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If you missed it, this is Part 2 of our two-part conversation with Chuck Swoboda, former CEO of Cree, Inc. It was a phenomenal conversation about his history, and how he got to Cree, Inc. We will wrap up the conversation today, so I’d encourage you to press pause and listen to Part 1 (if you haven’t already). I’m glad that you’re finding his stories intriguing and you’re looking for more. Chuck didn’t disappoint, so hold on to your hats as Chuck Swoboda and I take a fascinating look at his career leading up to and through Cree’s meteoric rise in the LED world.  His legacy and impact at CREE, Inc. are legendary, and he’s put many of his fabled stories and lessons learned into his recently launched book, The Innovator’s Spirit, and his fantastic podcast Innovator’s on Tap. Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links and more than 260 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from

Today’s entrepreneur story is with someone with whom SunCast faithful listeners are already familiar. Chuck Swoboda has graced the podcast a couple of times: recently as both Tactical Tuesday guest and a keynote for the SunCast Clean Energy Summit in April. His legacy and impact at CREE, Inc. are legendary, and he’s put many of his fabled stories and lessons learned into his recently launched book, The Innovator’s Spirit, and his fantastic podcast Innovator’s on Tap. But I was not satisfied with just getting the deets on his book, and suspected, as I tend to do, that there were still some stories held back. Chuck didn’t disappoint, so hold on to your hats as Chuck Swoboda and I take a fascinating look at his career leading up to and through Cree’s meteoric rise in the LED world.  From hilarious family stories to heartbreaking life lessons about the reality of leading a fast-growth company, Chuck let us peer into the career of one of the most intriguing stories I’ve chronicled on SunCast yet. Did you know that

Last week, I participated in the first-ever virtual e-conference in the solar industry: the Midwest Solar Expo. Thanks to a virtual platform called Virbela, everyone created their digital avatars, walked around the virtual campus, and attended diverse sessions and panels. Every morning, I had the SunCast Morning Show, presented by LG! What you are about to hear next are excerpts from those morning shows. We started with a "what-to-expect" overview of the event, and then we talked about what's happening in the solar market, broadly speaking, from the perspective of our guests: Brian Lynch, Director of Solar + Storage of LG Electronics, Eric Pasi, Chief Development Officer of Impact Power Solutions, and Rex Kehoe, Director of Partnerships of Solar.com If you want to check what the Virbela digital platform is about, check the videos of these morning shows on our Youtube channel. Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links and more than 260 other foun

We’re taking a journey down intrapreneur lane with an inspirational figure and example of how to take a long-standing role in corporate life and create a company out of it. Patrick Lee is the President & CEO of PXiSE, and also the VP of Infrastructure and Technology at Sempra N.A. Infrastructure. Along the way, we also hear from his team about how they’re building a scalable solution to the Transition from a 1-way centralized grid to a multi-dimensional (and directional) operating system, - an operating system that could piece together the disparate components, apps, and platforms in a scalable and seamless solution. Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links and more than 260 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help

I rarely get into the realm of politics but today’s episode is a particularly important opportunity for us to take action. Today’s episode is focused on what’s happening right now in a petition to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by a secretive group called the New England Ratepayers Association (NERA) aimed at stripping away your solar rights, namely, the Net Energy Metering regulations that have stood for nearly a decade as Federally approved rules. Have a listen as I speak with Catherine Morehouse of Industry Dive and Glen Brand of Solar United Neighbors to unpack what this petition is all about and what we can do to stop it. Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links and more than 260 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors

If you are new to SunCast, thank you for joining us and I encourage you to check out the previous episodes with today’s guest, Erika Myers, where you can learn more about what’s happening in the fast & furious world of electric vehicles.  She was recently featured in a Tactical Tuesday, Episode 258, discussing her research into EV Charging rate structures. I really enjoy getting insight into how someone finds their way into clean energy, and it was a pleasant surprise to find someone from my home state of South Carolina heading up SEPAs EV Research group. If you’re like me, you’re wondering when EVs will dominate and what is holding them back. You’re in luck because that is a topic Erika has spent a lot of time thinking about. Settle in to get to know her better, and thanks for choosing us as your audio companion for the next hour. Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links and more than 260 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mys

We are pleased to release the second part of the Opening Session of our SunCast Clean Energy Summit, which started on April 22nd as a way to grow our community and skills, as well as celebrate #EarthDayTogether. Adam Browning leads Vote Solar's team of advocates, experts and staff working to bring solar to the mainstream across the U.S. Adam co-founded the organization in 2002 after he had so much fun working on a successful local solar ballot initiative that he decided to pursue solar advocacy full-time. We talked about how our industry is becoming the number 1 new generation source of power, the projections on having the dominant market share by 2040-2050 and how our industry organizations support this. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

We are pleased to release the first part of the Opening Session of our SunCast Clean Energy Summit, which started on April 22nd as a way to grow our community and skills, as well as celebrate #EarthDayTogether. Andrew Birch is the Co-Founder of OpenSolar, a company that provides the world’s leading software platform for solar professionals: a complete digital tool kit to scale solar sales. Birchy had a meaningful impact on our industry, pioneering in remote sales before we had the technology we enjoy today. We talked about how the next 10 years will define the Transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Where have we come from, where are we going, and what are the practical steps to take us into the Future of Clean Energy? Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think

