Tell us about yourself. What SunnyMac team are you a part of?
I joined SunnyMac in 2022, and my role is kind of hybrid — I was hired as a member of the Roofing Department, where I gained knowledge quickly under the mentorship of our Head Roofing Foreman, Rick, who has 30+ years of roofing experience and 10+ years of solar installation experience. Our leadership team knew I was about to graduate with my MBA, and wanted more responsibility, so they gave me the opportunity to build experience by heading our growing Tree Department.
What’s your day to day look like?
For now, my day is split between the Roofing Department and the Tree Department, but we are growing, so that may change in the future. First, I start my day by reviewing roof and tree jobs in the pipeline and where they stand. Whenever a job includes installing a new roof for customers, I am one of the team members who review all the photos and measurements of the roof structure that were taken by our Site Survey Technicians at the original visit to the customer’s home. I also help by reviewing photos flagged by the Design Team because of a roof-related issue. We love to cross train here when it comes to roofing, because one of the most important factors of a successful solar project is having a healthy roof. We have six Roofing Foreman, and they constantly share knowledge with other teams, especially our Design Team and Site Survey Team who review roofing structures to ensure viability. I get to help share knowledge with them, too.
For the Tree Department, I analyze shade reports, which are advanced calculations of sun and shade that would impact the success of solar panels. Prior to installing solar, one of the things we do here at SunnyMac is determine any trees that should be removed to optimize the energy output of the new system, and what that impact would be. We also partnered with the National Forest Foundation to plant, and together we plant a tree for every solar installation we perform and every tree we cut down. I calculate our total number and report it out to the company, so we remember our mission of sustainability.
Tell us something you’re proud of, either a personal or professional accomplishment.
It would have to be taking over the tree work and creating a true department out of it. I stepped up and took ownership, and have made it run like clockwork. It’s just one step in the solar installation process, but it’s one way we can delight our customers, so it makes me happy.
What is your favorite part about working at SunnyMac?
The people! They are what make me look forward to coming here everyday. We are truly a family here. Even outside of assistance with work, there are many people I can count on here, whether it is about personal things in my life or someone to listen to. It is great working for those who care about you and your wellbeing. This place definitely provides opportunities to build great relationships among coworkers.
I also like the committees we have, and sit on the Planning Committee (for employee events and recognition) and Give Back Committee (for supporting employee volunteer initiatives and helping the environment). I headed our give back donation to the Take A Breather Foundation to support my girlfriend Maddy, who has cystic fibrosis. I’m so happy to work for a company that cares about what is important to me.
Have you grown professionally while on our team?
I definitely have. Since starting, my knowledge of roofing and solar has grown more than I ever expected. The company takes cross-training seriously, because although each department manages different work, at the end of the day we are an end-to-end solar company, meaning we handle all aspects, including procurement, construction and design, plus roofing, rebates, permitting, and more — so everything we do must be in unison to deliver a great customer experience that helps SunnyMac continue to grow.
