A new Executive Leadership Team (ELT) has been created as part of a year-long strategic planning process. 

Paonia, Colorado – Solar Energy International (SEI) today announced a transformative divisional and leadership reorganization, aimed to meet the workforce training demands of a fast-growing, technically challenging, and increasingly diverse solar industry. SEI’s board of directors is proud to share that this new Executive Leadership Team (ELT) has been created as part of a year-long strategic planning process.

The new leadership structure supports a collaborative approach that represents each of the divisional areas of the organization and includes a senior technical advisory role. The newly formed ELT offers a combination of extraordinary talent spanning education and student services, workforce development, organizational finance, and solar industry expertise:

Wendy Knapp
Executive Leadership Team
V.P. of Curriculum & Instruction

Monique Turek
Executive Leadership Team
V.P. of Student Services

Denise Massart
Executive Leadership Team
V.P. of Administrative Services

Chris Turek
Executive Leadership Team
V.P. of Marketing & Business Development

Kristopher Sutton
Executive Leadership Team
Director of Middle East and Africa / Senior Technical Advisor

Ken Gardner, President of the Board of Directors of SEI, noted “The words…of the people, by the people, for the people” used by Abraham Lincoln reflect my feelings toward the new leadership organization for Solar Energy International. SEI staff and contract instructors come from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences in many fields and with divergent educations. The new internal leadership represents across-section of SEI’s interests and needs going forward. I look forward to the expansion of training opportunities to promote the renewable energy expansion we are witnessing.”

The new organizational structure of SEI’s non-profit educational mission has been organized into a dual operating model that consists of both operational divisions and team-based working groups working across all divisions of the organization. This new model will allow SEI, the solar industry’s most trusted solar training provider, to be more fully collaborative and innovative in solving solar workforce-development challenges. The ELT is committed to execute on the recommendations identified in SEI’s 2022 strategic plan. These efforts include SEI’s commitment to creating customized online and in-person training program structures to better meet the needs of the solar industry, increase access to SEI’s curriculum through partnerships with allied training programs, and dedicated efforts to connect students and alumni with employers for entry and advancement in the solar industry. All of these efforts include an authentic and relentless dedication to empowering underserved communities for inclusion in the rapidly growing clean energy workforce. SEI leadership believes this innovative organizational structure and strategic plan offers an equitable and holistic direction to support our core mission: To mitigate climate change, promote sustainable economic growth, and support energy independence.

It is at the very heart of SEI DNA to empower students, alumni, and partners to bolster a diverse, inclusive, and well-trained solar workforce. And with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, our mission is even more critical. SEI will continue to instruct on installation best practices deploying industry-leading technology with safety at the core of its instruction.

About SEI
Our purpose is to empower students, alumni, and partners to expand a diverse, inclusive, well-trained and educated solar workforce and spread the knowledge of how to safely deploy industry-leading technology. Our aim is to mitigate climate change, promote sustainable economic growth, and support energy independence.

Media Contact
Chris Turek
VP of Marketing and Business Development
970-445-8919
[email protected]