Meet Michael Billingsley - Senior Director, Originations

“The continued growth of investment in the clean energy sector is a clear indication of the public and private sectors’ resounding recognition of the importance of decarbonization.”

Leadership Spotlight: Michael Billingsley

Recent winner of Nuveen Green Capital’s 2022 Top Originator Award, Mike Billingsley, Senior Director of Originations, is passionate about commercial real estate finance and sustainable design and construction. Learn more about this Washington D.C.-based Nuveen Green Capital leader, here:

Where are you from originally?

I was raised in Alexandria, VA., a suburb of Washington D.C.

What do you do in your current role?

I manage the Washington D.C. office’s Originations team, covering Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. My team is responsible for sourcing, structuring, underwriting, and closing sustainable commercial real estate financing alongside traditional construction, bridge, and permanent debt. I direct loan originations and relationship management initiatives for prospective and existing commercial real estate developers and owners. I am also responsible for managing relationships with commercial mortgage brokers, financial institutions, and state and local C-PACE program Administrators.

I enjoy working with my team as we strive to provide best in class financing for our clients and partners. I love learning about a planned new construction development or the substantial rehabilitation or conversion of an existing building that is going to result in a win-win for the developer and the community.

What led you to this career path?

My professional background in commercial real estate finance combined with a growing interest in sustainable construction and development led me to Nuveen Green Capital. While in graduate school at Georgetown University, I took a course entitled Sustainable Construction & Development. This course sparked my interest in sustainable design and opened my eyes to the multifaceted disciplines that work intricately together to design, construct, and develop the buildings in which we live, work, and play. Joining Nuveen Green Capital allowed me to integrate my long-standing passion for commercial real estate finance with a newfound interest and recognized importance of sustainable design.

What do you see in the future for clean energy and this business?

I have a positive outlook for the future of the clean energy sector and Nuveen Green Capital’s business. I am encouraged by the trillions of dollars of global investment that are pouring into the sector year over year. The continued growth of investment in the clean energy sector is a clear indication of the public and private sectors’ resounding recognition of the importance of decarbonization. Buildings produce roughly 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, and therefore, reducing the built environment’s carbon footprint is critically important to achieving global decarbonization goals. Our business is directly focused on providing attractive, well-structured financing to fund the costs of clean energy technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of existing buildings and new construction developments. I think Nuveen Green Capital is poised for continued growth because our financing is in demand by property owners and governmental authorities across the country that want to reduce energy consumption and achieve their decarbonization goals.

Do you have any charitable causes that you support and why?

I serve on the Board of Trustees for the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation and serve as Chair of the Foundation’s Investment Committee. The Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation awards academic fellowships to environmental leaders, funds project grants, and sponsors professional development activities that bring Switzer Fellows together to discuss cross-disciplinary actionable ways to improve the environment. I enjoy supporting the mission of this foundation, and I am always impressed by the brilliant graduate students and their plans to address leading environmental challenges.

I also support various charitable organizations in the Washington, D.C. region that align with my values and provide aid for housing, food assistance, education, and healthcare.