NUESTRA ORGANIZACIÓN
Conoce más sobre Solar Energy International.
Misión
Nuestra misión es ofrecer capacitación técnica de primer nivel y nuestra experiencia en energía solar para empoderar a personas, comunidades y empresas en todo el mundo.
Educar
Educamos a través de productos y servicios educativos confiables y de calidad diseñados para generar una fuerza laboral capacitada, informada y equitativa.
Creemos que la formación y la construcción de una fuerza laboral global de energía renovable son esenciales para el futuro de todos. SEI se dedica a la innovación continua para brindar servicios confiables, relevantes y de calidad que sean accesibles para todos, brindados por líderes experimentados de la industria. Nos esforzamos por lograr un entorno de aprendizaje que priorice el servicio a los estudiantes y proporcione un camino hacia una fuerza laboral capacitada, informada y equitativa.
Comprometer
Nos comprometemos construyendo una comunidad arraigada a la integridad de nuestra misión en todos los niveles de nuestra organización.
Reconocemos el poder del compromiso colectivo y, sabiendo que la diversidad es sinónimo de éxito, nos esforzamos por crear una cultura de inclusión en nuestra comunidad centrada en cuidarnos unos a otros y al planeta. SEI se basa en la integridad, la compasión, el profesionalismo y el excelente servicio, y nos comprometemos con nuestro trabajo, nuestro personal, instructores, estudiantes y colaboradores para desarrollar soluciones y generar experiencias con un impacto de amplio alcance.
Empoderar
Empoderamos a todas las personas con quienes trabajamos y colaboramos para que crean en su potencial, tengan curiosidad por aprender y determinación para marcar una diferencia en sus propias vidas y en el mundo.
Buscamos que el empoderamiento sea una forma de vida en SEI. Alentamos a las personas a que apliquen su educación para marcar la diferencia en su vida y en sus comunidades al proporcionar recursos, fomentar conexiones y crear oportunidades profesionales. El entorno de trabajo de SEI se centra en equipos armoniosos y productivos, fomentando el equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida, la responsabilidad individual y la diversión. Abogamos por el crecimiento personal y profesional y priorizamos la calidad de vida.
Board of Directors
Gerald Espinosa
SEI Board President
Gerald Espinosa
Gerald retooled for a career in the clean energy economy by coming to Solar Energy International (SEI). As an alum and AmeriCorps VISTA for SEI’s Solarize program, Gerald became immersed not only in the promise of solar energy technology, but the positive impacts renewable energy can have in forming relationships, improving communities and fostering equity. After gaining installation experience with Namaste Solar’s residential and commercial operations, Gerald transitioned to Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Project Development. Gerald recently joined Pivot Energy, a leading national solar developer, assisting with origination, project analysis, and distributed generation deployment. Gerald lives in Denver and is building a Tiny Home with his partner, an elementary school teacher.
Paul Bony
SEI Board Vice President
Paul Bony
Paul presently works as a Senior Program Manager at CLEAResult. CLEAResult’s comprehensive set of energy programs and demand-side management strategies deliver solutions that lower load requirements for utilities, reduce energy bills for end users, and minimize environmental burdens on communities. Paul has a diversified background in marketing and delivering energy efficiency and renewable energy products and services at the utility, manufacturer, distributor, dealer and consumer level. He helped write a solar thermal bill that Senator Gail Schwartz will introduce in 2013. He has spearheaded similar efforts in Maryland and New Hampshire. He also serves on the Montrose Economic Development Council.
Cathryn Peterson
Treasurer
Cathryn Peterson
Cathryn has over 30 years of tax, financial, legal, educational, consulting, and management experience with both national and international firms and law schools. Cathryn began her career in accounting in the oil and gas industry in Denver. After gaining years of increasingly responsible accounting experience and teaching a college course in oil and gas accounting, she joined a Denver financial consulting firm where she quickly ascended to Vice President in charge of financial planning.. She co-chaired a joint venture with a top-ten bank and developed a business plan for implementation of the financial planning systems in their Dallas headquarters with roll-out to all their branches. After law school) Cathryn was, inter alia, managing attorney for an international Fortune 500 company’s Denver office where she consulted with local and national law firms on professional and organizational development projects.
