Aaron has deep experience in renewable energy and energy efficiency having worked in municipal sustainability leadership, policy & advocacy, and project management. He develops and manages all Virginia solar co-op programs, provides technical support for residents and organizations going solar, and coordinates policy advocacy for distributed solar in Virginia.

Aaron received a Dual Master of Arts in International Affairs and Natural Resources, specializing in International Energy Policy from American University School of International Service and United Nations University for Peace. He has published numerous articles and speaks fluent Spanish. A native of San Diego California, Aaron enjoys being on the water, playing guitar and spending time with his son Gabriel.

As the Arizona Program Director, Adrian leads efforts to expand rooftop solar in the state through solar co-ops, community education, and policy campaigns. He is deeply passionate about solar energy and its ability to lower costs and improve quality of life for Arizona families.

He comes to Solar United Neighbors with a background in public policy and municipal government. Adrian lives in Phoenix and holds a Master of Sustainability Solutions from Arizona State University.

Alexis supports the engagement efforts for Solar United Neighbors state programs in Virginia, West Virginia, Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This includes bringing together solar advocates across these states to mobilize and transform their communities. Alexis has a passion for bringing people together to make sustainable change. Alexis is excited to bring her enthusiasm for engagement and tangible energy system solutions together. Alexis is an Oregon native with her current roots in Richmond, Virginia. She has a Bachelors in Social Work and a Minor in sociology with an extensive background in volunteer engagement and large scale event and program planning. Alexis loves to spend time with her husband outdoors, hike, travel, and try any dessert spot she can find.

America Garcia is a passionate activist and enthusiastic leader, who has dedicated her career to empowering minority communities throughout the Lone Star State. As the Texas Program Director, America carries an extensive background in the retail electricity market and grassroots organizing that has resulted in dozens of elected candidates across local, state, and national campaigns.

Born to Mexican immigrants, America is a native Californian whose first language is Spanish. She is currently working on learning French as well as many other new skills. When she isn’t making an impact with her work, she loves nothing more than traveling to new places alongside her family – not to mention always making room for one more rescued animal.

Angela oversees Solar United Neighbors’ administrative, financial, and operational activities. Angela is a fourth generation Floridian. She is passionate about community outreach and believes that informed and engaged voters are key to building an accountable democratic society. Her experience includes project development, grassroots organizing, community engagement and policy advocacy focusing on capacity building. Prior to joining Solar United Neighbors, Angela served as president of the League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast for four years, working to increase informed voter participation through education and advocacy and still volunteers as their Environment Director.

Annie has spent her career connecting people to causes they care about through volunteering. She is excited to bring this experience to Solar United Neighbors. Annie held volunteer management roles at several non-profits in the Boston area. This includes the New England Aquarium and the Trustees of Reservations. Her background is in conservation and marine mammal science. She has always had an interest in clean energy.

When not at work, you can find Annie SCUBA diving with her husband or at home hanging out with their two cats.

Anya has worked for decades on environmental projects and policy up and down the Western Hemisphere. This work has helped her grapple with the issue of sustainable development and how to make complex issues relevant to the community. Solar United Neighbors got its start when her son Walter asked, “Mom, can we go solar?” In her role as Executive Director, Anya has been instrumental in the passage of landmark solar legislation and regulation. In April 2014, the White House selected Anya as one of 10 White House Champions of Change for Solar Deployment for her groundbreaking work to deploy solar in the National Capital Region.

Ben is an experienced solar communications professional. He has helped solar companies get recognition for their product and project announcements and worked with solar advocates across the country to help them educate the public about policies that allow solar energy to compete a level playing field with other energy sources. At Solar United Neighbors, Ben generates attention to the work the organization does to help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights. Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the George Washington University.

Benjamin Hoyne joined Solar United Neighbors in 2021 as the Virginia Program Associate. He has a passion for solar energy. He also has more than 10 years of experience in community organizing, policy, advocacy, and program management.

Benjamin holds a Master of Business Administration and a MA in Global Environmental Policy. Both are from American University in Washington, D.C.

He holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Washington and the University of Vermont in Latin American Studies & Spanish.

Benjamin is comfortable working in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Benjamin is based in Richmond, Virginia. He enjoys spending his free time exploring the East Coast with his family, paddling on rivers, and playing samba.

Bobby is working to create a democratic energy system that benefits everyone. He educates and engages fellow Minnesotans about solar energy. He is building a group of leaders that will change our energy system.

He comes to Solar United Neighbors after 20 years as an organizer with the Land Stewardship Project (LSP). At LSP he worked with members to maintain a family farm‑based system of agriculture.

Bret serves as the West Region Director for Solar United Neighbors. He oversees SUN state programs in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, and Texas. Bret joined SUN in 2019 when he launched the organization’s Arizona program. He has more than a decade of nonprofit experience advocating for renewable energy, managing teams and running grassroots campaigns. Bret holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lives in Phoenix with his wife and daughter.

