My name is Minnie, and I am Inspection Manager here at SunnyMac. One thing that sets us apart from other solar installers is that we are a full-service solar company, meaning we have several in-house teams functioning like a well-oiled machine to keep each project running smoothly and efficiently. We work together on the backend and frontend every day monitoring the solar process through each stage.
What’s your day to day look like?
With previous experience working in the construction industry, and now currently coming up on six years with SunnyMac, I value the knowledge gained and needed within my role in the inspections department. We keep an eye on projects as they transition through the journey. This involves interfacing with other SunnyMac teams regularly, including our permitting, service, project management, interconnection and design teams. Once installations are complete, we begin coordinating inspections right away. Always prioritizing quality teamwork and an efficient outcome with customers, inspectors and our in-house technicians.
Part of my job is knowing the ins and outs of the four states that we operate in: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. I must familiarize and keep abreast of the processes, requirements and state codes and regulations within each township and county. Whenever any of this information changes, which it does periodically, my team ensures the change is communicated throughout the department and documented in our database so the process continues to run smoothly. We are in constant communication with townships, inspectors, technicians and customers throughout the day starting at 6am to sometimes as late as 9pm. We ensure our technicians have adequate time to review projects and plan ahead of inspections to achieve the best possible outcome. Each in-house field technician is equipped with safety tools needed for the job, such as rubber mats, slip-resistant shoes, belts, ladder, and more.
My team’s goal is to ensure speedy and efficient inspections with as little disruption as possible for our customers. It might sound simple, but believe me — there’s a lot to know and manage about the inspection process. We currently coordinate on average 70 projects per week. This includes setting appointments and sending appointment reminders, while also managing the schedules and workload of our entire inspection field team. Each in-house technician’s schedule is closely monitored to ensure there is adequate prep time before meeting customers and inspectors at each job site. This ensures they are fully prepared with the unique requirements of each project before setting foot at the home.
Tell us about something you’re proud of, either a personal or professional accomplishment.
I’m very excited and proud of our team. We have excellent lines of communications internally and externally. After years of experience and collaboration, the majority of our projects safely pass through inspections seamlessly. Congratulations to the team! We average a very high pass rate on approximately 200-210 subcodes that are scheduled weekly. In the event there are any issues, our technicians are stocked with necessary equipment needed to bring any areas up to code. Getting the job done smoothly takes a lot of knowledge about the solar installation process, inspection and code requirements. Every solar project requires inspections to be performed by a selected state and/or county representative that is responsible for building, fire and electrical inspections. It is our job to ensure the inspection is scheduled, whether that be for a rough inspection on a roof mounted system before installation is completed or the process of running electric through a new ground mount trench.
Our refined inspection process is just one thing that sets SunnyMac apart from others in our industry. We have been fine-tuning the solar installation and inspection process from top to bottom for years. We also conduct quarterly training and provide recaps and updates for new and existing employees, with a focus on customer satisfaction and the best process possible. While continuing to evolve, everyone can rest easy knowing they are in good hands with us. We know what we’re doing!