Kathy Swartz
Bowman Consulting Group; Former SEI Executive Director
Kathy Swartz
Kathy Swartz is thrilled to join the SEI Board of Directors after serving as Executive Director from 2012 through 2021. Originally from Ohio, Kathy moved to Colorado almost 20 years ago and has made Paonia her homebase to pursue her passions of clean energy, locally grown food, and healthy watersheds. After serving for nine years, she left in 2021 for a long sabbatical to dive into food, including working at a local organic farm and starting her own catering company that uses food as a catalyst for connection and play. She currently is the interim Executive Director at the Western Slope Conservation Center, a local nonprofit focused on protecting public lands and watershed stewardship. When not running non-profits or cooking for others, Kathy can be found hiking with her dogs, biking, and savoring a decadently simple life.
Kristan Kirsh
Vice President, Global Marketing at Nextracker
Kristan Kirsh
Kristan Kirsh is a global marketing executive with ten years in the cleantech and solar sectors running global communications for Nextracker, a solar tracker and software systems provider for utility-scale solar applications. From start-up to global market leader, Kristan is responsible for building the Nextracker brand and developing its various community programs. Kristan also conceived of the company’s installer training program PowerworX, a renowned academy boasting over 1,000 graduates worldwide. Prior to working in the renewable energy sector, she held numerous marketing leadership roles for EdTech non-profits and IT companies such as Cisco Systems. At home crossing borders, Kristan’s first career was in international development where she worked in community health throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with USAID and the World Bank. Her first experience with photovoltaics was on a training program in the Peace Corps where she installed a 36 watt panel on her corrugated zinc roof tied to a car battery in the Dominican Republic. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Kristan holds a B.A. in Economics from U.C. Santa Barbara and two Master’s in Public Health and International Public Policy from the University of Pittsburgh, PA.
Zach Krapfl
Co-founder, Vapor Propulsion Labs
Zach Krapfl
Zach is a mechanical and civil engineer based in Paonia, Colorado. He currently works with Gates Carbon Drive on electric bikes and light electric vehicles to produce a silent drive train that lasts 10 times longer than conventional systems. Zach previously worked with Bosch in Germany to create the most respected electric bike system sold globally that has now displaced over 27 billion automotive road miles and counting. He lives and works inside a net-zero passive house structure he constructed with pumice crete, living roof, rainwater catchment/grey water, PV, Solar thermal, and biomass backup heating.
Johnny Weiss
Co-founder, Solar Energy International (Retired)
Johnny Weiss
As an educator, a certified industrial trainer, and a building professional, Johnny has more than 40 years experience in the real-world applications of renewable energy technologies. Johnny Co-Founded Solar Energy International in 1991. He was the Executive Director and led SEI for over 20 years, helping establish SEI as a leader in solar education. Johnny has consulted and collaborated with teams and NGOs worldwide, and with Native American tribes. He brings supportive, environmental and ecological ethics and understanding to team efforts. With decades of experience designing and building solar systems, Johnny is particularly interested in solar electricity-generating projects (photovoltaic/PV) that are sustainable, green, international, and socially worthwhile. Currently, he is focused on helping to develop Solar Training Centers in Tanzania and on Native American reservations
Kevin King
Founder and Owner, Solar Tools USA
Kevin King
Kevin’s love for solar began unknowingly, as he grew up surrounded by those blazing the trail for the future of the solar industry in the heart of Mendocino County, California. As a young adult, that knowledge piqued a curiosity to explore the industry further, and eventually lead to building one of Idaho’s largest and most successful solar installation companies. Recognizing the importance of proper training and safety, Kevin then began Solar Tools USA, which has provided an avenue for solar professionals to obtain specialized tools to install systems more efficiently and safely. Driven by a passion for education and advocacy, Kevin has made significant contributions in state legislation through his work as President of the nonprofit the Idaho Clean Energy Association. As well as by serving on the NABCEP PVIP JTA Exam and Technical Committee and IREC’s Solar Ready Vets Advisory Board. Kevin’s passion for the solar industry has been known to be contagious, and he looks forward to spreading that with his contributions to SEI through insight, encouragement, and advocacy. Kevin’s proudest achievements outside of solar include: serving his country as a USMC VFW, building his 1971 Ford Bronco, his two boys, and marrying his high school sweetheart.
