ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

OUR CORE VALUES

AWARDS
      
        2009 National Center for Employee Ownership Innovations Award
        2009 Colorado CleanTech Initiative Sustainable Business of Honor – Gold Level
        2008 Best Customer Service Award from SunPower Corporation
        2008 Flexible Rebate from City of Boulder’s Business Incentive Program
        2007 “Business to Watch” by Boulder Weekly
        2007 SPARK Award from the Boulder Chamber of Commerce
        2007 Sunny Award from the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association
        2006 Eco-Cycle Zero Waste Business Award

OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY

Namaste Solar is proud to be working closely with and supporting like-minded organizations throughout the community. Below are a few examples (in alphabetical order):

Ben'Jamin Electric
Ben'Jamin Electric is a Boulder-based licensed electrical contractor that regularly works with Namaste Solar to install solar PV systems. Mark Fuller, a Master Electrician at Ben'Jamin Electric, has installed hundreds of solar PV systems in the state of Colorado over the past 15 years and is one of the most experienced PV installers in the region. Namaste Solar is proud to be a long-term partner with Ben'Jamin Electric.

The Boulder Chamber of Commerce
http://www.boulderchamber.com/
The Boulder Chamber of Commerce serves its members by providing information and advocacy on issues that impact area businesses. Each year the Chamber holds the Sparks Awards that honor small businesses in our community that have a special spark and that uniquely “fuel the fires of small business success.” We are very proud to announce that Namaste Solar Electric won one of the 2007 Sparks Awards given to 5 out of 60 nominated companies.

The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless
http://www.bouldershelter.org/
The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless plays a vital role in our community by providing overnight shelter and more than 50,000 hot meals to over 1,000 different individuals. Namaste Solar collaborated with the Center for Resource Conservation to install a 10.5kW solar PV system on the shelter to help reduce its operating expenses. The funding for the project was donated by the Renewable Energy Trust and Namaste Solar.

Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC)
http://www.conservationcenter.org/
The Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) is committed to leading Colorado residents, businesses, and municipalities towards a sustainable future. Namaste Solar has donated two 2.0kW solar PV systems (equipment, installation, and all rebates included) to the 2006 and 2007 CRC Annual Awards Dinners, generating a total of $37,500 to support the CRC’s efforts to build community and raise awareness around alternative energy and resource conservation. As a CRC business member, Namaste Solar is a proud sponsors of Boulder Solar Week, a week long renewable energy workshop series featuring the annual Tour of Solar and Green Built Homes each October.

The CoSEIA Solar Defense/Offense Fund
http://coseia.org/DefendSolarNow.htm
Namaste Solar is proud to have contributed over $6,000 to the CoSEIA Solar Offense/Defense fund since 2005. CoSEIA raised over $10,000 in 2005 in the first fundraising campaign, over $25,000 in 2007 in the second campaign, and over $50,000 in 2008 in the third campaign. This funding allowed CoSEIA to promote solar-friendly legislation, hire excellent legal help for the Amendment 37 rule-making process at the Public Utilities Commission and to protect the interests of the solar industry in Colorado. Namaste Solar is proud to have provided financial support to CoSEIA and to have been active participants by meeting with state legislators, actively campaigning to promote renewable energy, and getting involved in the PUC rule-making process by submitting written comments and providing expert witness testimony. Namaste Solar's Eriks Brolis and Blake Jones both currently serve as Board members of CoSEIA.

Daj Design, Inc.
www.dajdesign.com
Daj Design specializes in green, environmentally friendly, and innovative residential design. In addition to providing the highest quality architectural services, Daj Design is a values-based company that Namaste Solar thoroughly enjoys working with. Namaste Solar is also grateful to Daj Design's principal Architect, Andy Johnson, for serving the Boulder community as former Board President of the Center for Resource Conservation (CRC).

Del Pueblo Elementary School - Legacy Schools Project
http://www.ases.org/programs/legacy/legacy_2006.htm
Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) unveiled the 2006 Legacy Adopt-A-School project on July 7th, during ASES' 2006 Solar World Congress in Denver. The 1.02 kW solar electric system, donated to Del Pueblo Elementary School, provides a teaching, research, and hands-on demonstration opportunity for a generation of students. The system is supplemented by a curriculum package, as well as a Web-based monitoring system that provides real-time access to the system's performance data from any Internet-enabled computer. Namaste Solar Electric provided all planning, project management, and installation services free of charge.