Brooke is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional with over 15 years’ experience addressing personnel needs and improving processes, from full-cycle recruitment to training and compliance.  She derives satisfaction from working in service fields and with companies that have great missions.  Brooke loves reading, gardening, and spending time with her husband, two dogs, one cat, and six chickens.

Christina-Rafaela Garcia, PMP, is an internationally-seasoned professional. She is committed to improving public health, civil justice, and sustainable development. She has experience in project management and research. She is NABCEP PV Associated certified.

She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S in civil engineering as well as a B.A in Liberal Arts in Spanish, and a minor in African American Studies. She pursued her postgraduate studies at the Sorbonne, the University of Architecture in Madrid, and ESLSCA Paris. Christina enjoys spending time with her family and dog Maxwell, ministry service, and painting.

Corey is an experienced IT and solar professional. He was inspired to pursue the latter path by a museum exhibit on sustainable communities. He realized that he wanted his professional life to expand renewable energy and positively affect his community. It took a few years, but by volunteering, taking online courses, working for a local solar installer, and an online solar shopping site he set himself on a path toward his current role at Solar United Neighbors. Now he develops, deploys, and scales educational materials and on-the-ground project models in rooftop solar, community solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging. He is a NABCEP-certified PV Installation Professional and a graduate of Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore.

Dan is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to create a better world. He does this by promoting social justice and equity through solar energy. His career has included community organizing, serving as a local elected official, communications work, and educating for social justice. His experience has taught him how challenging it can be to go solar on your own. He’s eager to provide support and guidance to help Hoosiers take that step. Doing so allows them to create a sustainable, democratic energy system by going solar!

Dan is a native Hoosier and a Purdue University grad. He is also a musician, writer, and lover of the Great Lakes.

David Ortiz co-founded of El Puente Puerto Rico. El Puente fights for environmental and social justice on the island. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the social and environmental justice space. David has worked to organize and mobilize communities, coordinate educational activities, and promote public policy.

David holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Cambridge College. He holds a Master of Public Policy from Tufts University. With Solar United Neighbors, David ties his passion for environmental stewardship with promoting transition and advocating for the rights to access renewable energy.

Dori founded Wolfe Energy to share her passion for energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. She has been actively involved in Solarize Houston, now through Solar United Neighbors and Houston Renewable Energy Group. The Sunnyside Energy team she compiled was awarded the opportunity to develop a utility- scale solar farm on a former Houston landfill, complete with community-owned solar.

Since 2012, she has been working to bring community solar projects to fruition, including a 7 Megawatt array in Strafford, Vermont which came on line in 2017 and three other community-owned solar arrays since then. In 1998 she co-founded groSolar, that grew to be a national renewable energy company.

She has dedicated substantial volunteer time to educating students and communities in sustainable practices including developing an elementary school energy curriculum, composing children’s songs about energy, and lecturing on renewable energy. Dori has a BSME degree from Cornell University.

Eleanor specializes in digital communications and media on behalf of mission-driven causes. Over the years, she’s worked for electoral campaigns, organizations, and agencies. She’s excited to help grow SUN’s digital presence through email and social media.

In her free time, Eleanor can be found reading, watching movies, volunteering, or exploring the greater DC area on foot. A dedicated urbanist, she’s always happy to talk about sustainable planning and transportation.

Emily spearheads new initiatives to take Solar United Neighbors to the next level as an organization. She oversees the organization’s growth team, which includes volunteer engagement, information systems support, and marketing and communications activities. Emily began at Solar United Neighbors as when it was a local community group working on solar, and over time has helped grow the small project into a national nonprofit that represents the needs and interests of solar owners across the country.

Before joining Solar United Neighbors, Emily worked as a renewable energy consultant specializing in solar electric and solar water heating initiatives and incentive programs. She graduated from Grinnell College in 2009 with a Bachelor’s in Political Ecology and was a member of the 2016 Neighborworks Achieving Excellence program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Emma supports Solar United Neighbors’ policy and advocacy work in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and Texas as the Policy & Advocacy Campaigner for the West Region. Before joining the team at Solar United Neighbors, she led campaigns to secure 100% renewable energy commitments and pro-solar policies at the federal, state and local levels with Environment America. Emma is passionate about grassroots organizing and building a democratic energy system that doesn’t pollute.

Originally from North Carolina, Emma earned a B.A. in Environmental Earth Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis. When she isn’t working, she’s usually spending time outside, tending to her house plants, or reading a good book.