Sheldon Kimber and I dig into his fortuitous route to join then very-much-a-startup Recurrent power in the mid 2000’s and his ride to the top of the solar energy charts helping make Recurrent one of the most respected (and valuable) solar businesses of the last decade. His sophomore startup, Intersect Power, is anything but sophomoric and is firing on all cylinders at the moment. What’s driving it? Where does he go now? Stay tuned as we dig into his entrepreneurial journey. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Welcome to another Tactical Tuesday, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts designed to give you practical tools, tips and advice for building your solar business or career.  Hopefully you tuned in to last Thursday’s episode with Karla Loeb. Psst - today's her birthday, so pop over to LinkedIn and show her some love! I highly encourage you to queue last week’s episode up next. Karla is a policy maven, staunch renewable energy supporter and all-around inspiring and butt-kicking industry executive. It’s my pleasure to re-introduce you to here if you have yet to discover this dynamo. And if you’ve been wondering which solar markets are set to explode in the coming post-corona era beyond CA, IL, NY and the usual suspects, well you’ll want to tune in today. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please

Karla Loeb is a veteran in clean energy policy and business development, specializing in greenfield projects, new market entry and regulatory and legislative affairs. As the Chief Policy & Development Officer for Sigora Solar, Karla is in charge of overseeing legislative, administrative and regulatory efforts at the local, state and national levels, as well as coordinating and managing strategic development partnerships. Today’s conversation covers a wide range of topics from Karla’s early days in Texas Wind to her latest struggles and triumphs bringing landmark legislation to bear in the NY and MidAtlantic markets. She has proven a fierce advocate and driving force for her employers and now as a SEIA board member. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Here at SunCast, we haven’t spent much time on Electric Vehicles but we got some great feedback from our audience earlier this year when we played the Podcast Lounge episode with SEPA’s resident expert, Erika Myers. We asked Erika to come back and give us some insight from a report she published between Solar Power International (September 2019) and now, all about EV Rate Structures that work. It’s a great primer on some of the underlying issues that prevent wider EV Adoption, and provides clear insight into how SEPA and Erika are leading the way for helping the broader grid integration problems get resolved for Utilities and customers alike. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Today’s entrepreneurs are both longtime solar warriors who have deep industry cred to show for it. Cedric Brehaut has been one of the most respected and published independent thought leaders on the subject of solar asset management for much of the time I’ve known him, so you can imagine my surprise when I found out in late 2018 that he had joined a startup company! Today, you’ll get to hear that inception story, and you’ll also be treated to the storytelling prowess of a National Retail Hall of Fame Marketer in Cedric’s sidekick and fellow Omnidian executive, Brad Davis. Brad’s accolades are too many to list here, so be sure to check his LinkedIn profile which is always linked in the show notes. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Paul Wormser has been in the renewable energy business since the 80s, and has a deep understanding of how the industry works, both nationally and internationally. As the Vice President for Clean Energy Associates, Paul serves as a rudder for many clients who are uncertain about the energy landscape.  And as many of you know, the Trump administration recently issued an executive order that stands to impede the progress of the solar industry in the USA, especially related to power electronics products which are predominantly fabricated beyond our shores. Stay connected with Clean Energy Associates via LinkedIn, get the latest updates on managing your risk during COVID-19 and beyond here. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Today’s entrepreneur has quickly become one of the people I look to with admiration and anticipation. He seems to be always on the vanguard of what’s next in the clean economy dialogue. For 30 years, Mike Casey has focused on the design, staffing and strategies for winning communications programs. As Tigercomm’s founder, he counsels cleantech executives, investors and philanthropists on strategies for meeting their business objectives. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect with the host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

A recent Press Release by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), claimed they had achieved a world-record 47.1% efficient solar cell! The interview you’re about to hear is with one of the NREL Sr. Scientists on the team that published the research, Myles Steiner. Myles and I go into detail about the achievement, applications, and timeline for when this kind of technology might see it’s way into commercial activities. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect w/host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Today we hear from an entrepreneur who cut his teeth in product marketing for one of the most well-known brands in the world, and now he’s turned his sights toward helping fix the branding and visibility problems inherent in solar projects. Craig Merrigan and his company, Spotlight Solar, have created one of the most beautiful solar products you’ve ever seen. But don’t take my word for it, Nextera’s subsidiary Florida Power and Light have installed hundreds of them around that state to demonstrate their commitment to clean sustainable energy. Today we’ll hear from Craig about what it means to “make solar visible”. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here You can connect w/host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Today's guest is Chuck Swoboda, and he is no stranger to the pressure and privilege of leadership. As the CEO and Chairman of Cree, Inc., the category-changing LED lighting brand that many of you are familiar with, he led the company from 6 million to over 1.6 billion in anual revenue, over 65 quarters of growth and industry-leading innovation. Chuck recently presented they Keynote addressed for our inaugural SunCast Clean Energy Summit, so what you are about to hear is the audio version of that live-streamed interview. He talked about his new book, The Clean Energy Economy, which is all about finding that Innovator's Mindset, and I invited Chuck to share insights about his journey and the different verticals he faced in the process. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here Check out the first SunCast Clean Energy Summit You can connect w/host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You!

Today’s guest, Marek Kubik, is the Market Director at Fluence in the U.K. and Ireland, and he oversees a group working on origination, development, and commercial negotiation of energy storage. He is such an inspirational personality, hence being voted as Forbes 30 Under 30, and he is on a mission to bring storage and renewables penetration to the world. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here Check out the first SunCast Clean Energy Summit You can connect w/host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

John DiJulius III is a best-selling author and authority on world-class customer-experience. Organizations across America use his philosophies and systems for creating world-class service. He has worked with companies such as The Ritz-Carlton, Lexus, Starbucks, Nordstrom, and many more, to help them continue to raise the bar and set the standard in service that consistently exceeds customer expectations. John spoke about the main foundations of his book, the Relationship Economy, and the opportunity for companies’ time to take their customer experience to a completely different level in these challenging times. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here Check out the first SunCast Clean Energy Summit You can connect w/host, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!