Eco-Cycle
http://www.ecocycle.org/
Eco-Cycle’s mission is to provide publicly accountable recycling, conservation and education services and to identify, explore and demonstrate the emerging frontiers of sustainable resource management through the concepts and practices of Zero Waste. Namaste Solar will be donating a 1 to 2 kW PV system to Eco-Cycle in the near future. The details are currently being finalized. We are very proud to announce that Namaste Solar Electric won the Eco-Cycle 3rd Annual Zero Waste Business Award in the category of Outstanding Recycling Program - Small Business 2006.

Harvard Communities
http://harvardcommunities.com/news.htm
Harvard Communities is passionate about building homes and has been satisfying Colorado homebuyers since 1992. Their mission is to create a higher standard of home, and their formula for success includes distinctive, high-quality residences in desirable, urban neighborhoods, cutting edge architecture, exceptional workmanship, energy efficiency, and a dedication to complete customer satisfaction. Harvard Communities has introduced the Solar Advantage initiative in Stapleton, where all new residences come with a standard 2.7 kW solar PV system, installed by Namaste Solar Electric. These homes are 50% more efficient than the average new home built today, with the solar electric system providing approximately one third of the home’s electricity. For more information, click on the link above.

KGNU Community Radio Station
http://www.kgnu.org
KGNU is an independent, non-profit, community radio station based in Boulder and Denver that is dedicated to serving its listeners. Namaste Solar is proud to be supporting KGNU by installing a solar PV system to help offset KGNU's operating expenses and to help KGNU set a positive example for our community. Namaste Solar has also participated in multiple radio shows at KGNU on renewable energy environmental topics.

McStain Neighborhoods
http://www.mcstain.com/Default.aspx?TabID=917&CommunityID=27
Founded in 1966, McStain Neighborhoods is a Colorado developer and homebuilder, recognized both regionally and nationally for its environmentally responsible home building practices and master-planned community design. This spring, McStain will introduce 42 homes in Bradburn Village with solar power standard. Homes will feature 3-7 bedrooms, 2.5-3.5 bathrooms and two and three-car garages. Solar systems will be installed by Namaste Solar Electric. For more information about Bradburn Village, click the link above.

Partnership for Sustainability (PFS)
http://www.partnershipforsustainability.org/
PFS is a non-profit organization that uses a revolving loan fund to provide no-interest loans for solar electricity projects. At Partnership for Sustainability, a loan itself is a renewable resource. When you contribute to our revolving loan fund, your dollars not only help others help themselves – your contribution actually grows over time. Each month, as consumers make payments on the no-interest loans your donations provide, new loans become available to a growing market of people and businesses eager to tap into sustainable energy.

Solar Energy International (SEI)
http://solarenergy.org/
SEI is a non-profit organization that provides valuable training and workshops to empower others to use renewable energy technologies. Namaste Solar regularly assists SEI with conducting its workshops and classes in the Denver-Boulder area and Namaste Solar's President, Blake Jones, has been a guest instructor at SEI for the past 5 years for the workshops, "RE for the Developing World" and "Successful Solar Businesses." Click here to learn about our latest collaboration.

University of Colorado & Leeds School of Business
http://leeds.colorado.edu/
MBA students from CU's Leeds School of Business are have frequently worked with Namaste Solar as part of class projects or internships. Namaste Solar's President, Blake Jones, also lectures on solar businesses at the school. We hope to continue sharing our knowledge and working with students from CU and other educational institutions in our community.

Western Resource Advocates
http://westernresourceadvocates.org/about/sponsors.php
WRA is a non-profit environmental law and policy organization dedicated to restoring and protecting the natural environment of the Interior American West. For example, Rick Gilliam, former Senior Energy Policy Advisor at WRA, was the principal author of Amendment 37 and has played a instrumental role in getting the law passed and helping with its implementation. Namaste Solar is a proud corporate sponsor of WRA and intends to continue its support for the WRA's valuable work in the USA's western states.

