TRANSFORMING WASTE INTO PRODUCTS AND PROFITS
CommonWealth is a Private Equity fund being formed by experienced operations & transaction executives. Our team is made of Principals and Advisors who have a significant track record in circular economy. We have a strong deal flow and pipeline of opportunities.
Our TEAM

Michael Derosa
General Partner
- 20 years of private and growth equity investing
- Served on 18 boards including TPI Composites (Nasdaq: TPIC), Agility Fuel Systems, Ecore, Aspex, Detechtion, Intn’l Fiber Corp, Energex, Axonn, Arbinet (Nasdaq:ARBX)
- General Partner, Element Partners; Managing Director, Activate Capital; Partner, Cordova Ventures; Principal, EnerTech Capital; Senior Associate, Safeguard International Fund
- Over last 10+ years at Element Partners II led $154.5m of Private Equity investments: Current Value $403.3m (2.6x)
- Led $152m of Circular Economy investments: Current Value: $419m (2.7x)
- BS Electrical Engineering, Georgia Tech (first in class); MBA, Wharton (Palmer Scholar)

Art Dodge
General Partner
- 20 years as Founder, Chairman & CEO of largest global manufacturer of recycled rubber products
- Management experience with ~500 employees
- Purchased and integrated 5 companies
- Director Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, VP Recycled
Rubber Coalition - International manager at Bain and Co. Focus on IT,
financial services, appliance and consumer goods markets - Recipient Mellon Foundation Scholarship
- E+Y Entrepreneur of the Year
- BA American University, JD University of Pittsburgh,
MBA (Honors) IMD Switzerland
Art Dodge
General Partner
- 20 years as Founder, Chairman & CEO of largest global manufacturer of recycled rubber products
- Management experience with ~500 employees
- Purchased and integrated 5 companies
- Director Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, VP Recycled
Rubber Coalition - International manager at Bain and Co. Focus on IT,
financial services, appliance and consumer goods markets - Recipient Mellon Foundation Scholarship
- E+Y Entrepreneur of the Year
- BA American University, JD University of Pittsburgh,
MBA (Honors) IMD Switzerland


Robert Bernard
General Partner
- Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Strategist: Founded and managed Microsoft’s sustainability programs and technology investments
- Ran Microsoft’s Global Software Partnership Business
- Investments in CE initiatives drove >$100 million savings.
- Created world’s first international carbon neutral company
- Board member: Breakthrough Energy Coalition, Corporate EcoForum, Advanced Energy Economy, UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center
- Advisor to Activate Capital, National Geographic
- BA Columbia University; MBA, Wharton
OUR ADVISORS
CommonWealth has assembled a group of Advisors who are leading experts in the field of Circular Economy
Ron Kaplan
-
Trex Chairman
-
President and CEO of Trex, 2010-2015
-
CEO Continental Global Group, Inc., manufacturer bulk material handling systems
-
President of Harsco’s Gas Technologies Group, manufacturer of containment and control equipment for the global gas industry
-
Senior Vice President-Operations, Harsco Corporation
-
Board of Directors of Caesarstone Sdot-Yam, Ltd., manufacturer of engineered stone surfaces used for kitchen countertops, vanity tops and tiles.
-
Board of Directors of DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd., manufacturer of custom prefabricated interior environments.
-
B.A. degree in economics from Alfred University and an M.B.A. degree from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
Rob Watson
-
Known at the “Father of LEED”
-
Founding Chairman of the US Green Building Council
-
The ECON Group Founder of EcoTech International Group
-
Executive editor of GreenerBuildings.com
-
Described by Thomas Friedman as “one of the best environmental minds in America.”
-
Former Senior Scientist and Director of the International Energy and Green Building programs at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
-
Works with Ministry of Construction in China to develop green energy and building code standards
-
Only foreigner to have been honored by China’s Ministry Of Construction (MOC) with its first “Green Innovation Award“
-
Developed national residential buildings codes in Russia
our SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROCESS WORKS
CommonWealth Equity Partners has 75+ years of Circular Economy Private Equity Experience. We have developed a proven process for evaluation, engagement, and integration of unique circular economy businesses into our portfolio of companies.