A Panel of Experts from REC Solar, First Solar and SunPower Presents
Business to Business Opportunities in the Future of Solar Energy
The solar industry is expected to grow faster than almost any other industry in the U.S., with annual installations approaching 10,000 megawatts by 2015. The U.S. solar market is expected to surpass Germany – currently the world's top photovoltaics (PV) market - in annual installations by 2014. The Central Coast has a long history of being a national leader in energy and is poised to host some of the world's largest photovoltaic energy projects. This potential future for San Luis Obispo County provides an entree for local businesses to become suppliers for solar industry projects.
Softec, in partnership with the Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC), recognizes the potential synergy that can exist between local business and solar businesses. In light of this, we have assembled three solar executives from REC Solar, First Solar and SunPower to discuss the technical requirements, business ecology requirements, and key supply chain requirements for businesses to pursue future photovoltaic energy opportunities. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with major local solar players via discussion and questions from the audience about the current state of B2B solar.
“The Solar Industry is growing at an incredible pace,” says Softec President Russ Levanway. “Local businesses have an amazing opportunity to come learn from industry leaders on how to inject their products and services into the industry and become part of the bright solar future.”
Join us for an evening to learn about and discuss Business to Business Opportunities in the Future of Solar Energy.
Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Place: Ventana Grill, 2575 Price Street, Pismo Beach
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. Registration and informal discussion
5:45 p.m. Dinner Buffet
6:10 p.m. Introduction by Russ Levanway, Softec President
Opening Remarks by Adam Hill, Chair, San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors
6:15 p.m. Presentations
7:15 p.m. Panel Discussion
8:20 p.m. Closing Remarks
Cost: $30 Registration by 4/22; $35 by 4/26; $40 at the door
Who Should Attend:
• Specialty manufacturing
• Knowledge and innovation industries
• Potential collaborators in academia
• Support businesses
Solar Industry Expert Presenters
Technical Requirements: Demands of Today's Growing Distributed Generation Solar Industry
Presenter: Matthew Woods, VP and General Manager for AEE Solar
Matthew Woods is the VP and General Manager for AEE Solar, the distribution arm of Mainstream Energy. In his current role, Matthew is responsible for the day to day management of the AEE Solar distribution business, including its go-to-market strategy, new customer acquisition, pricing and market strategy, and order execution and fulfillment. Matthew is also intimately involved with key Mainstream Energy partner accounts including suppliers and REC Solar channel partners. Under Matthew’s leadership AEE Solar grew over 75% in 2010, generating record revenues and profit for the company.
Matthew has been with Mainstream Energy for 7 years. Prior to his role as VP/GM of AEE Solar, Matthew was the Vice President of Sales for REC Solar. Under Matthew’s leadership REC Solar sales grew from $5.0MM to over $160MM during a time REC Solar solidified its position as among the leading solar-system integrators in the United States. Matthew is active in solar industry associations and a frequent speaker at national conferences on topics ranging from “How to Start and Grow Your Own Solar Business” to the complex issues surrounding project financing for residential and commercial solar systems. Prior to Mainstream Energy, Matthew worked in the finance industry and received his degree in Business Finance and Economics from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Matthew is personally driven to bring solar energy to the mainstream. His wife and two small sons provide him the perspective and motivation to work every day toward creating a more sustainable planet.
Business Ecology Requirements: Lessons Learned in Europe That Can Help San Luis Obispo Create a Solar Business Ecology
Presenter: Kii Miller, Director of Business Development, North America, First Solar
Kii has been with the company since 2004, and is currently responsible for leading market penetration and segment share capture efforts in North America. Kii is a renewable energy industry veteran with ten years of solar technology experience. Prior to joining First Solar, he was a Program Manager for Global Solar Energy. Kii holds an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State, and a BS from Humboldt State University in Environmental Resource Engineering.
Key Supply Chain Requirements: How Local Businesses Can Position Themselves as Potential Suppliers -- Case Studies
Presenter: Matt Campbell, Director of Product Strategy, Utility & Power Plants, SunPower
For the past 4 years, Matt has overseen the growth of SunPower’s utility products from less than 50MW to over 400MW of operating power plants. Prior to joining SunPower in 2004, Matt was the co-founder and COO of Iris AO, a manufacturer of MEMS adaptive optic systems. Campbell also worked in Venture Capital technology investing while at William Blair Capital Partners L.L.C., a $1 billion Chicago-based Private Equity/Venture Capital group. He holds a MBA from the University of California at Berkeley with a specialization in the management of technology and a BBA in Marketing, Finance, and Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Sponsored by: Softec and the Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC)
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Adam Hill
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors
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