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OUR TEAM

Stephen Kane
Stephen brings a wide variety of technical and practical experience to Namaste Solar. He joins us from Gaiam Real Goods where he was the top sales and support technician for the retail catalog division from 2004-2006. He has lived with solar in off-grid locations in Oregon and Colorado. Prior to moving to Colorado in 2004, Stephen spent time on the Southern Coast of Oregon working for several organic farms and permaculture focused homesteads. He gained valuable hands-on experience in the fields of Ecoforestry, Natural Building, Renewable Energy and Watershed Management while in Oregon. His technical background comes from the IT industry where Stephen was a Network Engineer for CompuServe and WorldCom from 1997-2001. His views of solar as THE energy source that society needs to embrace motivates him to provide the best installation, sales, support and service to customers of Namaste Solar. Stephen is certified in solar PV installation by CoSEIA and NABCEP.

Stephen Irvin
Stephen Irvin serves as Namaste Solar’s Chief Financial Officer.  He has loved playing a small part in the evolution of Namaste Solar's unique, 100% employee-owned business model.  Stephen is an accomplished speaker who has literally given hundreds of presentations during his nine years of experience in the fields of economics and renewable energy.  He was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship in 2002 at the University of California to study renewable energy in developing countries. This led him to Nepal in 2003, where he worked with the Nepali government providing subsidies for solar PV home systems, biogas digesters, and micro-hydro power plants. After leaving Nepal, he returned to the university to research the use of solar PV and biogas to reduce indoor air pollution in villages throughout Southeast Asia.  Stephen holds an MA in Economics from the University of California, an MS in Environmental Economics from The Ohio State University, and a BS in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University.  Stephen enjoys traveling, playing with his kids, and looking for that next great bottle of wine.

Amanda Bybee
Amanda joined Namaste Solar in January 2006, just as the solar rebate programs debuted in Colorado. Since early 2007, she has helped over 50 builders and architects integrate solar into new homes. As part of her personal mission – and the mission of Namaste Solar – Amanda regularly performs educational presentations for realtors, builders, architects, and the general public. Previously, she was active in the renewable energy community in Texas for several years. She coordinated the Solar Austin campaign from January 2003 through June 2005, promoting renewable energy policy at the state and local level. She also worked at Meridian Energy Systems, the largest solar PV installation company in Texas. She obtained a BA from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Surendra Thapa
Surendra has over 13 years of experience in the solar PV industry. At Lotus Energy, a renewable energy company based in Nepal, he worked his way up to Production Manager after originally starting as a "Tea Boy" in 1994. As one of the top officers in the company, Surendra was responsible for solar component manufacturing, shipping and receiving, quality control, and general management of all warehouse operations. Surendra managed 12 staff members, including assembly technicians and an engineer, and was widely respected throughout for his strong work ethic, dedication and loyalty. He has extensive solar PV installation experience and a deep understanding of solar PV technology. Surendra came to the United States in the summer of 2004 after being granted a Diversity Visa from the US embassy in Kathmandu. Surendra enjoys cooking Nepali food, spending time with his family, and tinkering with electronic gadgets.

Julie Nelson
Julie brings over seven years of experience in civil and environmental engineering to Namaste Solar. Her background includes construction field engineering, environmental remediation system design, and engineering scheduling and cost estimating. She comes to us from Gaiam Real Goods, where she worked as a renewable energy sales and technical consultant. Julie is excited and honored to be part of a team that places education, community outreach, and personal integrity in such high regard; and she looks forward to helping the customers of Namaste Solar fulfill their dreams of sustainable living. Julie holds a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder and enjoys skiing, camping, crafts, large-scale art, and movies.

Eriks Brolis
Eriks complements the Namaste Solar team with a wide array of experience and unwavering passion to bolster the implementation of renewable energy technologies. Eriks was previously employed in industrial-scale wind power development, where he led business development activities for a number of community-based wind power projects in the southwestern U.S. He was responsible for strategy development, client correspondence, advocacy, legal document drafting, and procurement. Eriks also possesses applied skills in law, engineering, construction, and sales management. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (CoSEIA). Eriks earned his B.A. in European Government from the College of William & Mary and spends his personal time exploring; be it in the outdoors or at the public library.

