Our Team
Phil Arra
Phil Arra is a founder of Terra Verde Partners, a private investment firm focused exclusively on the environmental sector. Phil served as non-executive Chairman of Living Earth Technology Company from 2007 to 2011 and continues to serve on the board of Living Earth today. Before founding Terra Verde Partners, Phil was a managing director with Hunt Investment Corporation, the private equity division of Hunt Consolidated, a diversified holding company directed by Ray L. Hunt.
Previously, he was with J.P. Morgan's New York Mergers and Acquisitions practice and was also a member of J.P. Morgan's Financial Sponsors and Consumer Products groups. Phil advised clients on a variety of transactions including domestic and international leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, initial public offerings and financings. Previously, he worked with KSL Fairways, a sector focused private equity investment affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
Phil earned an MBA with dual majors in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BBA in Finance magna cum laude with Distinction Honors from James Madison University. He is a member of Wharton Private Equity Partners and the co-chair of the Texas Chapter, the Wharton Club of Dallas Fort Worth, the U.S. Composting Council, the International Society for Industrial Ecology, the Association for Corporate Growth and Investor’s Circle. He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Email: parra@terraverdepartners.com
Phone: 214.236.7542
James Lee
James Lee is a founder of Terra Verde Partners, a private investment firm focused exclusively on the environmental sector. James served on the board of Living Earth Technology Company from 2007 until the successful secondary buyout of Living Earth was completed in 2011. Before founding Terra Verde Partners, James was a managing director with Hunt Investment Corporation, the private equity division of Hunt Consolidated, a diversified holding company directed by Ray L. Hunt.
Previously, he was with KPMG as a member of the Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution practice where he advised both public and private companies in a broad array of industries. James advised clients on numerous M&A transactions as well as SEC filing engagements. James also served as a national instructor for KPMG’s Energy practice.
James earned both his BBA and Masters with honors from the University of Texas in Austin. James is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth, the Texas Green Network, the U.S. Composting Council and the Dallas Woods and Water Conservation Club.
John Zimmermann
John Zimmermann is a senior associate with Terra Verde Partners, a private investment firm focused exclusively on the environmental sector.
Previously, he was a senior portfolio analyst with Highland Capital, an alternative investment manager with over $23 billion in assets under management, working on their Investments Team. While at Highland Capital, John provided research, valuation, credit analysis and portfolio management services. Previously, John worked in J.P. Morgan’s Investment Banking practice advising public and private companies on various strategic alternatives including leveraged buyouts, levered recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, initial public offerings, and financings.
John earned his BBA in Finance from The University of Texas in Austin. John serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, serves as Chairman of the Texas Youth Scholarship Organization and is the Philanthropy co-chair for Young Professionals in Finance. He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.