Spotlight Blog: Olivia Park

Foss & Company is comprised of a group of experienced tax credit professionals, representing a depth of knowledge within their respective fields. In this blog series, we highlight different Foss & Company team members to shine a light on the diverse and dedicated people that help make us who we are. 

Olivia Park joined Foss & Company as Vice President of Investments, focusing on the placement of institutional investor capital into Foss & Company-sponsored state and federal tax credit funds. She brings 18 years of experience in financial services including capital raising, business development and investor relations within alternative asset management firms. Oliva began her career in investment banking, working at Evercore Partners in New York and Michel Dyens & Co in Paris, France, and transitioned to the buy-side working at firms including Hudson Sustainable Investments, RainMakers Private Equity, and Hurley Capital in New York. She holds a B.A. in Economics from New York University.

To learn more about Olivia, read our latest Spotlight blog series installment:

How did you get started in renewable energy and sustainability tax credit investing industry?

Prior to Foss & Company, I worked as an Investor Relations professional at a renewable energy private equity firm for almost 7 years. I saw the positive impact sustainable investments brought to the community and grew very keen on the industry. Educating investors on this asset class was my favorite part of my job, and with the attractive tax credits it made the investments more attractive when pitching to prospective investors.

When did you join Foss & Company and what interested you about the company?  

I joined Foss & Company in September 2024. Prior to that, I spent close to 15 years working in the alternative asset management industry. Given these types of investments were a relatively new asset class to the investor universe back then, I found myself spending the bulk of my time educating clients. Also, I spent three years at an alternative asset management platform in the business development team, responsible for going through the full sales cycle. I enjoy project management as much as meeting prospective clients. My background and interests are closely linked to the work we do at Foss & Company, where it requires educating clients on the complex structuring of tax credits and being tenacious to bring clients to the finish line. The growth at Foss has been incredible, and I’m excited to be part of the team!

What do you find important or interesting about tax credits? 

Tax credits are government-sponsored tax incentives that can reduce a company’s tax liability, and the U.S. government uses tax credits to incentivize corporate taxpayers to invest in projects that produce economic, environmental, or social benefits such as renewables, historic rehabilitation, and low-income housing. By repurposing a company’s estimated tax payments into qualified tax advantaged investments, companies can achieve triple bottom-line results and fulfill their ESG commitments. Moreover, these projects serve as a sustainable source of financing for addressing the need for affordable housing in low-income communities.

What is one thing people may not know about Foss & Co? 

Surprisingly, there are many athletes here at Foss, ranging from a former cycling Olympian to avid golfers, skiers and tennis players. It’s inspiring to see colleagues who bring the same discipline and drive to their personal passions as they do to our work.  

How has the tax credit investing industry evolved and where do you see it going?

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has transformed the way clean energy tax credits are monetized. Alternatively, to tax equity investment, which binds an investor to a project for an extended period, the Inflation Reduction Act ensures taxpayers receive their credits by permitting the buying and selling of these credits for cash. This creates a new avenue for companies seeking tax savings with the option to participate in the growing tax credit market instead of committing to a long-term investment with a sponsor. This structure created a growing demand from companies seeking transfer credits and will present great opportunities for our clients.

Any other insights you would like to add? 

Foss & Company is a full-service shop that provides origination, underwriting and asset management. We have long-standing relationships with world-class developers, and that allows us to tap into attractive investments. Our tenured underwriting team conducts rigorous due diligence on the investments before we present them to any of our clients. Afterward, our in-house asset management team oversees these investments to ensure proper operations. This is the value-add we provide and what differentiates us from other firms. We are a trusted partner to our clients where we help reduce their tax liabilities while earning a return and making an impact on their ESG efforts.

Those interested in learning more about Olivia, can contact her at ol****@fo*******.com.