Matt Heck
Matt joins Namaste Solar Electric with a broad and varied experience base. From his days as a Quality Assurance Technician with SC Johnson Wax’s professional division through his time as the interim director of Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica, Matt brings positive energy, joy and his inquisitive nature to all his work. As an honors graduate from both the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado at Boulder, Matt now holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Environmental Studies, and is done with his coursework for a Master’s degree in Music as well. While a student at CU Boulder, Matt was the director of the Environmental Library inside the Environmental Center, the hub of environmental activism and sustainable projects on campus. In his “free” time, Matt enjoys rock climbing, making music, reading, cooking, brewing various libations, hiking, camping, backpacking and mountain biking. Matt also practices yoga, meditation, and is a member of the ManKind Project.

Eric Warner
Eric joins Namaste Solar with a wide variety of skills and experience. His background in psychology and group leadership were put to good use as he traveled extensively, living and working in sustainable communities around the world. His commitment to conscious living extends beyond his love of community into his love and concern for the Earth. He is passionate about all dimensions of sustainability and the beautiful art of harnessing the power of the sun. Eric is a skilled carpenter and all around tinkerer. He holds a B.A. in transpersonal psychology from Naropa University and is also a certified practitioner of structural integration. He loves spending time in nature, practicing yoga and aikido and above all, learning and growing with his beloved wife and two children.

Ziola Saputo
Ziola brings her expertise in public outreach, policy issues, and customer service to the Namaste Solar team. She has been active for the past few years in the Boulder area, directing citizen outreach campaigns at The Fund for Public Interest Research. As Director, she ran campaigns for saving our national forests from illegal logging, changing our use of toxic chemicals to sustainable, environmentally safe alternatives, and the renewable energy campaign for Amendment 37, which won by public vote. During the 2004 elections, Ziola worked for MoveOnPAC.org as an organizer in the “Leave No Voter Behind Campaign,” in which she organized political movements in 22 precincts in Colorado. Prior to moving to Colorado, she lived in Israel where she studied Hebrew on a Kibbutz, and then traveled to Germany where she spent time exploring local culture. Ziola is originally from Jacksonville, FL where she studied sculpture and enjoyed many bags of boiled peanuts. She also enjoys cycling, traveling, gardening, cooking, reading and hanging out with her puppy.

Dan Yechout
Dan joins the Namaste Solar team with a wide variety of experience in high tech and start-up companies. Dan worked seven years in the semiconductor industry for Atmel Corporation where he founded and managed an integrated circuit design center in Camberley, England. Prior to joining Namaste Solar, Dan served as Operations Manager for RentClicks.com, a successful real estate website company. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University and is certified in solar PV installation by NABCEP and CoSEIA. In addition to accelerating the renewable energy revolution, Dan enjoys fishing, cycling, travel, food and wine.

Jason Sharpe
Jason comes to Namaste Solar with a long history of passion for and experience in renewable energy. After a trip to Australia in 1989 Jason began the pursuit of a career in renewable energy as an electrical engineering student at UVM. His Senior Project involved building and racing a Solar Electric car in the American Tor De Sol in 1994. After a short career in organic foods Jason joined the solar industry at Jade Mountain in 1999, which later became Gaiam Real Goods. During his 5 year career at Jade Mountain / Gaiam Real Goods he wore many hats, including top technical salesperson and designer, technical sales manager, COO, and catalog director. He has designed and sold thousands of renewable energy systems and has a deep understanding of systems both on- and off-grid. Considered an expert in his field, he has been a guest lecturer at The Naropa Institute in Boulder, as well as the University of Nairobi, Kenya while traveling in Africa in 2002. In the pursuit of gaining a well-rounded experience base in the Solar PV industry, he left Gaiam Real Goods in 2004 to become an Electrician. Combining years of experience in sales and design, with hands on experience, this is a chance to combine all of the skills he has acquired over the last 15 years. Jason is excited to be an employee-owner of a company that shares his work ethic and integrity in the industry that has inspired him since high school. Jason holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from UVM and is certified in solar PV installation by NABCEP and CoSEIA. In his spare time Jason enjoys time with his family and friends, good food, dancing, travel, hut trips, and backpacking.