Erik supports Solar United Neighbors field programs in Florida and Ohio. He is excited to help communities transition to an energy system that is both cleaner and more equitable for everyone. He comes with experience working in hazardous waste mitigation as well as backing the efforts of a sustainability-focused market. He’s excited to pursue an opportunity with distributed solar and renewable energy. In his free time, Erik enjoys listening to music, running, and writing.

Erin provides communications guidance and support for SUN’s Southeast Region. This includes Florida, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Her professional experience spans government affairs and public relations. In this work she implemented advocacy campaigns, engaged stakeholders, and developed impactful messaging.

Erin believes in energy democracy. Her work is inspired by the words of Margaret Mead. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Erin holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science and an Undergraduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida. When not working, you can find Erin at the nearest beach, relaxing in tree pose, pretending to be a sommelier, or spoiling her dachshund.

Fatima is an experienced academic architectural designer, researcher, and solar professional. She has always been passionate about sustainable design. Her aim is to pursue sustainability with equity goals. The modern built environment requires a massive amount of energy. This led Fatima to pursue renewable energy. Her professional transition started with volunteering, online courses, research opportunities. This led to work in the solar energy sector. She joined Solar United Neighbors as a ‘Go Solar Specialist’ in 2022. She is excited to help communities transition to an energy system that is sustainable, resilient, and equitable.

Fatima holds a Bachelor’s in Architecture (India). She has a Master’s in Environmental Science & Management (Sustainability) from American Public University, West Virginia. Fatima lives in New Jersey with family. She enjoys poetry, cooking and being outdoors in her free time.

Glen has served on the staff of several national and state environmental and labor organizations. He worked for the national Sierra Club from 1998-2010 in a variety of roles, including Director of the “Cool Cities” campaign, the organization’s first nationwide grassroots effort to advocate for local clean energy solutions. From 2012-2017, he served as Director of the Sierra Club’s Maine Chapter.

He has been quoted widely in media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, and the Los Angeles Times, and he has been a guest speaker on clean energy issues at many venues throughout the country, as well as in Denmark and Brazil. A Florida native, Glen was educated at the University of Florida and the University of Houston. He is an avid kayaker, bicyclist, and amateur jazz musician.

Hanna Mitchell works to bring more solar energy options to Texas communities. As an organizer and campaigner with a passion for environmental justice, she started organizing after attending a summer training program with the Sierra Student Coalition over a decade ago. She has experience working on local, state, and national campaigns. For three and a half years, she worked with Greenpeace in North Carolina to improve access to cleaner and cheaper energy options and support the intersecting movement for environmental and social justice. During this time, she led grassroots outreach for Solarize Charlotte, ran a 100% renewable energy initiative for public schools, and met her husband with whom she moved to Austin, Texas in the summer of 2017. Originally from Maine, Hanna earned her B.A. in Environmental & Urban Studies from Bard College in New York, focusing on Environmental Policy. When she’s not organizing, Hanna can be found salsa dancing, cooking up food to share with friends, or running on an Austin greenbelt.

Hannah supports the West Region’s communications efforts in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and Minnesota. She’s passionate about empowering local communities, democratizing energy, and mitigating the worst of climate change’s effects. Hannah’s background is in communications for nonprofits, foundations, and political campaigns, and in community and volunteer organizing.

Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College in History and Political Science. In her free time, Hannah generally enjoys being outside, whether she’s skiing, hiking, backpacking, sailing, traveling or sitting in the SUN (though she makes sure to wear SPF 30+ at all times).

Heaven brings her passion and experience in program management, volunteer management, research, capacity-building, diversity and inclusion, and evaluation to her work. She is a native of Florida and proud to say she’s #FreshfromFlorida. She has a Master of Science in Family, Youth and Community Sciences and. Heaven loves hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Henry’s passion is to build a movement of empowered – and solar-powered – advocates across Pennsylvania to fight for a cleaner and fairer energy system. Through earlier positions at the Institute for Sustainable Communities and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, he has spent the better part of a decade working to make American communities more sustainable, more resilient, and more equitable by supporting local leaders and elevating good ideas. Henry is a NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate™️ and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Oberlin College. Henry lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Sarah, and sons, Jesse and Robin.

Jada is a bright, passionate, and motivated environmentalist. She enjoys educating others on how to achieve full-scale climate solutions. She is dedicated to sustainable development and establishing equitable systems.

Jada has worked with an array of organizations. This includes the Environmental Defense Fund, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Audubon North Carolina, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

At SUN, Jada builds and maintains relationships with community stakeholders and SUN participants. She is also a senior Environmental Studies student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Julia is thrilled to work with Solar United Neighbors to help expand solar in the Sunshine State. Her passion for clean energy began while working in Pennsylvania’s coal regions as an AmeriCorps member. Water quality, landscape design, and community service projects grew out of her Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from RISD. She has completed Frostburg University’s Wind and Solar Energy (WISE) Education Program, Pinellas County Water Stewards Program and Florida Master Naturalist courses. Through teaching, volunteer and work experiences, she champions the power of education and local action in positive environmental change. Julia’s a native plant and butterfly fan who loves to hike, bike and travel the world with her husband.

