SEI Family Mourns the Tragic Death of Instructor Mike Sullivan

We are deeply saddened and stunned by the unexpected death of SEI Instructor Mike Sullivan. Since 2009, Mike taught over 40 classes and over 1000 students through both online and in-person trainings. Mike died on Monday in a climbing accident on Steeple Peak area of the Wind River Mountain Range in Wyoming.

Mike was a living legend at SEI because of how fully he lived his 54 years of life. When he wasn’t teaching solar classes, he travelled around the world working on solar projects for people who did not have electricity. Or he was climbing and adventuring in some of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth and then sharing his amazing photos with us on social media.

When he introduced himself in classes, he said he was from “Tacoma, the truck not Washington.” We were excited when he opened a PO Box and got a storage unit in Paonia, SEI’s headquarters, because it meant we were his homebase. He was an engineer by training, and even worked for a few years behind the desk before he found solar and his life’s passion. Meticulous and singular in his focus, it didn’t surprise us when we recently learned that he had read the entire dictionary by the time he was 5 years old.

There are so many stories flowing in from instructors and other solar friends. From stripping down to his underwear to cross a river in Bolivia while carrying PV equipment, from strapping a hot water heater to his back and skiing up a steep, steep mountain to deliver it to an off-grid cabin of a friend, to awakening each morning at 4am before teaching a class so that he could find a tree to climb or a hike. His motto was work 24/7—meaning 24 hours a week for 7 months a year.

“We met on a rainy, rest day in a hostel in El Chalten, Argentina in the heart of Patagonia in 2014. I had never met someone who so seamlessly wove their passions and their profession into such an adventurous and colorful lifestyle. (He was teaching SEI online courses in between climbing.) It quickly became evident that he was more than a climbing mentor; he was the impetus I needed to pursue my passion for renewable energy systems as a career. Mike redefined possibility. He invited me to assist with a solar project in Ladakh, India last summer, where I witnessed how solar technology can be used as an incredible tool to positively impact a community and its enormous potential to further influence the course of the world.

Mike’s gentle ways and vibrant enthusiasm was infectious and his spirit full of compassion. 

I always looked forward to our next adventure as he gravitated to the most beautiful places above and around. He’ll continue to inspire with his sparky twinkle of irradiance and that big alleycat grin.”

Toby Swimmer, OnSite Energy in Bozeman, Montana

“Mike spent a lot of time working with technicians in Haiti in 2011-2012.  Each time I go to Haiti and see individual technicians they go through and diligently ask about the different people we know in common… How is Christopher? How is Brad? How is Jeff?… but when they get to Mike, each person gets this big goofy smile and asks “How is Mike? You know- he is craazzy!!” and laughs…

Recently, I asked why everyone thinks Mike was so crazy… and everyone had some story about turning their back to do something… and then when going back to find Mike… hunting around, calling his name… and then someone finding him up in the tallest part of a tree. And of course, there is no purpose of being in the tree… the tree is not a fruiting tree, etc…and this part is explained in detail as they are trying to make sense as to why he was up there. Mike was just hanging out there. Making people laugh without knowing the language. And there is always a lot of laughter in recounting these stories. 

~Carol Weis, SEI Instructor and Co-Founder of Remote Energy

Mike, we miss you. Thank you for always reminding us to go live your adventure, live your passions. We will send out more details as the memorial is finalized.

 

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Father/Son Duo Launch Solar Careers with SEI!

Sometimes solar is a family affair. This is true for Rob and Jake Dushek, a father/son team who came to Solar Energy International (SEI) for solar training earlier this month. Rob and Jake are already business partners who see their future in the solar industry, but for different reasons. Rob, Jake’s father, is looking to expand the contracting and energy consulting business he’s been growing for the last fifteen years. He sees the growth of the business as a way empower the young people like his son Jake. Saying of his reason to pursue solar training at SEI and become a certified solar professional,  “it is a financial opportunity to help my small business grow which will in turn lead young professionals to paths and opportunities for business ownership.”

Jake is excited to make the shift to solar because he is technically inclined and shares his father’s passion for renewable energy and optimism about the industry’s potential for growth. “I understand in order to continue life as we know it, we will need to incorporate renewable energy and make it a priority. I want to become certified in renewable energy because it seems like a very lucrative field to get into at the time and I also want to save the environment.” When asked about coming to SEI with his father, Jake admitted it’s a “rare opportunity to opportunity get to work with a parent” especially one who shares a such a similar passion. “It’s really nice to work together, we already have a great relationship and we’re good at troubleshooting and collaborating on solutions.”

The two are continuing their hands-on solar training with SEI’s online training courses. Proving once again that they make a great team, they are each enrolled in complementary tracks of SEI’s Solar Professionals Certificate Program.  Jake is working towards completing his Solar Business and Technical Sales Certificate to focus on the customer-facing aspects of the business while Rob works on the Residential and Commercial Photovoltaic Systems Certificate to grow on his experience and passion for technical solutions. Together, they’ll have a strong technical background in solar to launch the next phase of their business.

 

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SEI’s Solar Ready Colorado Initiative Wins IREC 3iAward!

Solar Energy International’s (SEI) Solar Ready Colorado Initiative received the 2017 IREC State/Local Government Achievement of the Year. Solar Ready Colorado is a statewide training and career outreach program led by SEI and industry partners and funded through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s WORK Act Grant. The program offers SEI’s technical training program to Coloradoans who can fill the solar industry’s predicted skilled workforce shortage and helps to ensure the state is prepared for the changing landscape of energy production and distribution. The awards, given out by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), honored the 2017 3iAward recipients which celebrate the nation’s best innovation, ingenuity and inspiration in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The winners are based on a prestigious annual national search.

The Solar Ready Colorado program was honored for its innovative approaches to outreach especially the Solar Ready Colorado Career Expo and Envision360 Virtual Reality project. The Solar Ready Colorado Career Expo was co-sponsored by project partners Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) and GRID Alternatives Colorado at COSEIA’s annual Solar Power Colorado conference. More than 150 job seekers attended the expo and engaged with Colorado solar companies about the jobs available in this growing industry. The partners will once again put on the Career Expo event at the newly expanded Solar Power Mountain West conference from March 12-14, 2018. coseia.org/conference/

“This event provided a forum where some of Colorado’s top solar companies could meet individually with job seekers was a unique way to showcase the opportunities in this fast growing part of our economy, which already employs more than 6,000 Coloradans,’’ said Chris Turek, Marketing Director of SEI ”we look forward to an even bigger career expo next year.’’

The event also marked the launch of the SEI Envision360 App and SEI Google Cardboard Project. Envision360 is a solar recruitment program technology tool that gives students a virtual experience of what it’s like to work in the solar industry, using Google Cardboard Viewers and virtual reality (VR) technologies. Solar companies across Colorado are featured in the app through interviews of key staff about their experience in solar and through 360o experiences of their warehouses, offices, and job sites. The app and viewers are being utilized by Coloradoans new to the solar industry as well as in schools to educate students about career opportunities in solar.

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