James Balcomb
James comes to Namaste Solar Electric through a desire to invest his personal energy in bettering our world. James says, “I was drawn to the solar field because I enjoy spending my days outside, working with my hands and most importantly, contributing my working hours towards preserving our environment.” James holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Management and before coming to Namaste Solar, worked as a backcountry ranger and wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service. In addition to his work for the federal government, James also worked as a solar installer in the Sacramento region of California. In his personal time James enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking and various other outdoor pursuits.

Jonathan Ernst
Jon brings to Namaste Solar over ten years of engineering experience, as well as a commitment to furthering the use of renewable energy in Colorado. He graduated in 1991 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC Santa Barbara. After college he began work for a small technical company in the CA Bay Area, JEM America, serving in both engineering design and management roles. During this time Jon was given the opportunity to work for a year in Japan, where he developed a keen interest in Japanese language and culture, as well as an appreciation for the benefits of solar energy. After gaining additional experience as a Reliability Engineer with NEC Electronics, he then turned his energies fully toward issues of renewable energy and sustainability, working first on straw-bale construction and then focusing on solar PV installation and design. Jon is certified in solar PV installation by NABCEP and CoSEIA. He loves to travel and watch movies, and he is thrilled to call Namaste Solar home.

Teri Lema
As a new home buyer in Boulder, Teri got solar fever when her home inspector said her roof would be perfect for a solar array. This began her education and excitement about renewable energy that led her to Namaste Solar Electric. Teri joins Namaste Solar with a variety of business skills acquired while running an online software company. She moved to Boulder to study Contemplative Psychology at Naropa University. In her spare time she enjoys dancing, cooking, camping, hiking and yoga.

Ben Griffin
Ben graduated from Colby College in Waterville Maine with a degree in Anthropology and African Studies. After spending a year working and traveling in Asia he joined the U.S. Peace Corps in Ecuador where he spent two and a half years designing and implementing community-based development projects. Ben’s success in creating sustainable income generation, intercultural and resource conservation programs in Ecuador led him to move to Boulder to pursue a career in environmental policy and renewable energy. He joins Namaste Solar to continue the company’s vision of cultivating a sustainable, healthy community by providing viable renewable energy options that help protect our environment and natural resources. Ben spends his free time biking and skiing Colorado’s mountains and playing the guitar.

Gary Gantzer
Gary is thrilled to be joining the Namaste Solar Electric team. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. Gary spent many years as the maintenance manager at Pittsburgh North Campground before becoming a residential counselor at Zerby Gap Familyworks, a youth home in rural Pennsylvania. After moving to Boulder, Colorado, Gary became the citizen outreach director for the Fund for Public Interest Research. He enjoyed working on various environmental and public interest campaigns for Environment Colorado, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, the Human Rights Campaign, and Save the Children. In his free time, Gary loves spending time with his wife and daughter, hiking, playing disc golf, and listening to live music.

Brian Moore, PMP
As Namasté Solar’s Director of Information Technology, Brian brings a wealth of project management experience and methodologies to our larger commercial projects. A certified Project Management Professional with PMI, Brian has been managing enterprise-level IT projects for over 10 years and has applied his experience to the PV industry with Namasté Solar since 2006. With such a strong background in both Information Systems and Project Management, Brian is ideally suited to help our organization manage over 100 concurrent projects while providing the infrastructure on which to do so. From a systems design and project management perspective, Brian has helped manage over 1MW of commercial PV projects for Namasté Solar. Some examples of Brian’s contributions to the project team include graphical model rendering, solar shade analysis, advanced schedule modeling, PM systems and data maintenance, project documentation maintenance, data acquisition system design and logistics support. Additionally, Brian maintains our project communications to ensure our stakeholders stay informed.