Julianna works to ensure funding for the organization. She is passionate about attaining a more sustainable economy. Julianna has worked in environmentally-focused outreach, research, and grant administration positions. She holds a B.A. in Environmental & Sustainability Studies and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Kentucky.

Kimberly is Maryland Program Director for Solar United Neighbors. She is nationally recognized for her work on social justice and equality. She has experience as a sustainability adviser, author, and community advocate.

Kimberly has been a part of Solar United Neighbors for several years. She served as a Maryland advisory board member. She has also served on the boards of several other community grassroots organizations.

She brings a unique, integrated perspective to her work. It lets her meet complex community challenges and social demands. In her free time she enjoys being with her immediate family and traveling.

Kristi has worked for decades in local and national nonprofits. She has built meaningful relationships to raise funds that advance social change and environmental sustainability as well as racial and economic justice.

As the Development Director, Kristi secures funding to allow Solar United Neighbors to help communities go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights. Kristi is honored to advance SUN’s initiatives. She does so by actively seeking partners that share a vision for creating an energy system that works for everyone.

Kristi holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Masters in Nonprofit and Global Leadership.

La’ Tonya Troutman was born and raised in community that hosted a coal plant. She grew up in a household with a high energy burden. This gives her a personal understanding of how fossil fuels impact on a community.

La’Tonya brings this experience to her work. She creates strategic communications tactics to give voice to the voiceless. She has served with many organizations to fight for environmental and social justice. This includes serving as the NAACP Environmental Justice Branch Chair. She also launched a solar installation training program called Soul Power Project. This effort trained ten students to become solar installers.

She brings this same passion, zest, and heart as the Heartland Region Communications Associate for Solar United Neighbors. This covers her home state of Indiana. It also includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

La’Tonya’s personal greeting to everyone is Merry Christmas. This greeting is also her mantra because she believes “The Present” is a gift from God to enjoy daily.

Laura is passionate about sustainability. She is excited to expand solar energy in South Florida. She has more than a decade of experience in environmental and field education. Laura has worked with various non-profit organizations and government agencies. Her work has stretched from Panama to Alaska. She has worked with thousands of students and educators in the classroom and in the field. Together, they’ve explored environmental issues and solutions.

Laura has a B.S. in Environmental Sciences. She holds a M.S. in Ecological Leadership and Education. She has an Occupational Endorsement in Sustainable Energy as well. When not working, Laura enjoys meditation practices and spending time outdoors and in the wilderness.

Larry joined Solar United Neighbors in 2021 as the IT Manager. He has worked in non-profit tech for the majority of his career and is excited to use that wealth of experience while managing IT initiatives across the organization.

Before joining Solar United Neighbors, Larry honed his tech skills working for youth development and affordable housing organizations. He is a 2x certified Salesforce admin and loves figuring out how to use technology to make organizations more effective.

Larry lives with his family in sunny Tempe, AZ.

Leah believes in cultivating stewardship through fostering connections to the natural world. She makes political and social change, in her community and beyond.

This change will shift our energy system. It will promote fair access to energy independence. She hopes to see these efforts benefit climate, health, and the economy. This will ensure a healthy, safe, and peaceful world for generations to come.

Liz is excited to bring her almost 20 years of experience with clean energy, climate, and social justice organizing and advocacy to her role as Solar Advocacy Campaigner. Liz has served in many leadership roles across the movement for clean energy and climate justice. Mostly recently, Liz was Network Director at We Own It building the movement for rural electric co-op reform and energy democracy from 2015-2020. During that time, Liz served three years on the Steering Committee of the RE-AMP Network helping to set a goal of equitably eliminating GHG emissions in the Midwest by 2050. She served as Co-chair of the Power Shift Network board from 2016-2019 (which she co-founded in 2004 as the Energy Action Coalition) to bring youth together to build a clean energy future. She enjoyed helping people go solar through Solarize Eugene and looks forward to bringing solar to many more people through her work with Solar United Neighbors.

Liz is from North Carolina, but currently lives in Omaha, Nebraska where she’s on the board of a multi-modal transportation advocacy group, Mode Shift Omaha, and is an active customer-owner of Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). Sadly, her roof doesn’t face south, but she does participate OPPD’s community solar program. She has a MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon, a BS in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina, and she received the Morris K. Udall Scholarship in 2002 and 2003. She enjoys biking, gardening, and hanging out with her chickens.

