232 - Trading Spaces, How to Transfer Skills to Clean Energy - Joe Tassone

Heyo Solar Warrior, and welcome to another episode of SunCast.

When former guest and industry pioneer, Jim Spano, introduced me to Joe Tassone, I never could have imagined how much I’d go on to learn from him, but I’m grateful for the introduction.

Joe has been developing projects and leading teams since his twenties, and has seen the boom years come and go in the Telecom industry. We explored the path that led him to ultimately founding his own company in the telecom space, and his eventual transition to the solar energy industry. Joe impressed upon me not only the fundamental and transferable skills of development, but also the value of being a giver, a networking, and a customer-focused zealot! Joe is one of the best I’ve met at followup, and he credits much of his success to an insatiable desire to meet people and connect the dots.

Key ideas explored:

• How to transition from telecom to solar

• What are the similarities and transferrable skills?

• Core skills for a project developer

• The importance of customer service

• The power of your network

Resources

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn

The Boy and the Dam..Crisis averted? - By Joseph Tassone

Remember that the transcript of this episode is available HERE

Books mentioned:

• John DiJulius III - The Relationship Economy

• John Maxwell - 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

• The Traveler's Gift - Andy Andrews

If you love this episode, let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn or email!

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest & recommendations on the SunCast Blog. 

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you are developing Commercial solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS America

Extensible Energy

One of Joe’s favorite quotes. Lead by telling stories.

231 - Tidbit Tuesday, Announcements + Tantalizing Facts

Hey there #SolarWarrior, I just wanted to drop into your earbuds today to give you and quick announcement, and also to share with you something I recently discovered that blew my mind!

But first, the announcement…

If you haven’t yet listened to Episode #221 (published Jan 23rd) with Clean Power Research’s CEO, Jeff Ressler, then I would recommend you do so before Friday? Why you might ask? Well, b/c Jeff is going to be joining me for a SunCast Tribe exclusive Ask Me Anything live recording!

That’s right, the guy who has led Clean Power Research from the captain’s chair for the last decade will be joining us to answer Your burning and tantalizing questions! But you can ONLY get an invite to the AMA if you’re a card-carrying member of the SunCast Tribe. How do I do that, you ask? Hit the Subscribe button and join our world-class community of do-gooders.

Did you ever wonder just how much of the Earth’s resources we are using on a daily basis? I learned of a specific date every year that measures the moment we exceed in resource consumption the Earth’s capacity for replacing those resources.

Something I’m pondering - What is the Day of overcapacity of the Earth? Do you know?

Entra en nuestra web: https://www.bbvaaprendemosjuntos.com/es Suscríbete a nuestro canal de youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI6QcXatdaEAaRTRjl3dc0w...

It’s known as Earth Overshoot Day in English

So, here’s to you #SolarWarrior. Thank you for being a contributor to the preservation of our One Planet, and thank you as well for taking the time to drop in today and learn something new. 

Did you like this little tidbit?

If so, Let me know - nico@mysuncast.com

I look forward to catching up with you again on Thursday as we hear from my new friend Joe Tassone all about how he successfully transitioned from a telecom business into the solar industry.

Remember that the transcript of this episode is available HERE

230 - From spreadsheets to software: An OS for renewables - Andrew Eisenberg, Green IT

Happy Thursday, and thanks for tuning in!

Today’s Entrepreneur, Andrew Eisenberg, has been building a business for more than 15 years serving the renewables industry and reducing risk for his clients.

His company, Green IT Energy Applications, provides a comprehensive suite of products that help renewable energy portfolio owners mitigate risk, analyze data and manage portfolios of assets around the world. He calls it “an Operating System for renewables”.

This is another conversation that I got a ton of value from the pre-interview. So if you’re a member of the SunCast Guild, keep an eye out for some bonus material of that call soon, and if you’re unfamiliar with the guild, you can learn more at www.mysuncast.com/member.

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest & recommendations as well as more than 220 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com, oh, and while you’re there, we’re going to be hosting our first Ask Me Anything of the year for our Tribe members with recent guest Jeff Ressler of Clean Power Research, so make sure you’re subscribed to the email newsletter for details on that!

