Meet the Team

Brian Gardner

President

Lives in Grass Valley

12 years of experience in the solar industry.

Entered construction industry at age 20, building custom homes and doing remodels.

Started in solar as a member of SolarCity’s Energy Efficiency Upgrade Install Crew.

Became a BPI Certified Building Analyst and audited a homes doing Combustion Appliance Zone Testing, Blower Door Testing, and Duct Leakage Testing.

Member of SEG since 2013 and now President & Owner.

Joe Nelson

Lead Electrician

Lives in Nevada City.

Project manager at SEG for 9 years.

Possesses seasoned solar thermal expertise, having worked for over 8 years on solar thermal projects across southern California.

A licensed professional contractor with both C-46 and C-10 classifications.

Ray Darby, P.E.

Founder

Lives in Nevada City, California 40+ years in solar industry.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering (1979) with concentrations in Solar Energy and AC&R (Air Conditioning & Refrigeration).

Professional Mechanical Engineering license (1983).

Specialized in energy efficiency and solar energy. Designed his first photovoltaic (PV) system for his off-grid home.

Dave Stokes

Lead Contractor and Part Owner

He began working in the field of photovoltaics and joined the company as a part owner and license holder in 2008.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (1972) from California State University Long Beach.

In his early years was employed as an electronics design engineer.

Contractor’s license (1976). Licensed General (B), Electrical (C10) and Plumbing (C36) contractor in the state of California.

Tom Benzing

Lead Solar Designer

Lives in Nevada City

Has worked in solar for 9 years.

Designed over 400 solar electric systems, many with battery backup solutions

Tom feels the best part of his job is working with homeowners to solve their energy and backup needs.

Favorite Hobbies: Mountain Biking with his 17 years old son

“Being involved in sustainability allows me to give back to a world that has given so much to me.”

Megan Volheim

Drafter/Designer

Lives in Penn Valley, California

Associate Degrees in Science – Architectural / Civil Drafting

Associate Degree in Science – Social Services

Studying for a Residential Architecture – Sierra College

Certificates in Architectural Specialist Skill, Drafting Essentials, Accomplishment in Architectural Drafting

Hobbies: Rides Horses, Paint, Raise and Show Cattle, Swimming

Dave Sansone

Solar Installer & Electrical Tech

Lives in Nevada City.

Has worked in solar for over 8 years.

Solar Installation Certification from Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado.

Began working in construction at the age of 19.

Hobbies: snowboarding, photography and being a rad dad.

Sustainability: recycles and makes an effort to use energy efficiently in his home.

Ivan Longacre

Electrical Department Manager

Lives in Grass Valley

25 years of experience in electric

Completed over 500 installations in Commercial, Residential and Solar PV Installations

Certified General Journeyman Electrician, CalCTP & Cal OSHA

Read more about our Electrical Services headed by Ivan here >>

Former Service Tech of the Year

Long time SYRCL Member

A historian who participates in enactments and as a Docent at the Empire Mine, Columbia State Park & North Star House.

Lead Singer with his son on guiter for the Rockabilly Love Cats

Kelly Rocha

General Manager

Lives in Grass Valley.

12 years in working in Building & Construction

CMP, Certified Meeting Professional, QuickBooks Certified

Member of Soroptimist Grass Valley Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.

Sustainable living to me means understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us and finding ways for everyone to live better and lighter.

I enjoy gardening and travelling with my partner as well as eating organic and locally sourced food.

My greatest accomplishment though is raising my son and my daughter. They are my world and I love spending time with them.

Mandy Meier

Sales Support Manager

Has lived in Grass Valley for 11 years.

Has worked in Internet Technologies for 10 years and Solar Design for 4 years.

Has worked in Construction for 4 years.

Bachelor’s degree in Internet Technology.

Enjoys making sustainable home and beauty products, tending to an organic no-dig garden, and cooking and/or preserving with fresh whole foods.

Diane Wallace

Bookkeeper

Lives in Grass Valley, CA

Bookkeeper for over 35 yrs

Degree in Bookkeeping from Sierra College Quickbooks Pro from the beginning!

Previous Jobs: Stenographer for the FBI, Medical Transcriber

Josh McCoy

Operations Manager

Has lived in Nevada City for 33 years.

Has worked in Construction for 15 years and Solar for 5 years.

Certified Solar Installer with SolarEdge, SunPower, Generac and Battery Back Up Systems

I enjoy outdoor activity’s like mountain biking, hiking, camping, gardening, enjoying swimming at the local rivers and lakes and things along that nature

Harry O’Rourke

Sustainable Business Development & IT

Lives in Nevada City, California

Sustainable Education & Development for over 16 years

Solar for 6 years

Permaculture Designer Regenerative Organic Farmer Founder of www.ecofuturedevelopment.com

Supported La Tortuga Verde, a sea turtle and bird sanctuary in El Salvador save 10,000 endangered sea turtles each year for over 3 years.

Helped create Eco Casa Madero’s mushroom school and garden program. Supported a bio-reserve for endangered animals and plants at Reserva Biologica Caoba in Colombia.