Dylan Connelly, President, Affordable Solar

Dylan is the Director of Commercial and Community Solar Development at Affordable Solar – New Mexico’s largest solar installer.  

He is a professional engineer and joined Affordable Solar in 2008 after spending a decade designing cutting edge sustainable buildings. Dylan designed and lives in his Albuquerque Net Zero House (100% Solar Powered) and drives a 100% electric vehicle!

Karen Paramanandam, Vice President, UNIRAC

Karen has worked in solar for over a decade. She was first introduced to the world of solar in New Mexico. She often says that she accidently fell into solar as a career. She took a hands-on course designing and installing solar PV in Santa Fe and has been hooked ever since. 

Karen believes that anyone and everyone can do one small thing every day to a make difference in the world.

Glenn Felty, Secretary, SunState Solar, Inc.

Glenn is the Founder and CEO of SunState Solar, a local Albuquerque company serving the Albuquerque-Santa Fe metro.  A lifelong entrepreneur, Glenn saw a significant opportunity in the market in 2018 to launch and develop a locally focused solar sales and installation business. 

As he often says, there’s nothing better than making a living making a difference.  When he’s not busy building the company, Glenn enjoys all aspects of living in a state with such a great outdoor lifestyle including golf, tennis, hiking, biking and much more.

Chris Hilkert, Treasurer, Solar Works Energy

Chris Hilkert, a seasoned professional with a unique blend of experience in hospitality management and solar installations, serves as the Operations Manager at Solar Works Energy. Known for his jovial personality and relentless drive, Chris has been a part of the Solar Works Energy team since 2016.

As a holder of the esteemed NABCEP Installer Certification, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in solar installations to his role. He has also completed more SolarEdge training than any other individual in the United States, a testament to his commitment to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of the            industry.

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Andrew Stone, New Mexico People's Energy Cooperative

Andrew Stone is president of New Mexico People’s Energy Cooperative. He is a lifelong solar enthusiast and was instrumental in planning and running The First Annual Solar Fair at UNM in 1977. He built passive solar homes in the ’80’s and permitted the first PNM grid-tied PV system in 2005. In 2008, he received the first Tesla Model S in New Mexico. In 2016, he added one of the first grid-tied Tesla powerwall battery storage systems to make a residential nanogrid.

Andrew advocates for community ownership of solar resources as an active board member of the Renewable Energy Industry Association, and devotes his time to the Legislative, PRC and Community Solar Committees to bring good solar legislation & policy to New Mexico. He is a member of NREL’s National Community Solar Partnership and served on the board of The American Solar Energy Society.

He spent 27 years working Steve Jobs, NeXT Inc. and Apple Computer as a third party software developer, retiring early in 2015 to bring solar to the people of New Mexico.

Katherine Wyszkowski, Sunnova Energy

Katherine Wyszkowski is the Government Affairs Associate at Sunnova Energy International. Her advocacy work focuses on behind-the-meter solar and storage policy at federal, state, and local levels. She is also serving as a board member of the Arizona Solar Energy Industry Association. Katherine earned her Master of Science at the Colorado School of Mines in Natural Resources and Energy Policy.

Kathy Foster, NMSU-Arrowhead Center

Kathy Foster is the Director of Strategic Operations at Arrowhead Center, where she focuses strategic planning, and oversees the development and execution of several technology and innovation programs. Kathy places particular focus on Arrowhead’s energy-related programming, where she helps manage DOE funded projects and was key in building the NM Energy Independence Consortium. With a background in broadcasting, public relations, and a strong track record in grant writing, program management, and building industry relationships, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Kathy holds a BA in English from the University of New Mexico and an Executive MBA from the Anderson School of Management, equipping her with the strategic vision and leadership skills to drive Arrowhead Center's mission forward.

Adam Harper, OE Solar

Adam Harper is the Founder/Principal of OE Solar. He is a profound PV expert and visionary through his advocacy to help inspire others from New Mexico and beyond. He lives by the idea that we must not only learn how to anticipate change, but we must also learn how to create it.

In 2020 Adam worked as a leader in making solar energy affordable to all by working with organization such as REIA, CCSA and SEIA to get the Community Solar Energy Act (SB-84) passed. Fourteen years into owning OE Solar, Adam and his partner, Galina Kofchock, (Co-owner) have grown the company to a multi-million-dollar energy development and EPC; servicing commercial, government, municipal and industrial clients, as well as Sovereign Nations.

Adam is NABCEP PVIP certified and holds the qualifying electrician license for the company with 25+MW of solar experience. He currently serves on the boards of NAIOP, Commerical Real Estate Development Association of NM, Central NM Home Builders Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., and is an active industry partner of the CNM Trades Advisory committee. 

Corey Asbill, Organ Mountain Solar & Electric

Corey Asbill is the founder and CEO of Organ Mountain Solar & Electric in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He holds dual certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and has been actively involved in the solar industry since 2001. He began his career as an electrical engineer at NMSU’s Southwest Technology Development Institute and transitioned into a sales role with Positive Energy Solar back in 2013. When the opportunity arose to open his own business in 2018, he jumped at the chance and started Organ Mountain Solar & Electric.  

Randy Sadewic, Positive Energy Solar 

Randy Sadewic joined Positive Energy in 2004 as a co-owner with the Company after completing one year of study at San Juan College in Farmington.  He began to work with CCAE and Ben Luce to negotiate the first rooftop solar REC incentives at the PRC with PNM in 2005 and continued work off and on.  He joined the REIA board in 2021 and then was president for 2022 and 2023. He joined EMNRD working groups with grid modernization in Sept 2020 and then began work with Sky Standfield in 2021 with IREC to support the interconnect rules through completion. He continues to work to clarify the new interconnect rules with PNM and REIA.

Jeff Franchell, CED Greentech SW

Jeff is a life-time resident of New Mexico, a graduate from UNM with BBA, worked in the hospitality industry for his early life, then residential real estate for 10 years helping people buy and sell homes in the local area until a tiny bubble popped in 2008.  By 2010, he was enjoying a new Green-Initiative created job with a local whole-sale distribution/installation company until 2017.  Since, he has been working with Greentech Renewables here in Albuquerque in an outside sales role.  He is passionate about solar and sustainable living and enjoy the benefits of his own solar system wanting to be sure he’s doing his part so future solar converts have the opportunity.