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Scott Ely
Founder and President
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Tyler Sweeney
Residential Sales Manager
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Alex Collins
Lead PV Installer
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Shirley Powers
Operations Manager
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Steven Haines
Procurement Manager
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Greg Peterson
Residential Solar Consultant
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Darin Binion
Lead PV Installer
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Chris Howard
Commercial Sales
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Christopher Taylor
Commercial Lead Installer
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Cristian Basso
Independent Solar Consultant
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Dirk Summers
Designer
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Jeff Lauckhart
Design Manager
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Jeremy Brown
Designer
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Justin Martinez
Commercial Project Manager
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Matt Heck
AC & Storage Manager
Scott Ely
Founder and President
Scott has been promoting solar energy for over 30 years. Having built Sunsense from the ground up, Scott has experienced all aspects of solar business development. From sole proprietor to commercial sales to strapping on the tool belt, Scott has a unique view of the past, present and future of the solar electric industry. Over the years, Scott has had the honor of working with many of the solar industry’s pioneers and cherishes those long standing friendships. Scott’s goal with Sunsense has been to create a sustainable business model based on a solutions-oriented commitment to our clients.
Tyler Sweeney
Residential Sales Manager
Tyler started his career in the solar industry in 2008. He has been operating a small energy efficiency/building science consulting company for the last several years which provides him with a complimentary set of skills in his current role as a Residential Sales Manager with Sunsense. Combining solar with his building science background, Tyler looks at the “big picture” when it comes to residential energy use, taking a holistic approach to solar consulting. He is excited to be part of a strong team in the ever-growing solar industry here in Colorado.
Alex Collins
Lead PV Installer
Born in Texas on the fourth of July, Alex Collins (aka Clip) is the epitome of a good ol’ American boy. Alex can be described as a family man, scholar and outdoors enthusiast with a heart of gold. Like every great American, Alex Collins wakes to the rising sun to meet the day of hard work with a good cup of joe and a smile. Alex moved to Colorado in 2008 where he attended college at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO and has since come to call the Roaring Fork Valley Home. When he’s not achieving his life’s work of creating clean energy independence for the Roaring Fork Valley, you can find Alex deep in the backcountry powder or scaling one of our many amazing fourteeners. All around, Sunsense is proud to have such a smart, dedicated natural born leader.
Shirley Powers
Operations Manager
Shirley is a Roaring Fork Valley native and is excited to bring her long time solar experience home to western Colorado. After getting a BS in physics and studying PV materials at the Colorado School of Mines, Shirley joined the solar industry where she worked for 7 years at GRID Alternatives. After leaving in 2018, she bike-toured through South America and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail before returning to Carbondale and joining Sunsense in the fall of 2019. Shirley has been NABCEP certified since 2012.
Steven Haines
Procurement Manager
Steve is CoSEIA and NABCEP certified in photovoltaics, and brings his installation experience to his role in assisting our residential and off-grid clients. With a BA in Environmental Studies from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, Steve is skilled in not only the technical aspects of grid tied and off grid systems, but the environmental, social and economic benefits as well.
Greg Peterson
Residential Solar Consultant
Greg started in the solar industry in 1980 and has designed and built over 100 passive and active solar systems in New York and Colorado. In addition to his background in energy efficient construction, he has over a decade of experience in electro-mechanical design and engineering. Greg brings a customer-driven approach to finding solutions that meet customers’ needs, create long-term value and build lasting relationships.
Darin Binion
Lead PV Installer
Darin has been in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 20 years, bringing his Midwest work ethic with him. An outdoor lover at heart, he is at home in the backcountry as well as hanging out on steep roof pitches. Three-time winner of the 18 Hours of Fruita Solo on his single speed bicycle, (against a bunch of people on geared bikes) he believes that one should “work hard and play harder”.
Chris Howard
Commercial Sales
Chris first visited the Roaring Fork Valley in 2004 after graduating from the University of Georgia. In the years that followed, he worked in finance and eventually pursued his passion for renewable energy beginning in 2014 and never looked back. Chris spent time in the field in Georgia learning the ropes of PV and used his financial skills to help clients understand the economic benefits of going solar. The sunny weather, quality of life and trout streams, along with the Sunsense culture, drew Chris back to the area the summer of 2019.
Christopher Taylor
Commercial Lead Installer
After traveling around the United States and overseas for 5 years, Chris became very interested in sustainable-living. He transplanted to Colorado in the Fall of 2014 and took classes at Solar Energy International. Soon after receiving his residential and commercial professional certificate at SEI he started working at Sunsense. Chris has experience installing residential, commercial and off grid PV systems as well as leading his own crews. After two years coordinating Sunsense’s residential operations, Chris is excited to continue to hone his skills in the service department.
Cristian Basso
Independent Solar Consultant
Cristian has been with Sunsense since 2014 and is the Eagle County residential and commercial sales representative. He is a licensed landscape architect in the State of Colorado and focuses on sustainable design and the use of renewable energy in his projects. After graduating from Harvard University in 1995, he has focused the last 20 years of professional design experience in the Colorado Rockies’ construction industry focusing on resort, institutional, residential and community design. He has completed both the grid-tied and off grid professional certificates from Solar Energy International.
Dirk Summers
Designer
Hailing from the Mile High City, Dirk graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BS in Civil Engineering. He worked as a civil engineer in California before earning an MS in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Santa Clara University. After working briefly at the Stone Edge Farm MicroGrid Project, he has since been busy designing solar PV systems in California, and now at Sunsense.
Jeff Lauckhart
Design Manager
Since joining Sunsense in January of 2006, Jeff has set a high bar in the Design/Engineering Department with over 10 MW of PV project design. Jeff’s career experience includes renewable energy education at Appalachian State University, PV installation in California, and small wind installations in North Carolina. His role at Sunsense includes commercial PV system design and manager of the design team. Jeff has been a NABCEP Certified PV Installer since 2007.
Jeremy Brown
Designer
After working as a snowboard instructor for 18 seasons, Jeremy decided he wanted to do more than just educate people about the environment, he wanted to actively help the renewable energy revolution. Jeremy began his Sunsense career as an installer, then solidified his field experience with Advanced PV System Design training from SEI. He also holds two degrees from Western Washington University, has lived in four countries and speaks three languages.
Justin Martinez
Commercial Project Manager
Justin is a proud Colorado native and joined the Sunsense Team in 2016. A son of farmers and ranchers for many generations he is very satisfied helping others learn the rewards of harvesting sunshine. Other passions of his include continuing his never-ending exploration of Colorado and giving back to his community through volunteer work.
Matt Heck
AC & Storage Manager
Matt is a 14 year veteran of the solar industry and has been involved in every aspect of EPC operations having sold, designed, built and serviced systems ranging from 10W to 5+MW. As a Colorado licensed Journeyman Electrician, NABCEP PV Installation Professional certificate holder and former small business co-owner, Matt has both broad and deep knowledge of grid-tied, battery-based and hybrid systems and knows what it takes to safely and successfully complete high quality projects. At Sunsense, Matt is bringing all of that experience to bear as an AC and Storage Manager.
Ryan Elftmann – PV Installer
Daniel Duggan – PV Installer
Jake Donmoyer – PV Installer
Patrick W. Scheirer – PV Installer
Matt Petaisto – PV Installer
Matt Greenlund – Residential Project Manager
Kyle Alchenberger – PV Installer
Rodney O’Brien – Master Electrician
Kevin Lundy – Off-Grid and O&M Technician
MaKayla Loden – Administrative Specialist