If you love this episode, let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn or email! Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you are developing Commercial solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS America and

Extensible Energy

Resources

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn

Check out the Green IT Energy Applications website

Insights from Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown

One of the quotes which most impacted Andrew’s journey



229 - Is Solar Ready for Merchant Markets? Sheldon Kimber, CEO Intersect Power

Welcome to Tactical Tuesday, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts designed to give you practical tools, tips, and advice for building your solar business or career. 

This conversation took place in the Podcast Lounge live at SPI 2019 between Christian Roselund, Editorial Director of the Rocky Mountain Institute, and Sheldon Kimber, Founder & CEO of Intersect Power, a developer of utility-scale renewables. Sheldon has almost 20 years of experience in energy finance, development, and entrepreneurship. If you’ve been having questions around merchant power, this is your chance to sort them out!

Key ideas explored:

• The concept of the merchant tale and why does it matter?

• Why merchant power has gotten better over the years?

• Revenue per megawatt hour.

• Should you get a PPA?

If you love this episode, let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn or email!

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest & recommendations on the SunCast Blog. 

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you are developing Commercial solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS America and

Extensible Energy

Resources

Connect with Sheldon on LinkedIn

Check out Intersect Power’s website

228 - Chris Burgess on Rocky Mountain Institute’s role in the Caribbean

Heyo, Solar Warrior, and welcome to another episode of SunCast.

What do Richard Branson and today’s guest have in common? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Chris Burgess is Director of Projects for the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Islands Program. But he wasn’t always a non-profit guy, and I wanted to know the “why” that drove him from a successful entrepreneurial journey toward working for a non-profit.

“Renewable energy allows us to outcompete (rather than regulate) problems. Most people find themselves regulating the problem, but I wanted to build solutions that eliminate the problem[s]” - Christopher Burgess, Rocky Mountain Institute

Key ideas explored:

• What skills did he begin to develop at EPA that helped him engage in the early discussions w/Alpha

• How to manage your day job vs side hustle?

> Took 4 years to cut the cord and give up golden handcuffs of the “pension” mindset

• Branson’s 10-island challenge - what is it, why did it matter?

• Take 10 islands to 100% renewable.

• Why an entrepreneur went to a job at a nonprofit?

• What are the cornerstone documents or elements of support that RMI helps local governments craft?

• Role of nonprofits in regional development programs, with financial leverage examples

• 3 pillars of their development strategy

• Core skills for a project developer

If you love this episode, let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn or email!

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest & recommendations on the SunCast Blog. 

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you are developing Commercial solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS America and

Extensible Energy

Resources

Introduction to Rocky Mountain Institute-Carbon War Room's Islands Energy Program, created in 2017. Support Rocky Mountain Institute today: https://www.rmi.org/give/ Blog: https://www.rmi.org/insights/blog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RockyMtnInst Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtnInst/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/organization/20826/admin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockymtninst/ Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@rockymtninst/ Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/1/b/102015370483341366862/+RockyMtnInstitute Video created by James Brown Media.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Follow Rocky Mountain Institute on LinkedIn and Twitter (also their website!)

Article: Solar Under Storm

Download HERE

RMI on the withdrawal of Paris Climate Accord

Subscribe to RMI’s Energy Transition Magazine!

Books mentioned:

The Uninhabitable Earth: A Story of the Future

By David Wallace-Wells

How to Win Friends & Influence People

By Dale Carnegie

Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

By Yuval Noah Harari

Soft Energy Paths: Towards a Durable Peace (Harper Colophon Books Cn653)

By Amory B. Lovins

Other books by Amory Lovins

227 - Yotta Solar - SPI Startup of the Year, w/CEO Omeed Badkoobeh [SPI 2019]

Hey there, Solar Warrior!

Today’s Tactical Tuesday features SunCast Tribe member, Omeed Badkoobeh, Co-Founder & CEO of Yotta Energy. Omeed has put together a highly technical and capable team to solve one of the more challenging problems facing storage - location!