Josh Rogers
Senior Director of Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations at ACP
Josh Rogers
Josh Rogers is the Senior Director of Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations at ACP. In this role, Josh leads the ACP team and committees focused on worker safety, workforce development, and operational excellence that will support the renewables industry growth. He brings over 15 years or operational industry experience.
Josh spent several years as Director of Solar Operations for Duke Energy, which included responsibility for safety, organizational development, performance, and financial profits and losses at more than 60 facilities across the country. He has also developed standards, training, and operational leadership for at several leading companies such as: ABB, Sun Edison, First Solar, and most recently Fluence.
Prior to joining private sector energy companies, Josh served in the United States Navy for nine years where he was certified as a nuclear operator and Master Training Specialist. Josh earned his Bachelor of Science in Technology from Excelsior University.
Dr. Cynthia Finley
VP Workforce Strategy and Innovation, IREC
Dr. Cynthia Finley
Cynthia serves as Vice President of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Workforce program, creating strategic initiatives to expand workforce development in clean energy. Cynthia is responsible for building IREC’s workforce strategy, Green Workforce Connect, connecting resources for job-seekers, quality training providers, and employers. Cynthia’s background includes experience and a Ph.D. in higher education, workforce development, adult education, fiscal management, programs for justice-impacted individuals, and research in building social capital for underserved communities. Cynthia is passionate about developing sustainable and equitable career opportunities and pathways for underrepresented populations in the clean energy workforce.
Kim Strickland
Global Head of Execution – Energy and Sustainability, Prologis
Kim Strickland
Coming Soon…
Shannon Welch
Onsite Renewable Energy Construction Program Manager, Amazon (Retired)
Shannon Welch
In Jul 2010, Shannon attended 3 weeks of classes at SEI after having been mostly unemployed since Aug 2008. Prior to Aug 2008, he had been employed as a project manager and estimator in the commercial general contracting world for 25-ish years on projects as varied as a gravesite upgrade for Howard Hughes to the preparation of Snowbasin Ski Resort for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Those 3 weeks at SEI changed his life and set him on a career trajectory that culminated with him retiring in Feb 2025 as the Program Manager of Onsite Renewable Energy Design and Construction in North America for Amazon. In retirement, he hopes to contribute to the future of SEI any way he can.
Naveed Hasan
VP of Strategy and Marketing, SunGrow Americas
Naveed Hasan
Naveed has worked at Sungrow for over seven years, throughout the company’s expansion in the U.S. utility-scale solar market to become the leading provider of PV inverters and now battery energy storage. Bankability has been a chief concern of his, and BNEF recently named Sungrow the most bankable company of 2024 in both energy storage and power control systems. Naveed has also worked on supply chain resilience, ensuring compliance with U.S. standards for cybersecurity and imports, and reducing overseas dependencies. Today 77% of Sungrow’s equipment is manufactured outside of China, coming from places such as India, Thailand, and South Korea. Before joining Sungrow in 2018, Naveed served as Head of Marketing, Americas at KACO, now Siemens. He has also worked at ReneSola, Canadian Solar, and BRAC.
SEI Advisory Board
Jean-Philippe (JP) Denruyter
World Wildlife Federation, Manager, Applied Energy Solutions
Jean-Philippe (JP) Denruyter
Energy professional with 20 years of international experience in renewable energy design, engineering, markets, policy and regulation. He supports the expansion of renewable energy through strong technical, analytical, communication and project management skills, and a thorough understanding of the interaction between environment, livelihoods and renewable energy.
JP is leading the WWF Upfront initiative, with the aim to make WWF operations’ energy use more sustainable. For WWF, he has designed and/or installed solar PV (grid-tie, off-grid, hybrid and micro-grids) for buildings and national parks in over 30 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. JP also works on solar Operations and Maintenance (O&M) projects with Hassler Energia, a solar company in Switzerland.
