1. What’s your position with Brightergy? How long have you been working here?
Controller. I have been with Brightergy for just over a year.
2. Where are you from/where did you grow up? What’s your background (educational/work)?
I grew up in Topeka. I went to the University of Kansas for undergrad. I have degrees in Finance and Business Administration. I also have an MBA from Baker. I have lived in Kansas City since college. I spent nine years at Sprint (high school through a few years after college doing sales and finance) before running the accounting department at Derbigum (a local roofing manufacturer that also dabbled in solar). After 3.5 years there, I found my way to Brightergy.
3. Why solar? What first got you interested in renewable energy?
I like solar because it isn’t just a product, it is an investment: an investment for the client and an investment for everyone’s future. This is an exciting time to be part of the solar life cycle, with its rapid growth and adoption. I’m very excited to see the development of solar and Brightergy as a major player in it.
4. What is something people might not know about your job and/or what you do?
Most of the processes or decisions made by Accounting are not really up to us. They are requirements pushed down by laws, industry standards, local and state municipalities, auditors, banks, investors, and executives. Most often people don’t realize what I/we do until we make a mistake (missed paycheck, vendor not paid, cash not collected, law broken, tax fine). The smoother I do my job, the more invisible my contributions are.
5. How do you define sustainability?
Having a greater output of resources than what it takes to create them.
6. When you’re not at work, how do you enjoy spending your free time?
Playing with my dog, bowling, playing poker online, using http://www.gambling911.com/Best-Casino-Bonuses-You-Should-Know-About.html so I can win big, cheering on the Jayhawks (even at football), playing on the Brightergy kickball team.
Tyler and his fiancee.
7. What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
I run, and have done many half marathons. I took five years of French, but can’t speak it anymore.
8. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Putting myself through school…and paying off my loans it took to do that.
Did you miss last week’s BrighterFaces post? Meet Mark Cocks.