Madina Waiz Arghandiwal is a newly appointed Operations Associate here at Solar United Neighbors. She is currently working out of the Washington, D.C. office where she works alongside the operations team. Madina specializes in operational development, onboarding process and organization management. Madina is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to assist others and help with moving the organization forward. Madina is inspired daily by her husband and her parents. In her free time, Madina likes to hike, crochet and travel with her husband.

As a scientist and community organizer, Monica is dedicated to making solar energy accessible to everyone. She grew up in Amish Country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She then earned a PhD in chemistry from Michigan State. Her worked researched low-cost, earth-abundant solar materials. During this time, she worked to increase equity and inclusivity in the Physical Sciences college. She founded the Conversations with Women in Science project. Monica began at SUN as the Pennsylvania Policy Intern. She will continue her work in analyzing public policies on renewable energy. She will also support the expansion of SUN’s Pennsylvania-based solar co-ops. In her downtime, Monica is an avid bread baker and gardener, and enjoys learning new languages.

Morgan has a passion for sustainability, community building, and political activism. She brings this passion to support Solar United Neighbors state program engagement efforts. She coordinates local engagement opportunities in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. Morgan started at SUN as a Program Intern. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies from Towson University. Morgan enjoys hiking, reading, making amateur art, and practicing yoga in her spare time.

Mryia is a sustainability-minded individual. She started with SUN by advocating for the solar rights of those living within a Homeowners Association (HOA). This is an issue near to her. Her own HOA tried to stop her from going solar. She has personal experience with the Solar United Neighbors co-op process. She and her husband went solar on their own home with the Columbus 2020 Co-Op.  Mryia also enjoys sharing her knowledge about electric vehicles and how they can partner with solar installations.

In her downtime, Mryia likes to spend time with her three cats, cheer on her favorite hockey team, and tend to her backyard garden.

Roger is dedicated to empowering communities to go solar. Roger combines his passion for community organizing with his love of solar energy at Solar United Neighbors. He loves supporting families as they go solar and is especially interested in equitable financing.

Before joining Solar United Neighbors, Roger owned two coffee shops and an ice pop business for 10 years. He also has a background in community organizing. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor’s in Peace, War, and Defense and in Spanish. Roger lives with his family in Philadelphia, PA.

Roger organizes Solar United Neighbors’ policy and advocacy work in the Heartland Region of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Roger led labor and community organizing efforts in Ohio and Georgia – building strong coalitions focused on the power of working families. While working through a public health department, he coordinated policy initiatives related to gun violence prevention, grocery store implementation and fair housing. He participates in his neighborhood block club and is a board member of Neighborhood Leadership Institute, which builds local leaders and participatory governance in Cleveland.

Roger is passionate about making solar more relevant to working families and communities. He went solar in 2018 through a SUN co-op after being inspired by a simple conversation with his neighbor who had solar panels on her roof.

Roger holds a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University and resides in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sarah is an advocate for renewable energy, equitable policy, and the practice of leadership centered around compassion. She is a firm believer that every action matters and that every voice deserves a seat at the table. Guided by these principals, she seeks to educate and empower individuals so that they may have the tools they need to utilize their unique strengths for the projects that inspire them.

Sarah began working on her first renewable energy campaign with Food and Water Watch in 2017 where she was introduced to the strategies that make her successful today. She is eager to begin work with the Colorado Program where she will assist in guiding a collective effort to bring Colorado to realize it’s renewable energy goals.

When Sarah is not working for a renewable future for all, she spends her time scaling granite cliffs and enjoying the snowy slopes that Colorado has to offer. She lives in Evergreen, Colorado with her husband and their furry companions.

Shelby joined Solar United Neighbors as the Development Associate in 2022. As part of the development team, she helps to secure funding for the organization. She holds a B.A. in Environment & Sustainability Studies from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, where she lives with her two cats. Shelby is passionate about building community to foster sustainable growth. She has experience working in research and environmental education.

Sukrit supports our solar work across the Mid-Atlantic region. He has a passion for everything sustainability-oriented. He uses it to educate people about solar energy. Sukrit brings a deep research background to SUN. He’s studied topics such as solar financing, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.

Sukrit spent his childhood in Thailand. He moved to the United States for college. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Sustainability Studies from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He’s now lives in D.C. He enjoys the city’s architecture and museums, but he maintains his fandom for (most of) Chicago’s sports teams.

Tanner is excited to build community and create change as Solar United Neighbors’ Colorado Program Associate. Through his background in education and community organizing, Tanner is driven to build power with communities toward justice, liberation, and a democratic energy system that works for everyone. Tanner’s East Tennessee roots and time spent in Chicagoland have deeply influenced his passion for bridging often alienated rural and urban communities, and he is excited to bring that passion to SUN.

Tanner is based in Colorado Springs with his wife Hannah. In his free time, you can find Tanner reading, hiking, or teaching his nephews how to sing “Rocky Top.”