At Solar Energy International, he has obtained the Solar Professionals Certificates for Residential and Commercial Photovoltaic Systems and for Battery-Based Photovoltaic Systems.
Scott Ely
Sunsense Solar, President
Scott Ely
Scott has been a champion of solar energy for over 40 years. Having built Sunsense from the ground up, Scott has experienced all aspects of solar business development. From off-grid projects to commercial/utility sales to strapping on the tool belt, Scott has a unique view of the past, present and future of the solar electric industry. Over the years, Scott has had the honor of working with many of the solar industry’s pioneers and cherishes those long-standing friendships. Scott’s goal with Sunsense has been to create a sustainable business model based on a solutions-oriented commitment to our clients.
Keith Fouts
Interconnection Systems, Inc, Solar Program Manager
Kieth Fouts
I’m a licensed electrician (journeyman in Minnesota and Nebraska, master in Colorado and Wisconsin) with a passion for renewable energy (NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification). Originally I earned a B.S. in Aeronautical Science just before 09/11/2001 when the aviation industry changed drastically. I switched careers back to being an electrician which paid for my degree.
I studied aviation because I wanted a career that I could travel with. I achieved my goal as an electrician since I have now worked in 18 states, Haiti, and on 5 contracts in Antarctica. Through my travels and my education in science, I have developed a passion for taking care of the environment. That is the main reason why I have been acquiring additional skills in renewable energy.
For over six years now I have been with the same EPC company. I worked my way up to a position as a solar project manager overseeing many different aspects of utility-scale solar installations. It’s exciting seeing this industry takeoff and playing a part in installing 60+ megawatts of solar every year!
Sean Murphy
AES, Sr. Cx Superintendent
Rick Naranjo
Paradise Energy, VP of Technical Services and Training
Rick Naranjo
My name is Rick Naranjo, and I’m an instructor for Solar Energy International (SEI). I’m part of the online instructor team that teaches PVOL101, PVOL202, PVOL203 and PVOL350. You may also see me at in person lab courses at our Paonia, CO lab yard for PV201L, PV301L and PV351L.
I am NABCEP PVIP certified, and have earned the SEI Residential and Commercial Photovoltaic certificate and the SEI Battery Based Photovoltaic certificate.
I’ve been in the solar arena for over 9 years. In my “day job” I lead our Operations and Maintenance team as the VP of Technical Services and Training for a solar EPC based out of Paradise, PA, with offices in PA, MD, VA, OH and NY. We design, sell, install and service photovoltaic solar systems for our customers. We provide O&M services for our customers and those whose PV installers are no longer in business throughout the Northeastern US. Our O&M services range from Residential PV to large scale Commercial PV system maintenance and monitoring, power quality analysis, and handheld and drone based thermal imaging. I lead the technical training and safety programs for our team as well.
Prior to embarking on my solar journey, I served as the VP of Fixed and Mobile Plant Equipment maintenance for a surface mining company for ten years, with locations in PA and NY, where I was involved with new crushing plant design and installation, quarry automation and reliability engineering for fixed plant and mobile quarry equipment. During my tenure here we installed a 1.2 MW DC PV array to support mining operations, which is where I was introduced to the company I now work for!
Before my time in the mining and solar industries, I spent about 16 years in the consumer products industry as the engineering manager for a company that designed and manufactured infant products such as baby swings and high chairs. This phase of my career allowed me to develop a wide range of skill sets in plant automation, metal fabrication, injection molding, and automated assembly machine design.
I spent 10 years before this in the aerospace industry, where I designed test equipment, printed circuit boards and assembly machinery for the various military and civilian products we manufactured.
One interesting part of my career is that while in high school, I worked for a fast food chain that sent me to Hamburger University for management training, which was a great experience for a young person learning how to lead people and take responsibility for the safe operation of the restaurant.
I’m a graduate of Riverside Community College, where I earned my Associate of Science degree.
