This month SEI celebrated our 15th Annual Instructor and Staff Training Week. During this dedicated time, the brightest solar minds in the industry gathered to share knowledge, best practices, unique experiences, and good times!

This year speakers included: 

  • Ken Gardner, SEI’s Board President presented the latest and greatest tips and tricks for installation.
  • SEI instructor Zeke Yewdall gave a presentation focused on large off-grid lithium battery system designs.
  • Erik Bjork and Jeff Wang from Staubli presented DC Cabling Best Practice recommendation & MC4 assembly. The presentation focused on common field failures. They taught everything needed to know  about making field assemblies for B-crimp as well as for the full barrel MC4’s, and brought samples so the instructors were able to make their own assemblies during the presentation.
  • Rebekah Hren, SEI Instructor and NEC Code Making Panel Representative taught us about Resi Lithium.
  • Karo Fernandez, SEI Instructor and NEC Code Making Panel Representative presented Nomada Solar, a platform that aims to inspire others to build a collaborative educational network in the solar industry, highlighting Spanish speakers women in solar.
  • Solar expert Jason Fisher, also part of the NEC Code Making Panel, gave the team updates and training on NFPA-70 National Electrical Code (NEC).
  • Solar Industry Legend, Bill Brooks presented “Polishing Uncle Bill’s Crystalline Ball—Trends in Products and Codes”
  • Johan Alsfen Sr. Director of Training at K2 Systems and SEI instructor provided the latest updates on “Residential Solar Racking and Mounting”
  • Mark Mohrs, another industry legend, closed this magnificent 3-days event with a presentations on pedagogy and instruction “The Science Behind Learning and Making Our Instruction Learner-Centered”

There was a lot of discussion and shared ideas in each panel, all of which will be included in our curriculum moving forward as we ensure it is up to date with the latest industry standards and technologies. Each SEI department also presented the highlights of SEI’s new strategic plan for the next 3 years. Presentations were full of exciting developments focused on growing the solar workforce globally, strengthening our reach in local communities, supporting businesses with high quality solar education, and a drive to keep the industry moving forward.

 Supporting SEI efforts to grow a more diverse solar industry, our DEI committee organized a training to provide all instructors and staff the necessary skills to ensure that SEI is a safe, diverse and inclusive learning and work environment for all. The training covered various topics including equity, inclusion, energy justice and maintaining a culturally competent environment that is respectful and open to different cultural perspectives, strengthening cultural security and working towards equality in opportunity.

The Carbon Reduction committee announced the wonderful news that, thanks to the many efforts and resources we put into reducing CO2 emissions, SEI has been carbon neutral since January 2019, becoming a Climate Leader through Aclymate.

We also had a great time celebrating our very first Solar Prom! All who attended dressed to impress and had fun under the theme of Let’s Glow Crazy with blacklights, luminous decor, and glowsticks lighting the way. During the celebration we also awarded the following top instructors of 2021, recognizing their commitment and dedication:

Zeke Yewdall got the Monarch of Moodle recognition for teaching most courses in 2021. And the runners up were Justine Sanchez, Ernesto Biestro, Carlos Oreamuno, Tom Honey, Diane Patrick, Eissa Ali

Calvin Angel was recognized as Lord of the Lab Yard for teaching most in person courses. Runners up for this category were: Brian Mehalic, Roger Williams, Kyle Bolger, Tom Honey

The annual solar family reunion is one of SEI’s favorite pastimes, giving us a chance to connect with each other and with what drives our team forward – our shared passion for solar and commitment to empower others with solar education to join us in our vision of a world powered by renewable energy.