Solar Energy Ltd.

Johnny Weiss is Cofounder and Executive Director of Solar Energy International. Johnny is a solar educator, consultant, certified Industrial Trainer and solar building professional. He has over twenty years experience teaching the practical applications of the renewable energy (RE) technologies of solar, wind and water power. As an Associate Professor for ten years at the Colorado Mountain College, he helped develop and teach a hands-on vocational training program in solar thermal, photovoltaics, energy efficiency and construction skills. Johnny has extensive practical experience as a natural house builder and licensed general contractor. He is knowledgeable in the environmental building technologies of earth and straw bale construction. Johnny regularly works with Native Americans RE training programs. Johnny works in international sustainable development programs and projects helping transfer renewable energy technologies to the developing world.

Carol Weis is the REEP Program Coordinator at SEI. She writes and updates SEI's PV and Advanced PV curriculum and instructs in both the hands-on and online workshops. Carol also organizes SEI renewable energy trainings for other institutions and organizations. She is a licensed electrician in the state of Colorado, and before coming to SEI, she worked as a solar electrician installing a multitude of systems. Carol works from the Paonia office.

Khanti Munro, an SEI alum and prior work-trader, joined SEI as full-time staff in February of 2005. Hailing from the Northeast, Khanti earned his self-designed degree in Renewable Energy Applications from Green Mountain College in Vermont. Personal travels to S.E. Asia, India, Central America, and the South Pacific inspired him to pursue a career in clean, renewable energy. Khanti?s experience began with the installation of a few off-grid solar photovoltaic and wind hybrid systems for a couple of his college professors. Currently working out of SEI?s Paonia, CO office, Khanti, like most SEI staff, wears many hats including: system design and installation, PV and wind instruction, curriculum development, work-trade (intern) coordination, graphic support, and more.

Matthew Harris, an SEI alum, is a designer and educator of ecological systems. Educated in Architectural Design with a focus on sustainable natural building, Matthew has shared techniques such as cob, straw bale and adobe with many people throughout the world. His experiences have also traversed the applications of renewable energy design and installation including photovoltaics, wind energy and vegetable oil fuels. Matthew's return to SEI has inspired him to continue his passion of teaching and sharing ecologically effective ways to live in kindness with the earth. He has brought with him to Colorado his latest project the Earthwise Traveler. A traveling educational vehicle equipped with many eco-effective technologies from vegetable oil fuels, photovoltaic electricity and natural building materials. Like SEI's mission Matthew shares in the passion to enlighten peoples awareness about living a balanced effective lifestyle harmonious with the earth and all species.

Lorin Vant-Hull served on the ASES Board from 1995-2002 and was elected to another term starting in 2006. In 2005 he was invited to participate in the Strategic Planning exercise led by the ASES Chair-elect, where he argued for a stronger role and more recognition of the existing role of the Topical Divisions. He has always had a strong interest in the Topical Divisions, chairing several of them over the past 30 years. In 2006 he was appointed Chair of the Divisions Committee of the Board. He initiated a quarterly to monthly series of Division Leaders conference calls, which led to the initiation of an annual Division Leaders Caucus preceding the Annual Meeting. This first Caucus led to the approval of a consistent set of bylaws for the various Divisions, and a review of the ASES bylaws to suggest appropriate revisions to put the Divisions in the correct context. A graduate of the Univ. of Minnesota and the California Institute of Technology, Lorin converted to RE in 1972. At the University of Houston, he began working on concentrating solar thermal power, namely the solar tower, or central receiver technology. Success here led eventually to the construction at Barstow, CA of the 10 MWe Solar One plant; to interaction with many industrial, utility, and academic partners; and to attendance at innumerable ISES, ASES and DoE solar conferences, a role he still enjoys in retirement. In recent years he has also been active in the local ASES chapter (TXSES), which he chaired from 2002-4. Besides minor activities at the local Senior Center, Lorin continues as an Assistant Editor for Solar Energy and Advances in Solar Energy, stays active cutting fallen oak trees for firewood for our catalytic heating stove and fireplace, throwing pottery, walking in the nearby woodlands, ravines, and meadows, staying out of the way of Mary's 5 kittens/cats, and enjoying a delightful 5 year old granddaughter (who is about to have a baby sister).

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