Join Solar Power World and Top Solar Contractors as we have a roundtable discussion on the best business practices the installation community has adopted for the community solar market.

One of the fastest growing solar segments involves the community solar model. Instead of one end-user, many customers are involved with the unique solar projects on landfills, townhomes and community fields. C&I contractors involved with community solar will discuss the design, installation and post-project considerations necessary for this quickly emerging market in the United States.

Participants:

Shaun Laughlin, head of U.S. strategic development, Standard Solar
As Head of US Strategic Development, Partnerships, Project Finance and Acquisitions for Standard Solar, Mr. Laughlin leads the development of strategic channel partnerships for the company. He has more than 30 years of experience in sales and marketing leadership roles in the renewable energy, construction, high tech and telecommunications industries. Prior to joining Standard Solar, Mr. Laughlin was Director of Sales for Suniva, Inc., a Norcross, Ga., based manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells and modules. Prior to that he was Manager, National Accounts, with SunEdison LLC, a vertically integrated solar power services provider based in Beltsville, Md. Mr. Laughlin has worked extensively in both domestic and international market development with numerous models of product and service delivery in both emerging and mature market environments.

Chris Perron, VP of EPC, Nexamp
Chris Perron has been with Nexamp for 11 years and currently serves as Vice President of EPC. He manages a team of solar designers/engineers, construction management, and procurement/logistic personnel to deliver fully operational solar power plants in a timely and efficient manner. Under his leadership, Nexamp’s EPC team has built hundreds of megawatts of solar projects. Previously Chris served as Nexamp’s Director of Procurement and Operations. In this role he focused on process improvement and managing complex projects from sales through construction and closeout.

Prior to joining Nexamp, Chris worked at Home Depot’s corporate headquarters and field operations division, where he held multiple management level positions, including operating several stores ranging from $18-$45MM. Previously, Chris served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer, serving in operations in Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo, and is currently an Engineer Officer in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

Garrett Peterson, VP of Project Development, Pivot Energy
Garrett Peterson is a dynamic leader with twelve years of energy industry experience, with the past ten years focused on the solar sector. Throughout the course of his career, Garrett has developed and built over 300 MW of C&I and Distributed Generation solar throughout the United States, including large community solar portfolios in Colorado, Minnesota, and Illinois. His broad experience across the solar industry has developed a skill set that includes system design, project development and permitting, project management, project finance and transactions, and utility interconnection. Garrett holds an MS in Global Energy Management, a BS in Biology, and is a NABCEP certified PV Installer. As Vice President of Project Development for the Eastern U.S., Garrett leads strategy and oversees all project development and construction for the region.

Moderator: Kelsey Misbrener, senior editor, Solar Power World
Kelsey joined Solar Power World in 2017. She gets excited about all things solar policy and also enjoys covering the inverter and software beats for SPW. She spearheads the magazine’s Solar Basics video series and is always looking for new ways to reach SPW’s audience. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Kent State University and is passionate about renewable energy and the environment.