Tristan has made it his life’s work to further social, economic, and environmental justice in his home state of Ohio. He has more than a decade of experience in community outreach, media, and organizing. He now brings this experience and his skills to bear to build Ohio’s community of solar supporters. Tristan spends a great deal of his free time engaged in his local community where he serves on multiple boards and as an elected member of Lakewood City Council. Tristan holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Kent State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Cleveland State University. He and his wife, Caitlin, live in the Cleveland area with their dog, Marcus.

Vincent has worked across the spectrum of solar. Before joining Solar United Neighbors, he worked with a national solar installer and then for a non-profit organization where he provided technical assistance to local governments implementing solar best practices. At Solar United Neighbors, he helps educate co-op participants so that they can make truly informed decisions when going solar. Vincent has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Kansas. He is also a NABCEP-certified Photovoltaic Associate.

Zach is a passionate organizer and storyteller dedicated to promoting justice. He believes in the potential for collective action to build power and shape a more just and equitable future. Building an electric system that distributes control and benefits back to local communities—with rooftop solar as the cornerstone—is one step toward that future he hopes to see. Zach is a native Hoosier who earned a BA in journalism and political science from Indiana University and a MA in Communication, Culture & Technology from Georgetown University. He has more than a decade of experience as a communicator and organizer.

Allison Archambault has 15 years’ experience helping people adopt renewable energy to improve their lives and strengthen their energy systems. As President of an international nonprofit organization, Ms. Archambault leads a team expanding electricity access in rural Haiti with smart solar-powered electricity grids. Ms. Archambault is also a co-founder and board member of a venture-backed smart grid technology company now serving utilities in 25 countries and named by Fast Company as “The Most Innovative Company in Energy” in 2021.

Ms. Archambault’s work on gender and energy has been highlighted by the United Nations FCCC as being “a real world example of what climate action looks like.” Previously, Ms. Archambault worked in clean tech in the US on grid integration planning for large scale renewables and on sales channels for residential solar+storage.

Ms. Archambault is a National Geographic Explorer, and in 2017 she received the US Department of Energy’s C3E International Award. Ms. Archambault’s TEDx talk “Electric Everything is Possible…Here’s How” bridges her work in Haiti with her home in Washington, DC and highlights some of the people who have gone solar with Solar United Neighbors.

Bentham Paulos is the principal of PaulosAnalysis, consulting and writing on clean energy policy, technology, and trends, for clients in the government, non-profit, media, industry, and philanthropic sectors.

He is currently an Affiliate in the Electricity Markets & Policy Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and a Senior Research Associate with the Clean Energy States Alliance.

He was a program director with the Energy Foundation from 2000 to 2013, making grants to promote renewable energy, utility efficiency, and advanced biofuels. He previously worked for the Energy Center of Wisconsin, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Abt Associates, and has an MA in Energy Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BA from Tufts University.

He is married with two children, and lives in Berkeley, California.

Cathy Kunkel is an energy analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis where her research focuses on utilities in the mid-Atlantic region. She lives in Fayetteville, West Virginia and has testified on numerous occasions before the West Virginia Public Service Commission in support of stronger energy efficiency programs. Previously, she worked for Energy Efficient West Virginia and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Christina (Chrissie) McHenry is a principal at The Raben Group.

Chrissie was previously at NeighborWorks America where she was the Senior Vice President, Public Relations for more than six years. NeighborWorks, a national housing and community development organization chartered by Congress, leads a network of almost 250 independent, locally-based nonprofits across the nation. Chrissie provided strategic communications counsel to the NeighborWorks America CEO and colleagues in four regional offices. She also provided high-level communications support to the leadership of network organizations around crisis communications and reputation management, nonprofit governance and overall visibility including politically sensitive stakeholder and funder messaging and outreach.

Prior to joining NeighborWorks America Chrissie was Director of Communications, Community and Corporate Responsibility for Fannie Mae, working extensively in crisis communications, reputational risk, and community relations, as well as managing diversity communications for the company. Throughout the foreclosure crisis, Chrissie worked to help homeowners facing foreclosure and the communities where they lived weather the financial storm of the Great Recession.

For a large part of her career, Chrissie was a broadcast journalist covering politics for a number of leading news organizations. Most recently she was the Senior Producer of Washington Week with Gwen Ifill on PBS and held a variety of roles with CBS News, ABC News Nightline, and PBS’s NewsHour.

Chrissie sits on the board of the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club.  In her spare time, she loves to needlepoint and is planning an eventual Appalachian Trail thru-walk (despite the skepticism of her three children).

Chrissie holds a B.A. from Tufts University in Political Science and French.

