The Team
Leadership
Senior Leadership
CoastOak's senior leadership is composed of professionals with diverse experience from premier land development companies, homebuilders and real estate investment firms. The firm's principals bring institutional-grade pedigree from Goldman Sachs, Rockpoint Group, and SunCal Companies — with a combined track record spanning billions in residential and mixed-use acquisitions, development, and asset management across the United States.
Don Carroll is a co-founder and Managing Principal of CoastOak Group. Don is jointly responsible for the overall strategic management of CoastOak as co-chief executive, including oversight of acquisition activities, development and community management activities. Don has more than 27 years of experience in real estate and debt investing. Prior to forming CoastOak, Don served as a Principal of SunCal Companies with responsibility for building operations in the Eastern United States and for capital markets relationships, including restructuring activities with SunCal's largest investors and lenders. Prior to joining SunCal, Carroll served as a Managing Director and co-head of Archon Capital, the Goldman Sachs high-yield real estate principal investing unit, where he was responsible for the investment of over $1.7 billion of mezzanine debt and preferred equity for Goldman Sachs' balance sheet and funds. Prior to Archon Capital, Carroll served in a variety of acquisitions positions for Lone Star Funds and its affiliates.
Greg McGowan is a co-founder and Managing Principal of CoastOak Group. Greg is jointly responsible for the overall strategic management of CoastOak as co-chief executive, including oversight of acquisition activities, development and community management activities. Greg has over 25 years of direct equity and debt investing as well as community development experience. Prior to forming CoastOak, Greg was one of the founding Principals of Rockpoint Group, and was responsible for the investment, management and disposition activities related to the firm's residential and mixed use land investments that totaled over $5 billion in total capitalization. Prior to Rockpoint, McGowan served as the Director of Acquisitions for Terrabrook, the wholly-owned principal land development platform of Westbrook Partners, L.L.C.
Josh Nichols is a Principal of CoastOak Group and was one of the company's founding team members. Josh is engaged in many aspects of the business including sourcing and evaluating new acquisitions across the country, leading due diligence efforts and closings, as well as ongoing portfolio and development management efforts. Prior to CoastOak, Josh was Vice President of Acquisitions at SunCal Companies, engaged in establishing SunCal's east coast operations as well as company-wide capital markets efforts. Before joining SunCal, Josh worked at Goldman Sachs in both the Real Estate Principal Investment Area and in the Real Estate Investment Banking Division. For Goldman, Josh largely focused on assets in the residential, hospitality and office sectors. Over his career, Josh has acquired and/or managed over $1.2 billion in real estate assets with the majority in the residential / land sector.