Our Team

Bill Yearsley was Chairman and CEO of the Contracting and Construction Materials Division of Redland PLC, a $4.2 billion revenue company traded on the London Stock Exchange. He was also an executive director at Redland. Now on board with Real Goods Solar, he is excited to pioneer one of the largest solar companies in the United States. His residence, located in Colorado, produces most of its electricity from a hybrid system comprised of wind generation and photovoltaics.

John started his career at Arthur Andersen LLP, serving numerous public and private companies in the Audit + Business Advisory Division, including utility, construction, private equity and retail clients during his ten-year tenure. John was then CFO and EVP at Rock Bottom Restaurants for ten years, a public then private company with operations in 30 states across three major brands of chains including franchising operations. John was instrumental in tripling their footprint and revenues to nearly a half billion dollars with more than 8,000 employees. John recently was the Global CFO and President for Cartridge World, with manufacturing and retail operations in more than 60 countries. He developed an integrated financial organization on the heels of their acquisition roll up of numerous country operations, and co-developed many joint venture arrangements. John brings extensive experience in M&A, finance, joint ventures, strategy management and a level of expertise in “nuts and bolts” administrative systems and support which will be instrumental to the growth plans for Real Goods Solar during rapid organic and acquisition growth.

John Schaeffer has been exploring renewable energy and sustainable living since graduating from UC Berkeley in 1971. Over the last 32 years, he founded and grew Real Goods Trading Company as its President from a garage start-up to the foremost global source for tools and information on renewable energy and sustainable living. In 1995, he created the Solar Living Center in Hopland, California, a 12-acre educational demonstration site. He founded and remains Board Chair of the educational non-profit Solar Living Institute dedicated to promoting renewable energy through inspirational environmental education. He continues as President of Real Goods Solar, Inc., now a publically-traded company (NASDAQ: RSOL), that has installed more solar than any other company in the U.S. with over 5,000 homes solarized. John has received numerous awards including Small Business Person of the year, Most Environmental Catalog from the Direct Marketing Association three years running, and has been twice nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year. John lives with his wife Nancy remotely in Mendocino County, California in a natural home built mostly from recycled materials in the middle of a permaculture off-grid oasis powered by solar and hydro-electric. John and Nancy also raise grapes, olives, fruit trees, and an abundant vegetable garden organically and biodynamically.

Erin Clark created and led Real Goods Solar’s Central Valley regional office as their general manager before becoming Vice President of Operations. He has over 10 years management experience in the contracting industry. Under the leadership of Erin, Real Goods Solar has seen stellar growth. He brings passion and unparalleled commitment to his customers and his company. Prior to his work with Real Goods Solar, Erin served as Vice President of a major landscaping and nursery company based in Fresno serving high-end residential and commercial customers. During his tenure, Erin helped grow what was once a small family business into a multi-million-dollar corporation. On the rare chance he is away from the office you can find him out enjoying sunshine on the golf course.

Charlie started in the solar industry with Solar Wrights in 2007, but was introduced to the power of solar as a teenager, when his parents built a passive solar home for the family in the late 1970s. Charlie spent five years working as a conservation planner and 12 years in construction and carpentry. He has a M.S. in Natural Resources Science and enjoys woodworking and spending time in the outdoors with his wife and three daughters.

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Jennifer is the operations manager for the Central California office of Real Goods Solar. She has been here since October 2006 working in Operations. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in human resource management at California State University, Fresno. Prior to working with Real Goods Solar, Jennifer worked for 5 years as a store manager for a large junior clothing retailer in Fresno. Jennifer came to Real Goods looking for a company that treated their employees like family and had a reputation of quality work; she has happily found that here. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys being with her husband and daughter as well as focusing on her other passion, volunteering for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Alex brings 10 years of solar industry experience with him. He is extremely focused on customer service, safety, aesthetics, processes, accountability and company growth. Alex understands that customer service starts within the office and focuses on creating a pleasant working environment for his team. When not working, Alex likes to spend time with family and explore the outdoors, whether on his bike or by foot.

Doug has been with Real Goods Solar since October 2008. Prior to Joining Real Goods, Doug was in the electrical field for 10 years where he specialized in wiring homes and commercial buildings and providing overall maintenance and repairs. Doug joined Real Goods Solar in order to bring his skills and experience as a master electrician to the solar industry. He has held all professionally recognized electrical licenses from residential wireman, to journeyman to master electrician. In his words, “I want to improve our current energy situation by putting watts back on the grid.” In his leisure time, Doug enjoys being with his lovely wife and children, camping, biking and playing music.

James earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology in 1988 and worked in the industrial controls and automation industry for 15 years before entering into the solar industry. James founded ISI Solar, a recognized solar installer in lower New York state, and in 2010 his company was acquired by Alteris Renewables, which subsequently became part of Real Goods Solar in 2011. As Regional Field Operations Manager, James is able to utilize his extensive experience to lead the residential operations team for the Mid-Atlantic Region. In addition to solar PV, James is a proponent of fuel cell and electric vehicle technologies. James is NYSERDA-recognized as well as NABCEP-certified for solar PV.

