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One day Cary Hayes was enjoying himself on the Colorado slopes, where he skied some 100 days a year — and two weeks later, he was heading to a highrise in his native Chicago for a financial consulting job at what was then Solomon Smith Barney.
To paraphrase David Byrne, he likely asked himself, "Well, how did I get here?"
The answer is as memorable as his ultimate decision to help green the planet and ascend to one of the solar industry's top leaders.
Cary's spent the past six years leading REC Americas, the California-based North American division of REC Group, a leading European brand for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
A solar industry veteran with nearly two decades of sales and business development experience, he exudes fun and confidence while remaining among the most fiercely competitive people I know. Moreover, he has excellent practical advice to share in today's Tactical Tuesday.
I've known Cary since 2012, when I worked at Trina Solar. He's a strong leader and a really nice guy — a former Colorado ski bum who kicked off his career when he essentially decided it was time to grow up.
Cary prioritized skiing in Crested Butte during his 20s. "I wouldn't trade it for anything. And then, around 1999-2000 — at the peak of the .com boom, the market peak and all that fun stuff — I was like, 'Well, I better go figure out how to get a real job,'" he recalled.
He returned to Chicago, where he decided to put his bachelor of history degree from Colorado State University against "a lot of smart people who went to places like Colgate and Cornell." He aces multiple interviews before landing a spot with the final decision maker.
"She's like, 'I'm looking at your resume, and I've got to be honest with you. I don't see anything on here. What the hell have you been doing for the last seven or eight years?"
"I just had nothing to lose, so I looked at her and said, 'I'm just going to be honest.'"
He was — and got the job.
Today I'm resharing a snippet of an interview with Cary from 2022 (the first of last year, in fact!). It highlights the importance of navigating your own route, even when it veers through an off-the-beaten-path ski town.
You'll hear how he overcame that less-than-linear resume to land a consulting job at what's now Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and why he walked away from it to explore the budding solar industry.
"I was looking at all these guys in their 50s and 60s, and they're making seven figures and doing really well," he recalled. But he's dubious about following their lead. "I want to do something different."
Cary ended up being part of the team that brought Norway-based REC Group to the US market in 2008, helping to fuel its global growth. In 2014, he left REC Solar (now owned by Duke Energy) to work as a vice president at Pristine Sun and Clean Focus before accepting a top role at REC Americas. For several years, he sat on the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) board.
It all worked out.
Remember, every decision you make — wherever you've been — prepares you for what comes next. Decide today to listen to this podcast. It's worth your time.
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ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:
Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.
Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.
You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.
If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.