My wife of nearly 45 years and I have three grown children and 9 grandchildren. We live in southeastern PA with our two dogs, three horses and an assortment of barn cats! We enjoy spending time with our family and friends, traveling and exploring, riding bikes on rail trails, and serving through our church.
I look forward to getting to know you better as we spend time learning more about solar through SEI’s great offering of online and in person training!
Liam O’Brien
Kilawatt Consulting, Founder & Sr. Staff Engineer C&I Products
Liam O'Brien
Liam O’Brien is a NABCEP certified installer with almost a decade of experience in the renewables industry, with a emphases on off-grid and micro-grid design. He has held various engineering focused roles in product development, system integration/test, and PV system design across the energy storage and EV charging sectors, including companies such as Fortress Power, EverCharge, and Sol-Ark.
Rudy Saporite
IBTS, Program Director
Rudy Saporite
With more than 25 years of construction experience and certifications including NABCEP PV Installation Professional and many others, he manages IBTS’ Solar QA/QC program overseeing more than 100,000 solar inspections nationwide. Rudy has driven the development of quality management programs and standards, training programs, and tools for the PV industry and supported compliance and technical services for organizations such as NYSERDA and MassCEC.
In Puerto Rico, Rudy leads the teams supporting quality management oversight for the PR-ERF and CEWRI programs, ensuring photovoltaic (PV) systems and water storage installations comply with local and federal regulations, meet program requirements, and align with industry standards. He is an advisory board member for the NABCEP Continuing Education Committee and with Solar Energy International, and has also delivered impactful workforce training, including classroom instruction and field inspections of PV systems. Presently he is supporting the ANSI accredited SEIA standards working groups being developed under federal funding through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Gavin Watson
SEI Advisory Committee Chair | NABCEP PVIP
Gavin Watson
As a NABCEP certified PV Installation Professional since 2012, Gavin has over 14 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. He has managed the construction of 100MW of solar projects in the residential, commercial, and utility-scale markets. He has held positions as a Solar Technician, Project Superintendent, and Construction Manager for both EPC Contractors and Owners, bringing focus to safety, quality standards, and best practices for solar installations in several states across the US. Gavin is passionate about Agrivoltaics and has spearheaded initiatives to implement dual-use projects, including rotational sheep grazing on large-scale solar farms. Gavin serves on a variety of non-profit committees in his home state of Vermont and is honored to join the SEI Advisory Committee as a proud SEI Alumnus.
Robert Youngberg
Sustainable Development International, President
Robert Youngberg
Robert Youngberg is President and Founder of Sustainable Development / International in Denver, CO consulting on national and international renewable energy and environmental development projects.
Robert has over 40 years’ experience and expertise in development efforts locally and internationally in renewable energy and environmental sustainability. in 1978 Robert founded and served for 6 years as Director of the Renewable Energy Research and Policy Office at the University of Nebraska. His research is frequently cited in various peer reviewed scientific journals.
Executive positions include HWS Environmental Engineering, Oracle Consulting, Sun Microsystems Professional Services, Cendant Corporation, Information Handling Services (IHS)/Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), sustainability consulting for the University of Denver Research Institute.
Susan Stark
Ironridge, Senior Training Manager
Susan Stark
Susan started her career in solar in 2010 and has been NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certified since 2013 and holds four professional Certificates from SEI, including the Solar Professionals Trainer Certificate. As Director of Technical Sales and Training at IronRidge, she is responsible for training on proper installation methods for mounting and racking systems, installation best practices, and PV Codes and Standards. She is a member of the SEIA Quality Assurance Working Group and served on the ANSI/SEIA 201 Installation Standards Technical Committee. Sue also serves as a Board Member of Enstall Empowers, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of IronRidge’s parent company, Enstall. Prior to entering the solar industry, Sue was the co-owner of a Construction and Safety Equipment Distribution company and managed a Solar EPC in New Jersey.
Tomé de forma virtual todos los cursos de FV que ofrece SEI y cada vez que pienso que no hay nada nuevo por aprender, me demuestran que estoy equivocado. Son lo mejor de lo mejor en lo que hacen.
-Graduado de SEI
Partidarios de la Industria
