Our Team of Solar Professionals

A West Virginia native and solar veteran with more than a decade in the industry, Dan previously helped start up the largest solar installer in Vermont and served as a technical advisor to the US Dept of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. He has an MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins.

As Chief Financial Officer, Spencer Newman spends most of his days deeply immersed in spreadsheets. Having earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, he’s proud to apply his skills and experience to a mission-driven renewable energy company that’s focused on helping to power coal country with highly skilled, well-paying jobs – he just wishes he could do more faster. Spencer shares his home with his wife, two children and their dog Lucky. He enjoys spending his free time skiing and hiking, and also holds a special skill for making delicious meals with whatever he finds in his pantry.

Nhan Chung joined Solar Holler in 2020 as our Financial Controller, and he’s been diving into reports and spreadsheets since day one. With more than 20 years of experience in finance across several different kinds of industries, Nhan is uniquely suited to manage the complex financial needs of our growing company. When he’s not crunching numbers and balancing spreadsheets, Nhan likes to exercise, fish and organize. 

A native of Monongalia County, WV, Leah’s a Mountaineer through and through. She has her Masters of Public Administration from WVU, with a focus on sustainable community development. Her mission at Solar Holler is to connect with as many folks as possible and leverage solar as a vehicle to improve outcomes in Appalachia. In her spare time, you’ll find her lighting up the stage with her band Funkifly or soaking in the sunshine.

Heath Lambert’s experience in operations management spans over ten years and two continents. As Solar Holler’s Director of Operations, Heath says his role is fundamentally about removing any roadblocks that prevent our team from taking care of our clients.

Laura Nagel has been with Solar Holler since the very beginning and has worn many hats over the years. As one of our longest serving employees, Laura has wide-ranging insight into each stage of a project, making her ideally suited to be our Director of Service. She brings with her over twelve years of experience working in the energy field in areas ranging from solar operations to energy efficiency data management. On a daily basis, Laura oversees our solar monitoring platforms to quickly identify any anomalies and proactively respond.

Edward Yu started his journey with Solar Holler as a prospective customer but it wasn’t long before he became a member of the team. He humbly describes his work as making numbers understandable while turning online activity into actionable insights. Ed has played a critical role managing our information systems and has vast insight and knowledge about technological structure and strategies. When not at his desk, you’re likely to find Ed climbing the side of a mountain, walking his dogs or working on his house.

Jessica Edgerly Walsh entered the solar world in 2012, helping launch a solar company in Vermont.  She joined the Solar Holler team in 2020 to support their rebound from the pandemic.  Her approach to marketing is customer-centered, offering folks the solutions and information they’re looking for as they explore their energy options.  

Human Resources Director, Neva Spriggs came to Solar Holler with a diverse professional background ranging from law enforcement and education to nursing and of course, human resources. Originally from Logan County, Neva believes in taking advantage of every learning opportunity that comes her way and she’s always looking for ways she can support and assist her team. 

Alissa Summerano’s background is in theater and event planning, but when she moved to West Virginia, she wanted to start on a career path that had a positive impact on the planet and the people that live there. She joined the team as a solar guide where she helps folks get started on their solar journey.

Tyler Smith had his eye on a job with Solar Holler for more than a year before a position finally opened up. A lover of all things outdoors, he wanted a job that was focused on helping both West Virginia and West Virginians. As a solar guide, Tyler helps folks explore their solar options.

Coming Soon!

After spending a decade in college admissions,  Robyn made the jump into the clean energy industry to help guide homeowners through the process of going solar. She  lives in Shepherdstown, where she excels at baking and gardening.

Matt Allison had been working within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) for a retail energy provider, but he wanted solar to be his future. He began researching companies and knew he found a match when he came across Solar Holler. He loaded up the family and relocated to West Virginia where we put him to work as a solar home evaluator.

As the daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter of West Virginia coal miners, Elizabeth Cruikshank holds a deep appreciation for the energy-producing roots of her home state. She joined Solar Holler in 2018 because she wants the best for Appalachia and she works every day to make it better.

Huntington native, Cody Lynch started his solar career as one of our technical evaluators, but it wasn’t long before he moved over to a position as a home evaluator. Cody’s background and technical understanding of a solar installation gives him valuable insight into each aspect of your project.

Originally from Winfield, West Virginia, Jennifer Pauley is a thorough and detail oriented individual. She has an extensive professional background in the energy field and nearly ten years of experience working in domestic and international logistics.

Phil Roth has worn many hats since he joined the Solar Holler team in 2019. With his vast insight into each stage of an installation, Phil is a knowledgeable resource for his clients and teammates alike.

Originally from West Virginia, Brad Hash was looking to return to his home state when he started as our commercial solar evaluator. He came to us with six years of experience working in commercial solar in other parts of the country and seamlessly transitioned into his new role with Solar Holler. Prior to his work in solar, he once held a job teaching primitive wilderness survival skills in the Northern Rocky Mountains and has a passion for protecting the wild spaces he loves. He shares his home with his wife and son who enjoy the outdoors as much as he does.

Coming Soon!

A Huntington native, Brian Stephens came to Solar Holler with a background in higher education but he’s quickly made the transition into renewable energy. He loves meeting with the wonderful people of Appalachia to help them bring their costs down with solar, he just wishes there were more opportunities to connect in person with one another. He has three children and spends his free time playing and coaching sports.

Brendan Fish decided to make West Virginia his home after he graduated from Marshall University. His background in construction and vendor management made Brendan an ideal fit on our project management team.

Karla Gulker’s background in the automotive industry prepared her to be adaptable in a work environment with a complex order of operations. Karla is our longest serving project manager and says her favorite part of the job is when she sees the pictures from your installation day.

After completing her electrical coursework through the West Virginia Women Work program, Alison Dempsey was ready to put her skills to use. Alison works closely with our field crews and spends a lot of time on the phone with utility companies and permitting offices to ensure everything is ready for your installation day.