Nicole Maestas Olonovich, CEO
United States Air Force, 2003-2008
Education
Masters in Business Administration, New Mexico Highlands University
Masters in Social Work, New Mexico Highlands University
BA, Psychology, University of New Mexico
BA, Communication, University of New Mexico
Biography
Bringing strong business and social skills to CSolPower, Nicole Maestas Olonovich is a disabled veteran of Operation Iraq Freedom. She is a victim of environmental toxins from being downwind of burn-pits 12 hours a day during her service to this country in Iraq (2004). She lives by the motto “do better, be better” with an emphasis on actionable change. A Hispanic woman who comes from a large loving family with linage to New Mexico that predates statehood. Well versed in communications, a published author in multiple mediums, and an environmental activist Nicole is no stranger to working for equity and justice. Earning two master’s degrees, one in social work as well as a master’s degree in business, she understands that to work for historically disenfranchised populations means also understanding the systems we live in order to make those strides. Her goal in life is to work in partnerships with people, grassroots communities and frontline coalitions that demand human rights, equitable access, economic justice, and a deep understanding of the intersection of Mother Earth at the core of all.
Athena Christodoulou, Co-Founder
Retired Navy Engineer
Serial and parallel entrepreneur
Education
Professional Science Masters, Nanoscience and Business Administration, University of NM
MS, Environmental Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando
BS, Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Biography
Athena Christodoulou is a technology entrepreneur and leader. She has been launching new companies in various industries since 2007. As such, she has designed and built out a cafe, spec home, clean tech consultation, and online app, Udorami. While completing her 2nd masters at UNM she led a team of engineers and MBA student to win the UNM 2012 Technology Business Plan Competition and was the initial Project Manager for the UNM/ASU Solar Decathlon team. She has been active in the clean energy world as president of the NM Solar Energy Association and new technology business consultant. She brings integrity, fresh innovation, outstanding analysis ability, and strategy to her team. Whatever group she leads thrives, be it non-profit or for profit. She says “Together, we will make it happen.” She adheres to the triple bottom line business model: People, Planet, Profit.
Walter Gerstle, CTO, CFO and Co-Founder
Registered Professional Engineer
New Mexico and Colorado
Personal Website
Education
PhD, Civil Engineering, Cornell University
MS, Civil Engineering, Cornell University
BS, Civil Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Biography
Walter Gerstle is Professor Emeritus of civil engineering at the University of New Mexico with an emphasis in structural engineering and structural mechanics. Gerstle has been active in researching the computational modeling of fracture of composite structures. He is a licensed professional engineer. He has worked for many years as a structural consultant, and has spent summers and sabbaticals performing research at NASA, Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Oak Ridge National Laboratories. He is the Engineer of Record on many UniRAC, Inc. and Array Technologies, Inc. facilities and products and has provided engineering expertise for both companies in the early development of their now successful business models for the solar energy sector. Gerstle is past president of the New Mexico Section of ASCE, past president of NMSPE, and he is currently a member of the NM Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors.
He has authored or co-authored around 100 journal articles and is author or co-author of two books.
Selected Consulting Experience
QPEC, Inc. – structural design of two waste water treatment plants in New Mexico.
UniRac, Inc. – structural consulting on support structures for solar panels.
Array Technologies, Inc. – structural consulting on structures for solar arrays.
DFM Engineering, Inc., Longmont, CO. – , structural analysis of telescopes & Laser Beam Director
Sandia National Laboratories Building 6586 Gamma Irradiation Facility, K.L. House Construction – Investigation of Deformations and Stresses in Stainless Steel Pool Liner, 5/99
Expert Witness – several projects as an expert witness on structural failures.
Environmental Evaluation Group, Albuquerque, NM, – Hydrofracture Behavior of WIPP, 3/1/98-4/1/98.
The Hydrodynamics Group, La Honda, CA – Hydrofracture Modeling of WIPP, 8/1/97-10/1/97.
J. Muller International, San Diego, CA. – Fracture Analysis of the Northumberland Strait Bridge, 1997.
Swedish Nuclear Agency – Numerical Fracture Analysis of Grouted Joints for Nuclear Waste Isolation, PI, 1988-1989, (consulting subcontract to Re/Spec, Inc.)
SunShare Community Solar
We have been working with SunShare, to bring clean, renewable energy to the residents of New Mexico. SunShare has committed to investing in our locally developed energy storage technology, resulting in increases to our renewable energy workforce, as well as advancing locally-developed technologies.
SunShare is the nation’s oldest community solar company, with over 11 years of experience in bringing solar energy to local communities. With over 150 MW of projects developed and under construction, SunShare brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the world of residential renewable energy. To learn more about SunShare’s mission and how community solar works, visit mysunshare.com