Sam Mason
Sam is amazed at his good fortune to join Namaste Solar Electric. Sam comes with a Bachelor's of Science from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. After touring for a few years with a professional clown, Sam settled in Boulder to work at Naropa University while his wife Emily attended school there. Inspired by the many days of sunlight in the area, he quickly re-awakened his passion for solar energy; and after a year of crossing paths with Namaste Solar Electric, Sam set his mind to join the team. Sam loves to mix old and new technologies in his pursuit of a more sustainable lifestyle; he likes to can local produce and commute by bike, while at the same time "geek out" over the latest advances in alternative energy. Things to watch: algae produced biodiesel, the integration of solar and wind power technologies and the return of "wind up" technology! In his free time Sam cleans his bike, repairs everything in sight, cooks lots of food, and builds little gizmos.

Chad Parsons
Chad brings technical experience and strong communication skills with him to Namaste Solar Electric from his hometown of Springfield, Ohio. Although he is not developing vehicles fueled by orange juice as he had hoped as a child, the opportunity to work with Namaste Solar is a dream come true. After realizing his passion for the natural environment as a NOLS student, he found a home in the Environmental Geography program at Ohio University. Upon graduation, Chad spent a year interning and studying with Solar Energy International (SEI) in Carbondale, Colorado, and then worked as a solar installer in Cincinnati, Ohio and San Diego, California. After taking a year off to live and “play” in Steamboat Springs, Chad joined the Namaste Solar team in early 2007. He feels truly blessed to work with folks who share his passion for life and drive to create a sustainable future. Chad is certified in solar PV installation by NABCEP. Boulder provides him with the opportunity to explore the surrounding area on his mountain bike and telemark skis.

Chris Fox
Chris discovered that he wanted a "hands-on outdoor job" while working on farms in New Zealand in 2003. Newly married, he and his wife traveled for a year in New Zealand, India, and Southeast Asia. This journey, along with a lifelong interest in sustainable living and the outdoors, eventually led him to Namaste Solar Electric. Previously, he worked in the field of environmental education, first as an outdoor educator, and then as a public school teacher in Los Angeles. Chris was involved in the charter school reform movement in California as a founding staff member at Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, California. In his spare time, he enjoys surfing waves or snow, whichever is more convenient, and is very motivated to forge a path of sustainable, conscious living and help others do the same. Chris is a graduate of CU Boulder (1993) with a degree in Anthropology, and very excited to be back in Boulder as a part of the Namaste Solar Electric team.

David Henry
David began working in the solar industry in 1997, providing technical support and PV system design for off-grid customers at Jade Mountain. Following his tenure at Jade Mountain, David spent three years on the road with the Boulder-based band, JIVE, and was later hired as the Assistant Engineer for Airshow Mastering. While at Airshow, David worked on many amazing music projects, one of which was nominated for a Grammy Award and led to his attendance at the 2005 Grammy Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles, California. Soon after, David relocated to Burlington, Vermont, where he designed and managed commercial size audio-visual projects. David recently returned to Boulder to join the Namaste Solar team and apply his technical, sales, design, and project management skills to the fast-growing Colorado solar industry. In developing commercial-size grid-tie solar PV projects, David combines his practical knowledge of business and PV design with his passion for motivating and energizing the community to provide local business owners the best overall service available in the Colorado market. He holds a B.A in Environmental Studies and a B.A in Geography from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Lauren Coyne
Lauren has seven years of teaching and advocacy experience in Colorado and California. Working as a Field Representative for a State Assemblymember during the California energy crisis, Lauren learned first-hand that renewable energy is a key solution for our energy future, our environment, and our economy. Lauren returned home to Colorado in 2003. Recently, she spent two years teaching sixth grade at Kent Denver School in Englewood and two years teaching middle school English at St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Denver. In her free-time, Lauren volunteers on political campaigns and has been active in the passage of several important ballot issues, including Amendment 37 and FasTracks. She is thrilled to be part of a company that allows her to combine her passion for environmental issues, her desire to educate the public about renewable energy, and her entrepreneurial spirit. Lauren holds a B.A in Environmental Studies and Public Policy from Dartmouth College.