Courtney Cuff is executive director of Western Conservation Foundation. She is an expert at designing creative campaigns that motivate diverse constituencies to achieve specific conservation outcomes. Previously, she worked as Pacific regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, where she designed programs to protect National Parks in California and Hawaii from development, pollution, and underfunding. She recently launched a “Defending the Desert” campaign to protect the biodiversity of the Southern Californian desert lands. Courtney has also served as director of Government Affairs for the Green Scissors Campaign at Friends of the Earth in Washington, D.C., and has worked on several U.S. House and Senate political races, served on the League of Conservation Voters Political Advisory Committee, and served on the board of the Safe Energy Communications Council.

Celebrating well over a decade in the solar industry, Dana Clare Redden is a passionate solar energy professional dedicated to the development of distributed generation solar globally.  She is the founder of Solar Stewards, a social enterprise connecting corporate social responsibility initiatives with marginalized communities.  Dana holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Drexel University as well as an Executive MBA from IE Business School and Brown University.

She is among GRIST Magazine’s 2021 50 Fixers, a two-time judge at the DOE/NREL Solar District Cup, a co-founder of BOSS: Black Owners of Solar Services, an inaugural American Council of Renewable Energy (ACORE) Accelerate member, and serves on the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) board of directors.

Diego Morley served as one of the founding members of the Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative that in turn sparked the movement that led to the creation of Solar United Neighbors. Diego continues to serve as an advisor to Solar United Neighbors of D.C. and as an activist on renewable energy issues. He brings expertise in communicating with and mobilizing youth and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to our mission through more than seven years of extensive volunteering. He graduated from Brown University in 2016.

John Farrell is a recognized national leader in community-based and community-owned renewable energy. He is the director of democratic energy at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and directs its work on democratic energy. John is best known for his vivid illustrations of the economic and environmental benefits of local ownership of decentralized renewable energy. He’s the author of Energy Self-Reliant States, a state-by-state atlas of renewable energy potential that shows how most states don’t need to look outside their borders to meet their electricity needs. He has also written extensively on the economic advantages of democratizing the electricity system, published a rich interactive map on solar grid parity, and polished policies that support locally owned renewable energy development.

Karl Rábago is the Executive Director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center, at the Pace Law School in White Plains, New York. The PECC mission is to protect the earth’s environment through solutions that transform the ways that society supplies and consumes energy. Karl has some 25 years experience in energy and climate policy markets. Karl serves as Chair of the Board of the Center for Resource Solutions, a San Francisco-based non-governmental organization that works to advance voluntary clean energy markets. He also sits on the Board of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Karl also is co-director and principal investigator for the Northeast Solar Energy Market Coalition, a US DOE SunShot Initiative Solar Market Pathways project.

His past positions include Commissioner, Texas Public Utility Commission; Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Energy; Vice President of Distributed Energy Services at Austin Energy; Director of Regulatory Affairs for the AES Corporation and AES Wind; and Managing Director & Principal of the Rocky Mountain Institute. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Management, Karl is an attorney (University of Texas Law School, J.D. with Honors) with post-doctorate degrees in environmental (LL.M., Pace University School of Law) and military law (LL.M., US Army Judge Advocate General’s School). A veteran of more than 12 years in the US Army, he served as an Armored Cavalry officer and member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and is Airborne and Ranger qualified.

Leslie Rigby is the assistant director for Communications at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She is a communications expert and senior editor, writer, and manager for print and online publications of nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and membership associations. Previous publications experience includes AARP and Congressional Quarterly. She has provided technical advice and communications support for Solar United Neighborhoods since its inception.

Lisa Anne Hamilton is an Attorney specializing in Climate Law and Policy. She is the former Adaptation Program Director for the Georgetown Climate Center in Washington, DC and the former Director of the Climate & Energy program for the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). Ms. Hamilton’s work focuses on championing ambitious climate policies by leveraging the power of law to protect the environment and promote human rights. She has provided input to stakeholder convenings and technical assistance as a regulatory consultant for the Pace Energy & Climate Center and the Institute for Energy Economics Financial Analysis (IEEFA). Her work focused on closing the information gap about the fiscal and financial risks and opportunities for pubic power and investor owned utilities.

Ms. Hamilton has been a moderator for the Climate Resilience Planning and Adaptation Project with WEACT for environmental justice in Harlem and continues to collaborate with a global network of attorneys and activists to foster a Just Transition. Prior to joining GCC she provided technical assistance to the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) to further state led coastal resilience. She is a member of the Global Adaptation and Resilience Working Group (GARI) and the Campus Divestment Advisory committee. She is a frequent speaker and panelist on the intersection of environmental sustainability and financial risk Ms. Hamilton is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and Cornell University.

Meg Boyles co-leads the Sustainability & Inclusion Advisory team within Truist’s Community Commercial Bank (CCB). The team is focused on helping our privately-held businesses navigate business and capital structure impacts related to Sustainability, Inclusion and other Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) topics. Meg’s focus is dedicated to the Sustainability aspects in particular, such as electrification of vehicles, building retrofits, de-carbonization, sustainability financing and other environmentally-focused areas.