Yotta generated a lot of buzz at SPI this year, garnering the Startup of the Year award by Mercom Capital! So, I asked Omeed to discuss what they’re up to at the Podcast Lounge live at SPI 2019. Tune-in to hear our friend Christian Roselund of PV Magazine as he learns more about Yotta innovative storage approach. Omeed breaks down the technology of their product, their fundraising efforts, and the grid services Yotta is offering.

Resources

Connect with Omeed on LinkedIn

Check out the Yotta Energy website

Article about Yotta Named Solar Power International 2019 Startup of the Year

226 - Breakthrough Lithium Extraction, EnergyX CEO - Teague Egan

Happy Thursday, and thanks for tuning in!

Today’s Entrepreneur, Teague Egan, is a young titan with an established track record of successful ventures, investments and philanthropy who has turned his eye toward the rise of renewable energy. Today’s discussion broadly focuses on the technology Teague’s company, EnergyX, is working to bring to market, focused on improving the lithium extraction process and vastly lowering the cost.

Teague discusses how he stumbled upon the business idea, found the right technology partners and is currently in trials to commercialize the product. I believe we’ll be hearing a lot more of EnergyX, and I invite you today to enjoy this foray into the raw materials side of what many believe is the future most valuable resource on the planet - Lithium.

If you’re a member of the SunCast Guild, keep an eye out for some bonus exclusive material in the coming days that didn’t fit into this episode but is illustrative of how Teague is building his company.

If you love this episode, let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn or email! Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest & recommendations on the SunCast Blog. 

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

Resources

Connect with Teague on LinkedIn

Follow EnergyX on Twitter

Check out the EnergyX Website

225 - Panasonic on Storage w/ Bill Gallagher (Solar-fit Renewable Energy Show) and Dan Glaser [SPI 2019]

Today, I'm turning the show over to Mr. Bill Gallagher, President at Solar-Fit and host of the Solar-Fit Renewable Energy Show, and Daniel Glaser, Sales Engineer at Panasonic.

The conversation took place in the Podcast Lounge live at SPI 2019, and it focused on the technology that Panasonic introduced back then called EverVolt. We also discussed the increasing interest in solar energy and storage in Solar Power International over the last decade, and how other trends within the energy sector have diminished. 

Resources

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn

Check out the Panasonic website

Check out the Solar-fit website

Check out the articles from PV Magazine and Solar Industry Magazine covering the Panasonic Evervolt Storage Evolution

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

224 - How GAF Energy's Martin DeBono brought tech sales to Solar

Today’s Entrepreneur is Martin DeBono, the President at GAF Energy, a company that is transforming the roofing industry by integrating solar into every roof.

Martin’s tech background at industry giants Cisco and Siebel gave him key skills in channel management that he’s now translated to the growth of some of the most respected brands in the rooftop solar business. Indeed, his tenure at SunPower marked one of the most incredible growth of that company’s history.

Resources

Connect with Martin on LinkedIn

Check out the GAF Energy website

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

223 - TT: Load Management + Backup power using Lumin & Tesla Powerwall2 [SPI 2019]

Hey there, Solar Warriors! We're going to kick this week off with another episode from the Podcast Lounge live at SPI 2019. This was a really cool session about responsive energy management, and I was joined by folks who are by no means stranger to this topic: representing Lumin, we had Kevin O'Shea, Co-Founder and CCO and Michael Hibshman, Head of product at Lumin, and representing Cape Fear Solar Systems, we had John Donoghue, Founder and President, and Jason Ortiz, Residential Project Manager.

We had this crew talking about achieving whole home backup through load management. It represents both a complex topic and solution as well, but we dug into this technological innovation while we unpacked how it solves roadblocks such as grid outages, complexities of circuit schedules, and homeowners who want to be on the cutting edge of innovation.

