels.

In 1995, Mr. Williamson, joined First Union Corporation to head its Trust Real Estate Group. Mr. Williamson managed a $500 million portfolio of bank-owned assets, including residential, multi-family, commercial, office and raw land. His primary duties included, growth of the trust real estate practice as a bank profit center, development of asset management and disposition plans, tenant management, and all sell decisions.

From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Williamson was Director of Marketing and Origination for Enterprise Mortgage, originating loans to owner-occupants of retail and commercial properties, responsible for over $1.4 billion in commercial loan origination. Accomplishments also included the successful structuring of over $25 million in private equity commitments for existing borrowers and the successful assumption of over $50 million of defaulted senior mortgages. Mr. Williamson also developed direct origination referral and endorsements from companies such as Jiffy Lube, Mobil and the International Carwash Association.

Mr. Williamson was a Managing Director and founding partner in Capital Solutions Group, Ravelin Capital and Benevolent Capital, private equity investment companies providing capital to small businesses within niche value-add industries. Benevolent Capital has invested in seven companies including: food, environmental and pharmaceutical method development testing laboratories in Florida, PA and NY, real estate company in Western Australia, backpack manufacturer in NY/El Salvador, self-service kiosk and industrial workstation company in Atlanta and DNA-modifying enzyme company in Boston.

Mr. Williamson is a founding partner in Octagon Partners, a national real estate investment firm focused on providing capital and award-winning real estate development services in select markets throughout the United States. Octagon has invested or exited seven portfolio properties totaling over 1,300 acres, 1,250 residential units and 2 million sq ft of retail sq ft.

Mr. Williamson is also a founding member of Virginia Tax Credit Partners, a vehicle that links investors with developers seeking to sell Virginia State Historic Tax Credits. In 2009, Virginia Tax Credit Partners purchased just over $6 million of state historic credits.