Heather Leanne Nangle
With expertise in marketing/PR, fundraising and special events, volunteer management, and strategic planning, Heather Leanne brings over 14 years of experience helping nonprofits and businesses reach their missions and financial goals. In early 2005, Heather Leanne founded Seven Spirals, a strategic marketing firm designed to serve the creative needs of socially conscious small businesses and nonprofits. In her role as consultant, she worked with a wide range of clients on marketing/branding, fundraising, operations, and strategic visioning. From 2002-2005, she served as Director of Marketing at Naropa University directing all international marketing and community outreach for extended studies. As part of the Namaste Solar team, Heather Leanne hopes to craft a long-term marketing and community outreach strategy that strengthens the Namaste Solar brand and helps more people become excited about the future of solar energy. Dedicated to holistic and sustainable living, Heather Leanne has volunteered for numerous arts, women’s, multicultural, environmental, and wildlife organizations. Heather Leanne has traveled to over 15 countries including a trek in rural Tibet to Mount Everest. She is a certified yoga instructor and enjoys tai chi, hiking, tending her cacti collection, and frolicking in the Boulder sunshine.

Alison Schneider
Alison joins Namaste Solar Electric with a passion for conservation and an interest in renewable resource policy. Alison earned a BA in Environmental Geography from Colgate University and an MA in Geography at the University of Arizona, where she studied community-based resource management and environmental policy. Before joining Namaste Solar, Alison worked at the Sierra Club in her hometown of San Francisco. She has also spent two years working as a guide on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. In her free time she is a volunteer Sierra Club outings leader, and she enjoys running, skiing, yoga, and spending time with her dog.

Ryan Dulaney
Ryan comes to Namaste Solar with a background that includes experience in national service and building science and a strong belief in making a positive impact on his community. After spending his formative years in St. Louis, MO, Ryan attended college at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where he created and earned an Individually Designed BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Minor in Appropriate Technology. The degree itself was a study of Social Change and Nonprofit Management, with a special emphasis on renewable energy technology. Before graduating, Ryan took several years away from school and participated in a federally-funded national service program called AmeriCorps*NCCC. During this period he worked on service projects in the areas of the environment, education, unmet human needs, public safety and disaster response, highlighted by time spent with the Red Cross in New York City following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. After college Ryan worked as a Home Energy Rater in North Carolina, helping to make affordable homes more energy efficient, healthy and safe. In his spare time Ryan enjoys spending time at various pursuits in the mountains, as well as reading and playing with his dog Banjo.

Marci Leffingwell
Marci comes to Namaste from Seattle Washington were she had been working in the wind industry on wind resource measurement systems. She worked for several years in renewable energy in North Carolina. She played a lead role in the initiative to create a green business program in Watauga County NC called Blue Ridge Energy League. This created a certification program for local businesses in their efforts to create sustainable business practices. She worked with a team of people to create the Small Wind Initiative in Western North Carolina, writing grant proposals and securing a small wind testing facility that is now in its 5th year of operation. She feels that fate has led her to her position in sales and design at Namaste Solar and feels blessed to have the opportunity to work with such a progressive community of people. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her dogs, climbing, running, making pottery, and playing with her extended family of friends.

Charles Wierdsma
Charles joined Namaste Solar in 2008. While working in the construction industry he developed a talent for implementing modern solutions to opportunities within the traditional business model. The solar energy industry appealed to Charles because it afforded a unique combination of technical and hands-on work. After leaving the construction industry Charles set-out to learn solar from the ground up, so he spent some time at SEI and started talking with Namaste Solar. Fortunately his skill set and personality were a match and now fosters a broad solar expertise. His roles within the company span both Information Systems and Data Acquisition; serving as the IT Manager while installing performance-monitoring systems. Charles feels that a career in renewable energy and working at Namaste Solar have been life changing, and a perfect fit for practicing right livelihood. As he is an outdoor enthusiast you may see him riding his bike to work and yoga almost every day.

Matt Johnson
Matt comes to Namaste Solar with a broad range of business and sales experience. Most recently, Matt used his expertise to build a successful telecommunications consulting company in Boulder. He most enjoys building relationships with his customers and working to find the right solutions for their individual needs. He is an active member of the Boulder and Denver business communities, including involvement with the Chambers of Commerce and Colorado Clean Tech Initiative. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Matt has had a deep interest in the environment and renewable energy for many years and is thrilled to put his unique combination of engineering, environmental and business skills to use in the solar industry. When he is not working Matt loves to spend time with his wife and son, hiking, and playing ice hockey.