Resources

Connect with John on LinkedIn

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Check out the Lumin website, AND the Cape Fear Solar website

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

222: Demand-Response Microgrids w/ AJ Perkins of DR Microgrid [SPI 2019]

Today, we are going to have some time with Mr. AJ Perkins, President and Co-Founder of DR Microgrid. His company is still young, but they are working on very interesting entities. AJ and I sifted through the implications around the rise of resiliency and battery storage, solar plus storage, and more. AJ talks about the initial stages of his introduction to the grid resiliency side of the business, and what is leading his vision towards DR Microgrid.

Resources

Connect with AJ on LinkedIn

Check out the DR Microgrid website

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

221: From Redmond to the Sun: Why Jeff Ressler Left Microsoft to Focus on Clean Energy

Jeff Ressler, CEO of Clean Power Research, has had a remarkable career. From designing the park experience at Disneyland to designing the user and audience experience at Microsoft, he’s learned first-hand how worldclass thinkers leverage data and software to improve the lives of customers. Tune-in to today’s episode to learn how he graduated college without a job and ultimately ended up traveling the world with Bill Gates for 2 yrs! And hear what compelled him to leave the nest at MSFT to run the software company that helped launch and manage the California Solar Initiative.

Resources

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn

Check out the CleanPower website

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

220: Fundraising Checklist for Solar Startups with Josh Beck [SPI 2019]

There's an ugly reality in this business that resonates with the following question, why startups fail to raise capital? Well, today we get a chance to spend more time on a topic that doesn't get nearly enoguh: Fundraising and startup investing.

We have Josh Beck from BCI technology investments. He's the Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer. Josh and the BCI Technologies team know a thing or three about raising money and about investing in companies. Josh has brought a checklist of tips and tricks you should definitely take a look at in order to facilitate the whole fundraising process of your solar company.

This conversation was recorded in the Podcast Lounge live at SPI 2019.

Resources:

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

219: An Inconvenient Truth: Installation Quality Roundtable Royale! [SPI 2019]

Welcome back, Solar Warrior. If you are unfamiliar, we call this Flashback Friday, and it’s my way of giving you a glimpse back at something we did recently that I think you should have a listen to. Whether it’s content from one of our many live events (Like the Podcast Lounge at SPI!), or perhaps a replay of older archived episodes that have gotten thousands of downloads, or just a glimpse at what was published on the podcast during the week.

This Flashback Friday is with an illustrious panel of professionals who unpack some of the underlying assumptions and assessments that need to be made around the installation quality part of the solar business. 

Resources:

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn

Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn

Connect with Dean on LinkedIn

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

218: Powerley, the "Intel-Inside" of Home Automation

Today’s entrepreneur, Kevin Foreman, understands how to work with and through Utilities better than most. And his company, Powerley, seamlessly empowers Utilities to offer a customized service that improves the experience for millions of homeowners who want to understand and interact w/their energy data.

Kevin and I had a wide-ranging conversation about the birth and evolution of Powerley, and we get into the weeds busting myths about residential user data, IoT, and the future of software in energy. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss so hang tight and enjoy the geek-fest.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS Americas and

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

Resources:

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn

Follow Powerley on Twitter

Check out the Powerley website

Read the Powerley Blog

The Japanese continuous improvement tip Kevin uses in his daily life to stay ahead: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genchi_Genbutsu

Learn how Toyota revitalized their minivan using this same process Kevin described: https://www.process.st/genchi-genbutsu/

Check out the Myth Buster Series here:

• Are Electric Vehicles Better for Our Environment than Gas Cars?

• Do Christmas Lights Use a lot of Electricity?

• Thermostat Setback Saves AC Costs

• Using a Thermostat Setback for Energy Savings

• Always on Devices and Your Dollars

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

217: German Market Strategies for the US Solar Market w/Gordon Baier of GoSolar [SPI 2019]

Gordon Baier and Cindy Baier of GoSolar joined us for a conversation at the SunCast Podcast Lounge at SPI 2019.

He has experience in the rise of the solar market in Germany (his accent is as pronounced as the experience he brings to our market), and today you can find out how he first got into the solar journey, and how he has undergone a knowledge transition process from the German market to the US.

