our FOUNDING team
Mike Mills
Senior Managing Director & Co-Founder
Mike Mills is Senior Managing Director and a Co-Founder of LUX Speed Capital. He brings a wealth of knowledge in economics, public policy, energy production, solar development, entrepreneurship, executive leadership, and corporate growth to this role. Mike graduated from the University of Missouri in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. Since his graduation, Mike has served in the offices of United States Senators Kit Bond and John Ashcroft, dealing with agriculture, energy, transportation and military issues. In 1996, Mike become the Director of Research for the Missouri Soybean industry and was responsible for managing a multimillion-dollar research program across four universities and multiple private research groups. Mike assisted with early-stage market development and feasibility review which launched the Missouri biodiesel industry. Mike rejoined Senator Bond’s staff as Deputy State Director in 2001 and was responsible for policy and projects dealing with agriculture, natural resources, transportation, energy, community development, and economic development. In 2005, Mike was named Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development by Governor Matt Blunt. Mike led the Department’s efforts focusing on research, technology, and innovation; including working to plan and develop new biofuel and biomass strategies for Missouri. Additionally, Mike assisted with the policies and administration of multiple tax credit programs. In 2008 Mike left public service and since has co-founded multiple operating businesses including the solar developer, syndicator, and fund management group REA, which he grew from the ground up to having a portfolio of over $1.2 billion in assets under management, and for which he served as Managing Director.
Daniel Willingham JD, LL. M.
Managing Director & Co-Founder
Daniel Willingham is Managing Director and a Co-Founder of LUX Speed Capital. He brings to this role his experience as an attorney whose career has focused on tax law, tax credit incentives, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and public policy. Prior to co-founding LUX Speed Capital, Daniel worked seven years at the developer, syndicator, and fund management group REA, closing on projects valued at over $1 billion. In addition, he played a key role in navigating and maximizing benefits for REA and its investors through major tax law changes that occurred during his tenure there, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Daniel also led that group’s fund management operations, ensuring that investors’ interests were protected during negotiations in the deal closing process through the time the investors exited. Daniel began his career at an Am Law 100 law firm where he advised several of the nation’s largest New Markets Tax Credit investors and Community Development Entities. He has also worked for a top ten global accounting firm where he devoted his efforts to the firm’s tax and corporate finance teams. Throughout his career, he has advised numerous private equity firms, startups, entrepreneurs, publicly traded companies, and a Major League Baseball team. He has also authored many op-eds and articles on tax and fiscal policy in publications such as Tax Notes, The Akron Tax Journal, Kansas City Star, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Daniel earned his bachelor’s degrees in political science and history in 2007 from the University of Missouri while competing for the varsity track and field team (pole vault). He also interned in the United States Senate office of Senator Jim Talent during this time. He received his juris doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2011 and his LL.M. in taxation from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2012. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois.
Helen Fordice CPA
Controller & Co-Founder
Helen Fordice is Controller and Co-Founder of LUX Speed Capital. She has a strong background in accounting, finance, business administration, compliance, and all matters that pertain to the financial performance of solar projects and investment funds. Her experience with both privately held and publicly traded companies, SEC compliance, and the impact that various tax credit investments can have on investors’ financial statements is a major asset. Helen graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 2016 and a master’s degree in accountancy in 2017. While completing her studies and after graduation, she worked in the assurance group of a global top 5 accounting firm. While there, she performed audit testing and key work on financial reporting for large publicly traded companies in highly regulated fields. Further, she was heavily involved in quarterly reviews and year-end audits of complex financial statements, including large-scale investments in multiple industries. After leaving the public accounting world in 2019, she joined REA while it was on a rapid growth curve. At REA, she assisted in all areas of accounting, including tax preparation and filing, insurance, compliance with regulatory and contractual obligations, and ensuring the timely remittance of payments and performance of operations. She oversaw the entire audit process for the expansive list of entities under the REA umbrella, and also managed the accounting operations within REA’s fund management group, making sure that investors are protected. She is a licensed CPA in Missouri and Mississippi.