OUR ORGANIZATION

Get to know Solar Energy International.

SEI’s Purpose

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.

SEI’s Values

SEI is a dedicated community of hardworking professionals who believe in a world where all people have equal access to clean energy resources to ensure the safety and health of their communities, natural environments, and the planet. Our Core values are to Educate, Engage and Empower each other and the world through our work, aligning with our mission of a world powered by renewable energy.

Realizing this vision takes committed hearts, and we work every day to ensure that the people and communities we engage are educated and empowered to make a difference. These beliefs create the bedrock for SEI’s actions and programs and our core values guide what we do and how we do it, including a loyalty and commitment to our staff, students, instructors, and collaborators.

Educate

We Educate through reliable and quality educational products and services designed to provide a pathway to a skilled, knowledgeable, and equitable workforce.

We believe that training and building a global renewable energy workforce is essential to our collective futures. SEI is dedicated to continuous innovation in providing reliable, relevant, and quality services that are accessible to all, delivered by experienced industry thought leaders. We strive for a learning environment that puts service to students first and provides a pathway to a skilled, knowledgeable, and equitable workforce.

Engage

We Engage by building a community in all levels of our organization that is rooted in integrity to our mission.

We recognize the power in collective engagement, and knowing that diversity equals success, we endeavor to create a culture of inclusion amongst our community that focuses on taking care of each other and the planet. SEI is grounded in integrity, compassion, professionalism, and excellent service, and we engage with our work, our staff, instructors, students, and our collaborators to develop solutions and curate experiences with wide-ranging impact.

Empower

We Empower all those we work and collaborate with to believe in their potential, have a curiosity to learn and the determination to make a difference in their own lives and in the world.

We strive to empower as a way of life at SEI. We encourage people to apply their education to make a difference in their life and communities by providing resources, fostering connections and creating career opportunities. SEI’s work environment is focused on harmonious and productive teams, encouraging work/life balance, individual responsibility, and spirited fun. We advocate for personal and professional growth and prioritize quality of life.

 Board of Directors 

Gerald Espinosa

SEI Board President

+ Learn more

Paul Bony

SEI Board Vice President

+ Learn more

Cathryn Peterson

Treasurer

+ Learn more

Kathy Swartz

Interim Executive Director, Western Slope Conservation Center; Former SEI Executive Director

+ Learn more

Kristan Kirsh

Vice President, Global Marketing at Nextracker

+ Learn more

Zach Krapfl

Electric Vehicle Engineer/ Renewable Energy Engineer/Consultant

+ Learn more

Johnny Weiss

Co-Founder, Solar Energy International (Retired)

+ Learn more

Kevin King

Founder and Owner, Solar Tools USA

+ Learn more

Josh Rogers

Senior Director of Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations at ACP

+ Learn more

Dr. Cynthia Finley

VP Workforce Strategy and Innovation, IREC

+ Learn more

Kim Strickland

Global Head of Execution – Energy and Sustainability, Prologis

+ Learn more

Shannon Welch

Onsite Renewable Energy Construction Program Manager, Amazon

+ Learn more

Naveed Hasan

VP of Strategy and Marketing, SunGrow Americas

+ Learn more

 SEI Advisory Board 

Jean-Philippe (JP) Denruyter

World Wildlife Federation, Manager, Applied Energy Solutions

+ Learn more

Scott Ely

Sunsense Solar, President

+ Learn more

Keith Fouts

Interconnection Systems, Inc, Solar Program Manager

+ Learn more

Sean Murphy

AES, Sr. Cx Superintendent

Rick Naranjo

Paradise Energy, VP of Technical Services and Training

+ Learn more

Liam O’Brien

Kilawatt Consulting, Founder & Sr. Staff Engineer C&I Products

+ Learn more

Rudy Saporite

IBTS, Program Director

+ Learn more

Gavin Watson

SEI Advisory Committee Chair | NABCEP PVIP

+ Learn more

Robert Youngberg

Sustainable Development International, President

+ Learn more

 Industry Partners 

HellermannTyton
ABB
Ilsco
Morningstar
Trina Solar
SMA
AMtec Solar Products
PVpallet
General Specialties Manufacturing
Sky Blu Energy
Hannah Solar
Strata Solar
Quick Mount PV
REC Solar
Gardner Engineering
Tritec Energy
Azimuth Energy
Duke
S-5!
SPS - Solar Panel Store
Solectria
CertainTeed
CED Greentech
Discover Battery
GoodWe
CAB Products
Petzl
First Solar
Solmetric
SnapNrack
Fluke
Terra2
O2 Energies
FLIR
Baywa r.e.
Mission Solar Energy
King Products
SOLV Energy
Seaward Solar
Solar Edge
Solar Island Energy
Mitsubishi Electric
Iron Ridge
Alternatex Energy Solutions
NorthStar
DPW Solar
KACO New Energy
Crown Battery
RevoluSun
Sol-Ark
Magnum Energy
Fortress Power
MT Solar
Outback Power
Schneider Electric
Panasonic
Victron Energy
RBI Solar
Scanifly
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America
Wiley
MidNite Solar
IMO Precision Controls
Enphase Energy
PanelClaw
Unirac
Trojan Battery
Wakulla Mat
SolarTools USA
Solar Pathfinder
Fimer
MK Battery
OnGrid Solar

Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) Archives

“Very great class that better equipped me to handle the art form that is solar pv.”

-Ben Peters