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Before entering the solar industry, Ben spent 30 years in the wooden boat building, repair and restoration business. During this time, he worked with the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut and in a partnership working on 10′ row boats to 72′ yachts. In 2007, Ben started looking for a career change and became a residential solar installer. He moved up to lead installer, then to a position as Project Manager, and finally to the East Coast Production Manager title he holds today.

Will White has been installing solar panels since 2005. Over the years he has worked on both the sales and operations sides of the business – installing everything from small off-grid systems to large commercial projects. He is a NABCEP certified PV and Solar Thermal installer and currently manages the field crews in New England. Will lives with his wife and daughter in an off-grid straw bale house in Central Vermont.

Kent jumped into the solar industry in 2005 after realizing the impact the twin global crises of climate change and peak oil would have on the planet. The solution seemed simple: change our energy consumption from fossil fuels to renewable energy. He serves on the board of GRID Alternatives, a non-profit working to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training.

During his 9 years of experience in the solar industry, Joel Kauffman has had his hand in almost every essential aspect of solar, from his work as a NABCEP certified installer to his extensive experience in solar sales and marketing. Joel has a broad background in energy efficiency for residential clients including solar thermal, passive solar, and green building, and he served on the Leadership Committee of the U.S. Green Building Council for the Monterey Branch. He was also one of the original founders of Independent Energy Systems, a solar company based in Santa Cruz, California that is now part of the Real Goods Solar family of companies. Joel is passionate about helping his country reduce its fossil fuel based energy use and uses solar electricity to power his home. When he’s not trying to save the world with solar, Joel enjoys traveling, surfing, playing soccer and biking.

Russ joined the Real Goods Solar team in early 2011 and brings over a decade of experience managing sales teams in the construction and building industry. Russ believes solar is key to reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and working towards a sustainable future. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Business Administration from Western Michigan University.

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Matt came to the solar industry in 2008 after spending over 20 years in the software business in Silicon Valley. He changed careers due to his concerns about the future sustainability of the environment and a desire to make a positive contribution towards a sustainable future. Matt and his family live in the Almaden Valley area of San Jose where they enjoy an active
lifestyle of hiking, cycling and backpacking.

Tom holds a profound desire to see a healthier local economy and ecosystem. His roles as husband, father, minister, consultant, speaker, organizer, manager and professor have provided a unique perspective on the challenges we face and the changes required to overcome them. Tom is also the co-founder of Green Fresno, a free online community and information portal for eco-smart, beneficial and socially productive living in the Fresno area.

For over a decade, Brian has coached and mentored some of the top teams in the solar and home improvement industries. His commitment to a positive customer experience and his passion for solar energy create loyal customers and repeated referrals. Previously Brian owned and operated an ecotourism company focused on international kayak expeditions. In his free time he has moved from the extreme to the serene as he enjoys spending time with his children, showing them the beauty of nature.

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Tim came into the solar industry in 2011 and has over 22 years of successful business experience in retail, sales and small business ownership. Tim changed careers with one thought in mind – that it is time for our country to become energy independent and it is our individual responsibility to replace the current forms of energy we use with clean, cheap power. The time is now and solar is our path to that goal. When not proclaiming the real financial and environmental benefits of solar, Tim loves to travel and has been all over Europe and North America.

With five years in the solar industry, Kevin Scialabba has helped more than 100 homeowners in New Jersey embrace the environmental and financial benefits of solar energy. A resident of Windsor, NJ, his background is in Energy Efficiency.

Jim Oliva has been helping homeowners throughout New England upgrade their homes for over two decades in both a sales and management capacity. This unique experience has allowed him to develop a sales staff dedicated to providing customers with exceptional service. Jim’s motivation for being in the solar industry is to help homeowners reduce their dependency on fossil fuels – especially foreign sources – and to help lower their utility costs. He also sees the overall initiative for greener living as pivotal to helping strengthen our country’s economy. Jim has been married for 16 years to his wife Melissa, and has two boys, Nicholas (15) and Noah (11). He is also an avid golfer and road biker.

Andreas began studying solar energy in 1992, as a part of Ecological Design studies at Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona. After graduating, he held jobs with the US Army in Georgia and South Korea, then back home in MA, doing residential construction, finance, real estate sales and debt management. With a broad understanding of solar energy, home construction, renovation, sales and finance, he was recruited by Alteris Renewables (now Real Goods Solar) to work as a Solar Power Consultant in Massachusetts. He was part of the team that introduced ground-breaking solar lease and financing options to the East Coast in early 2009. With years of experience in all aspects of residential solar PV, Andreas is now working to introduce residential solar leasing and finance options to New York State. When he’s not spreading the good news about solar energy, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, working on getting his home to “net-zero” fossil fuel energy use, skiing, canoeing, hiking, running, climbing and banging on drums.