Jeff Lassonde at age 2.[/caption]
1. What’s your position with Brightergy? How long have you been working here?
I try to be the Jason Mendenhall of Saint Louis. I do the field design, estimating, quality control, and service calls for our area, so there is never a dull moment. I have worked for Brightergy since September 2012.
2. Where are you from / where did you grow up? What’s your background (educational/work)?
I am from the South Shore of Massachusetts about 25 miles outside of Boston. That’s where I was born and raised and also where I bought my first house. I went to a technical high school and then went to Wentworth Technology for college, where I got my Bachelors in Electronics Engineering (BEET). In the years I was there, I worked for Gillette for one year and for National Grid (the Ameren of Massachusetts) for two years. Two days after graduating, I had my first day for E.G. Sawyer Electric. I worked there for just over seven years, during which I finished my apprenticeship and obtained my journeyman’s license. After that I moved to Illinois and worked at a new power plant before landing my new and exciting career at Brightergy.
3. Why solar? What first got you interested in renewable energy?
Because it’s a no brainer! I honestly never really thought much about solar before I came across this company online. Once I started looking into it and the market, I thought, this is the way of the future and I need to get involved.
4. What is something people might not know about your job and/or what you do?
In our position, we don’t just measure roofs and put numbers on paper, we are the first impression to the customer and often field a lot of questions. If we do our job, they should feel very confident about our company installing on their building when we leave.
5. How do you define sustainability?
It is a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not wiped out. Which in our field is great for the economy because of all the jobs we will be creating from now until the sun don’t shine.
6. When you’re not working for Brightergy, what do you enjoy doing with your free time?
I enjoy doing anything outdoors; with three kids age five and under, it usually ends up being a game of 52 pick up!
7. What’s something your coworkers might not know about you?
I had two brain surgeries six years ago to remove a tumor, which is the reason for the large scar on the back of my head that many of you have probably wondered about. Now you know.
8. What’s your motto?
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow!
Did you miss last week’s BrighterFaces post? Meet Sam Field, and learn all about him and his renewable energy job.