Resources:

Connect with Gordon on LinkedIn

Check out the GoSolar Website

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

216: Ann Gaglioti, CEO of Groundwork: The Pre-eminent Provider of Site-Specific Weather Data to Developers [SPI 2019]

Ann Gaglioti joined us at SPI 2019. Ann is the CEO of Groundwork. To date, GroundWork has directly contributed to the successful financing and installation of over 16GW of solar power in North America, and counting!

Ann’s career spans investment banking, interactive marketing and renewable energy. Ann is on the board of The Offset Project, a Monterey Bay non-profit that offsets local carbon emissions through local initiatives including solar projects and zero-waste programs.

Prior to GroundWork, Ann was an Executive Vice President with iCrossing, an interactive agency. In 2007, Ann was instrumental in the sale of Proxicom to iCrossing. She holds a BA in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.

Resources

Check out the Groundwork website

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

215: Customer Acquisition From Online Lead Generation [SPI2019]

How does online lead gen help installers grow their business? It’s been the topic of many webinars, but if you’re like me you still have so many questions! So, I invited some friends in the lead gen arena to share their insights with SunCast listeners, and I was blown away by the value of what they shared. This was one of the most talked about and attended sessions at the Podcast Lounge during SPI.  Residential solar sales and lead gen experts Ruben Ugarte (Active Prospect), Scott Mueller (Solar Lead Factory), and Kyle Cherrick (PickMySolar) joined me to dispel myths and argue methods. If you’ve been wondering about whether purchasing leads or participating in a lead gen program is right for your company, you owe it to yourself to tune in to this episode!

Resources

Connect with Ruben on LinkedIn

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn

Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

214: Solar Optimization Methods with Michael Ginsberg of Mastering Green

Today’s entrepreneur is Doctor of Engineering Candidate, Solar Energy Specialist, and 2-time Author Michael Ginsberg. 

Michael has spent his career helping Embassies and government agencies implement solar and efficiency programs worldwide, and has recently distilled his learning, lessons and case studies into a pair of books on the topics of Solar Implementation, Operations and Maintenance. It’s a rare skill to be a practitioner with the ability to teach and train, and I thoroughly enjoyed an early look and discussion with Michael at the best practices he’s helping bring to market with these texts.

Stay tuned as Michael shares the key lessons takeaways from his world travels and training.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy and

Chint Power Systems

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

Resources

Check out Michael’s books:

Harness It: Renewable Energy Technologies and Project Development Models Transforming the Grid

Solar Photovoltaic Power Optimization: Enhancing System Performance through Operations, Measurement, and Verification

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Check out the Mastering Green website

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

213 - Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Cinnamon Energy Systems: 20 Years of Riding the Solar Coaster [SPI 2019]

Hey! Welcome to a new week, Solar Warrior. This is Two For Tuesday, whether that's a Tactical Tuesday or just content from our many live events like SPI Podcast Lounge, this is going to be a short form conversation typically with subject matter experts designed to give you the practical tools tips and advice for building your solar business or career, and grow with us here on SunCast as I know you will.

Today’s interview happened between two greats in our industry: Tor “Solar Fred” Valenza, Founder & CMO of UnThink Solar., and Barry Cinnamons, CEO of Cinnamon Energy Systems. This conversation was a dive into the life and times as it were for Mr. Barry Cinnamon, one of the folks that we consider an icon and pillar in the industry, having pioneered many ways in which the industry moves forward.

As some of you may know, Barry has his own radio show and he has interviewed Tor before. Now is the time where Tor turns the mic in his direction, and he's now in the hot seat to answer questions about his life and times on the solar coaster.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy and

Chint Power Systems

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

Resources

Connect with Barry on LinkedIn

Connect with Tor on LinkedIn

Connect with Tor on Twitter

Check out the UnThink Solar and Cinnamon Energy Systems websites

About the Host of SunCast:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, a regular conversation with Solar Industry professionals who are leading in emerging solar markets. 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 a veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and is considered one of the market's leading experts on solar PV expansion in the region.

Nico can be reached on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus