groSolar is a national leader in solar energy. Its mission is to help customers beat global warming by using solar energy to power their homes and businesses and heat their water and air. By using photovoltaic (PV) cells on their roofs and in their fields, groSolar customers get energy independence and security every day.
groSolar History
groSolar began in 2001 as Global Resource Options, the brainchild of Jeff and Dori Wolfe. The husband and wife team wanted to do something about global warming so they began selling renewable energy products out of their home. One employee grew to five, which grew to 25 and the need to leave the home office for a real headquarters in the largest ex-supermarket warehouse in Vermont. They decided to concentrate on solar energy, changed the company name to groSolar and set about “installing as much solar as fast as we could,’’ says Jeff. Today, the company is among the largest solar energy companies in North America, with offices throughout the northeast and in Colorado and western and eastern Canada.
Social Responsibility at groSolar
We are dedicated to the triple bottom line: profit for the company, social justice for our employees and customers and environmental protection. Solar energy allows us to create communities of people, employees, customers, suppliers and others to come together for positive change.
Management Team and Board of Directors
Jeffery Wolfe, CEO, Chairman of Board of Directors
Jeff is co-founder, Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board of Directors of groSolar. He is a recognized leader in the solar energy industry and a leading voice on solar energy policy throughout the U.S. He leads business development, marketing, PV procurement, and strategic planning activities for the Company. Prior to forming groSolar, Jeff was a Partner in Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers, where he started and ran branch offices in Hanover, NH, and Chicago, IL. His consulting experience spanned over 15 years, primarily as a lead consulting engineer for large mechanical and electrical systems, with over 4,000,000 square feet of building design and construction experience. Jeff is the elected chair of the PV Division of the Solar Electric Industry Association (SEIA), the country’s leading PV trade organization. He also serves on the Vermont Renewable Energy Development Fund Investment Committee, and the Union of Concerned Scientists National Advisory Board. Jeff has a BSME Degree from Cornell University.
James Resor, Chief Financial Officer, Member of Board of Directors
Jamie joined groSolar in 2007 and led the Company’s $10 million equity fundraising efforts which closed in December 2007. Jamie is also actively involved in the Company’s expansion plans, acquisition opportunities and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining groSolar, Jamie was the COO/CFO of a software company from its inception in 1999 until sale in 2004. More recently he helped start a real-time energy management company, and has advised several growth companies in the U.S. and China. During much of the 1990s, Jamie was with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s largest private environmental organization. At WWF, Jamie developed and executed ‘debt-for-nature’ swaps and other financing mechanisms in more than ten countries and advised the U.S. Government on debt restructuring programs in Latin American and Asia and Africa. He has an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Jim Merriam, Vice President Operations
Jim joined groSolar in March 2007. He has assumed responsibilities for purchasing, inventory, systems installation, engineering, and the Company’s general infrastructure to handle rapid growth. Prior to joining groSolar, Jim was Vice President of Operations at Northern Power Systems and brings considerable experience in commercial PV construction, international project management, inventory control, and management through rapid growth. Jim managed the growth of the operations group at Northern from 30 to 125+ personnel in a three-year period and hundreds of installations on all seven continents. Jim graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Electrical Engineering, and is currently an MBA candidate at Drexel University with a scheduled 2008 completion.
Dorothy Wolfe, Co-Founder, Financial Manager
Dori is co-founder and Financial Manager and has managed nearly all aspects of the Company since its inception. Under her direction, groSolar has implemented new accounting methods, controls and programs, and has helped to steer SolarFest, the largest renewable energy fair in New England, to a stronger position in education and outreach. Dori also plays the lead role for the Company’s in its social responsibility outreach with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Prior to forming groSolar, Dori was a Senior Engineer at Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers. Ms. Wolfe has been Engineer-in-Charge of over 750,000 square feet of building design projects. Dori has a BSME Degree from Cornell University.
Paul Coughlin, Senior Vice President Business Development and Dealer Sales
Paul built groSolar’s Distribution and Dealer Services business since joining the Company. He has been instrumental in building groSolar’s dominant distribution position in the Northeast and laying the foundation for groSolar’s national distribution capabilities in a short time. Paul was deeply involved in the early growth of the solar photovoltaic industry in California. Paul came to groSolar in 2004 from Alternative Solar Products, where he was Manager of Distribution and Dealer Services. For Astropower, he was the leading sales consultant in the founding of Home Depot’s Solar PV retail sales program, the first of its kind in the country. Prior to his role at Astropower, Paul operated the west coast office of another large BP Solar PV distributor, and led their entry into the San Diego residential market.
Paul Dekleermaeker, National Sales Manager
Paul joined groSolar in August 2007 and is responsible for expanding groSolar’s national sales capabilities and further enhancing the value added offerings for the Company’s broad dealer base. His goal is simple -- reduce our fossil fuel dependence by enabling our dealers and installers to more easily sell and install solar PV and thermal systems on as many homes and businesses as possible. Paul’s expertise is in developing and implementing value-based programs and services to achieve increased revenues and market share. He brings close to 20 years of experience in successfully growing sales and distribution capabilities for both emerging products’ and established industries. Paul spent nearly 10 years in the computer industry where he co-launched divisions and built sales teams that have generated first year revenues in excess of $200 million, then spent 10 years founding and growing start-ups. Paul is a graduate of Syracuse University.
David Kirkpatrick, Member of Board of Directors
David is a Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures (www.sjfund.com), a $45 million venture capital firm based in Durham, NC. He joined groSolar’s board of directors at the time of the Series A equity financing in September 2006. SJF Ventures was the lead investor for that financing. David has broad experience as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist in the clean energy arena. In the 1980’s, David co-founded and directed SunShares, an early solar energy and recycling company in North Carolina. David earned a BA in Physics and History from Duke University in 1982 and an MBA from UNC Business School in 1991.
Chris Sorrells, Member of Board of Directors
Chris is a Managing Director with NGP Energy Technology Partners, L.P. (“NGP ETP”), a Washington, D.C. based $148 million fund investing growth equity capital in companies providing technology-related products and services to the oil and gas, power, and alternative energy sectors. NGP ETP (www.ngpetp.com) is an affiliate of NGP Energy Capital Management, a leading investment firm with over $7.7 billion of cumulative capital under management. Chris serves on the Board of Directors of Lehigh Technologies and Xunlight Corporation (www.xunlight.com), a manufacturer of thin-film solar modules. Prior to joining NGP Energy Technology Partners, Chris worked at Clarity Partners, an $800 million private equity firm. From 1998 to 2002, Chris worked at Banc of America Securities in both the natural resources and technology groups. He founded and headed Banc of America’s Energy Technology Investment Banking Group from 2000 to 2002 and served as the lead banker on a broad range of transactions, including deals for Evergreen Solar, Caminus, Artesyn Technologies, Millennium Cell, Encorp, and SoftSwitching Technologies. Chris holds a BA from Washington and Lee University, a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Southern California, and an MBA from the College of William and Mary.
Careers
groSolar is growing fast. We are always on the lookout for fast-paced, motivated people to help us reach our goals of putting as much solar on people’s homes as fast as possible. If you are interested in a career with us, click on the appropriate link below for a job description or give us a call!