Jason Houston
Originally from northern California, Jason spent the first 10+ years of his professional life producing and directing film and theatre. After burning out on the madness and competition of the entertainment industry, Jason shifted his focus to his passion for sustainable living. Returning to his home in the east San Francisco Bay Area, Jason applied his variety of business and construction skills to help establish a green construction company in Berkeley, California. Fueled by our country’s increasing need to clean up our act, Jason delved deeper into training and experience in home performance and efficiency sciences and remediation. In a proactive effort to slow life down a bit and get out of the rat race, Jason and his sweetheart relocated to her hometown of Longmont, Colorado. In joining Namaste Solar, Jason is honored to join a tight-knit family of individuals who share a commitment to respecting and serving the environment and customers.

Jason Newquist
After several years away, Jason has returned home to Colorado to focus on a career in renewable energy. Jason graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. After graduating he moved to Austin, TX to work for National Instruments as an applications engineer. It was in Austin that Jason discovered the genuine possibilities of solar energy through a NABCEP entry level certification course. However, after resisting the bite of the travel bug inflicted during a semester of college in Western Australia for so long, Jason decided to put his career on hold and see the world. He spent 14 months visiting 6 continents. His passion for renewable energy was ignited after volunteering for a project in rural Kenya. The project involved the design and construction of a wind generator and implementation of an accompanying sustainable business for an incredible village on the shore of Lake Victoria. Upon returning home to Denver, Jason was blessed to find and join the Namaste Solar family and the growing renewable energy transformation.

Tom Long
Tom was driven to a career in renewable energy through his research in alpine ecology. High in the mountains of New Zealand, he studied the complex relationships between plants, insects, and changing snowpack. Upon his return to the States, Tom decided to help prevent climate change at the ground level and took a position in the commercial wind industry. He later discovered the far-reaching benefits of distributed solar energy on both the environment and the community. To him Namaste Solar embodies all that is good about clean energy. Tom holds a BA in Biology from the University of Colorado and a graduate degree in ecology from the University of Otago, New Zealand. He enjoys climbing, trail running, and skiing in the hills and mountains near Boulder.

Heath Mackay
Heath Mackay was raised in Fort Collins and comes to Namasté Solar with a diverse set of skills. Upon graduating from Colorado State University, Heath led a field studies course in Belize, where he helped students from all over the U.S. learn about the incredible world beyond our borders. Continuing his love of connecting people with the natural world, Heath was the Projects Director for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), where he organized and led more than 100 stewardship projects. After five years with VOC, Heath and his wife, Sabina Mackay, left their jobs to travel extensively throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Once the trip was over, Heath started his own successful custom carpentry company while consulting for various nonprofit organizations. Not feeling satisfied with his contribution to the greater good, Heath began searching for a solar energy company that was striving to bring renewable energy to the masses and found Namasté Solar.

Dean Landi
Dean’s love of nature has led him from a career in marine resources to renewable energy.  His nature walk began in 1996 at the University of Wisconsin (Go Packers!) where Dean completed his bachelor’s of science degree in biology.  Upon graduating Dean worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a water resource biologist then moved his career to the magnolia state, Mississippi, where he worked for a contractor for NOAA as a Fisheries Research Biologist specializing in shark research in the Gulf of Mexico.  Always the environmental advocate, Dean developed, implemented and managed the recycling program at the lab and personally drove recycled items 70 miles roundtrip to Alabama since there was no city or private recycling program where he lived.   Dean’s passion for clean energy began taking full form when he lobbied for the use of alternative fuels for the research vessels and solar electricity for the new lab after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the old one.  This passion has led Dean to Boulder and now working for Namaste Solar; a company that shares his enthusiasm for preserving the environment and has given Dean the opportunity to work with a wonderful group of co-owners who are as passionate about sustainability as he is – and who work and play just as hard.

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Namaste Solar Electric, Inc.
In Boulder: 4571 North Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304
In Denver: 1610 Wynkoop St. #105, Denver, CO 80202
Tel: (303) 447-0300 | Fax: (303) 443-8855
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