Meg has been with Truist since January 2010. Prior to joining CCB, Meg led the Pricing & Enablement Team within Wholesale Payments. She spent the first ten years of her career in investment banking, first as part of Citi’s Corporate & Investment bank and then as part of the Truist Securities Energy Investment Banking team. Meg attended Emory University’s Goizueta Business School focused on Finance and Management.

Meg is originally from Ohio, but has been in Atlanta for about 20 years and considers it home. She lives in the Old Fourth Ward near downtown with her husband, Thomas, where they can walk to the stadium for Atlanta United MLS games. They have 2 cats, Francy and Prin, and a perfect chi-mix pup named Boogie.

Randall Speck has spent more than 30 years working in energy law, handling a variety of complex proceedings involving electric industry restructuring, development and implementation of organized electric markets, design and construction projects, antitrust claims, and fraud and negligence suits. He has represented state public utility commissions in major proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and before the U.S. Courts of Appeals relating to electric resource adequacy, the exercise of market power in wholesale electricity markets, and incentive rates of return. Randall has also represented states in the development and implementation of new markets for electric capacity in New England and the mid-Atlantic region, conducted a retrospective review of electric industry restructuring, and evaluated the cost-effectiveness of options for supplying electricity in the future. Randy was designated a “Groundbreaking Lawyer for 2009” by Public Utilities Fortnightly and is ranked by Best Lawyers in America (2012-16) for his work in Energy Law. He also serves as a commissioner on Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3G, for the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Wendy Hauenstein has spent the last 24 years working in the private and public sectors. Ms. Hauenstein has worked domestically and internationally as a program manager, financial analyst, and independent business consultant. Her formal career started as a small business advisor with the Peace Corps in rural Kenya. She has since worked for several notable companies, including seven years with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Other employment includes a year with the state savings bank in Vilnius, Lithuania, and serving as the head of mission for the United Methodist Committee on Relief in Haiti. Recently, she completed a two-year contract with Groundswell International, a small, grassroots, nonprofit organization. She is familiar with all aspects of nonprofit accounting and finance, including compliance with state and federal regulations. She speaks French fluently and has working knowledge of Swahili, Lithuanian, and Spanish. Ms. Hauenstein is currently working on a socially-responsible business endeavor in Washington, D.C. She holds a BA in International Business and Economics from James Madison University and an MBA from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia,

Cathy Kunkel is an energy analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis where her research focuses on utilities in the mid-Atlantic region. She lives in Fayetteville, West Virginia and has testified on numerous occasions before the West Virginia Public Service Commission in support of stronger energy efficiency programs. Previously, she worked for Energy Efficient West Virginia and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Karl Rábago is the Executive Director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center, at the Pace Law School in White Plains, New York. The PECC mission is to protect the earth’s environment through solutions that transform the ways that society supplies and consumes energy. Karl has some 25 years experience in energy and climate policy markets. Karl serves as Chair of the Board of the Center for Resource Solutions, a San Francisco-based non-governmental organization that works to advance voluntary clean energy markets. He also sits on the Board of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Karl also is co-director and principal investigator for the Northeast Solar Energy Market Coalition, a US DOE SunShot Initiative Solar Market Pathways project.

His past positions include Commissioner, Texas Public Utility Commission; Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Energy; Vice President of Distributed Energy Services at Austin Energy; Director of Regulatory Affairs for the AES Corporation and AES Wind; and Managing Director & Principal of the Rocky Mountain Institute. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Management, Karl is an attorney (University of Texas Law School, J.D. with Honors) with post-doctorate degrees in environmental (LL.M., Pace University School of Law) and military law (LL.M., US Army Judge Advocate General’s School). A veteran of more than 12 years in the US Army, he served as an Armored Cavalry officer and member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and is Airborne and Ranger qualified.

Wendy Hauenstein has spent the last 24 years working in the private and public sectors. Ms. Hauenstein has worked domestically and internationally as a program manager, financial analyst, and independent business consultant. Her formal career started as a small business advisor with the Peace Corps in rural Kenya. She has since worked for several notable companies, including seven years with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Other employment includes a year with the state savings bank in Vilnius, Lithuania, and serving as the head of mission for the United Methodist Committee on Relief in Haiti. Recently, she completed a two-year contract with Groundswell International, a small, grassroots, nonprofit organization. She is familiar with all aspects of nonprofit accounting and finance, including compliance with state and federal regulations. She speaks French fluently and has working knowledge of Swahili, Lithuanian, and Spanish. Ms. Hauenstein is currently working on a socially-responsible business endeavor in Washington, D.C. She holds a BA in International Business and Economics from James Madison University and an MBA from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia,