2025 Solar & Storage Design Photo Awards
The FlaSEIA Solar & Storage Photo Awards Winners will be announced during the 2025 Florida Solar & Storage Summit, May 12-14, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
The FlaSEIA Solar & Storage Photo Awards program will
- Recognize and reward innovative design and planning
- Expand solar and storage industry awareness to Floridians.
- Provide FlaSEIA members a method for promoting their product by using this competition as a marketing opportunity.
- Stimulate the installation of attractive solar and storage in residential and commercial environments.
ELIGIBILITY
Current members of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) are eligible to submit entries to the contest. The licensed Florida contractor who received payment for the installation is eligible to receive the award. Submissions are accepted from July 8, 2024 – February 15, 2025. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest and states that he or she is 18 years or older.
**Please complete one form submission per project**
2025 FlaSEIA Rising Star Awards
The FlaSEIA Rising Star Awards program is designed to recognize solar and storage industry professionals under the age of 40 who have made major contributions in the Florida solar and storage industry.
Winners will be recognized at the 2025 Florida Solar & Storage Summit being held May 12-14 in Tampa, Florida at the Tampa Convention Center.
NOMINATION GUIDELINES
- Nominee must be between ages of 18 and 39 as of May 14, 2025.
- Nominee may live anywhere in the United States.
- Nominee must be from a FlaSEIA member company.
- Self-nominations are encouraged.
ELIGIBILITY
Current members of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) are eligible to receive a FlaSEIA Rising Star Award. Submissions are accepted until March 15, 2025. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest and states that he or she is 18 years or older.
2025 Florida Women in Solar Woman of the Year Award
We are excited to introduce a new award, to be announced during the 2025 Florida Solar & Storage Summit, May 12-14, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
The Florida Women in Solar (#FLSolarWomen) Woman of the Year Award aims to recognize and celebrate the exceptional contributions of women in the solar and energy storage industry. Your participation in nominating a candidate is essential for highlighting the achievements and impact of women who are making significant strides in this field.
Do you know a woman who stands out? Has she made a difference or impacted you in some way? There are many ways individuals can effect change: through their work environment, community involvement, online presence, mentorship, or perhaps by inspiring others without even realizing it. With women constituting only a small fraction of our industry, it is crucial to acknowledge and celebrate those who are instrumental in our collective growth.
ELIGIBILITY
Submissions are accepted until March 15, 2025. By submitting an entry, each contestant states that he or she is 18 years or older.
2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
- Vince Biel: began his journey in solar in 1979 with US Solar, a manufacturer of solar water heaters. The company name changed to Solar Trek, and he purchased it in 1992, shifting to focus on pool heating installations.
- Roger Messenger: became involved in solar in the early 70’s by designing a differential temperature controller for a solar water heater. He continued his research projects and, with others, produced the first edition of the Florida Code for Energy Efficiency in Building Construction.
- Penny Hall has made her mark in the solar industry by developing programs for students from elementary school through college. She joined the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1997 where she has assisted with FSEC's various educational programs, including development of classroom materials, facilitating teacher workshops, and coordinating student competitions.
- David Sizelove has been the CEO of Aquatherm Industries for 34 years and has 40 years of experience in solar thermal technology. A 1977 graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology, his company is a leader in polymer technologies and the only US solar thermal manufacturer to be ISO 9001 Registered.
- Freeman Ford: founded FAFCO in 1969, the oldest and largest solar thermal manufacturing company in the US. The very first swimming pool thermal solar system in Florida was installed on Longboat Key and today there are more than 80,000 solar pool heaters throughout the state.
- Wayne Wallace: has been passionate about solar since he was 12 years old when he saw the harsh realities of environmental degradation in waters of his home state of Michigan. He established Solar Source in 1984 driven by his environmental concern and bolstered by the Clean Air and Water Act.
Posthumously
- Dan Fieldman: founded Ivan Labs in Jupiter, Florida in 1975, creating circulating pumps that made their way into the solar industry when solar domestic hot water boomed. He created a product from his home and the pumps were used all over the county. He worked with FSEC in solar's infancy to put in place many of the provisions that still support the sale and installation of solar today. His pump was used around the world moving water from one place to another with the only moving part being the impeller. Ivan Labs broke the manufacturing rules in the industry as a "loner" competing with industry giants and producing a superior product.
2024 Rising Star Awards
Juan Hernandez
Transform Solar
Brian Margretta
Jinko Solar
Rhiannon Eslahi
Rack Solar
Sam Mitchum
Solar Stack
Jingjing You
Jinko Solar
Derek Piotter
Solar First
Jacob Traverso
Solar Source
Stephanie Stephens
EPC Solar
2024 Solar & Storage Photo Awards
Small Commercial PV Installation: Solar Trek Inc
Commercial Combination Technology Thermal & PV: Solar-Fit
Commercial PV Architectural Design Award: Solar Trek Inc
Commercial Thermal Installation: Solar Trek Inc
Community Impact Award: ESA Solar
Most Artistic Photo: ESA Solar
Large Residential PV Installation: Mirasol Solar
Residential Combination Technology Thermal & PV: Solar-Fit
Residential Shade Port Combination Tech PV & Battery: Solar Trek
Residential Off Grid Installation: Solar First
Residential PV Tile Roof Installation: Solar-Fit
Residential Battery Installation: Solar Trek Inc
View photos from the Photo Awards here.
2023 Hall of Fame Inductees
- David Bessette: Dave has been in the solar industry since 1979, designing one of the first PV systems in Florida and recently the led committee which developed Florida Solar Apprenticeship Program.
- Scott Egglefield: Scott realized importance of solar energy to humanity while trekking in Nepal in 1974, leading him to start his solar business that same year.
- Bob Zrallack: Bob has been in the solar industry since 1976. He has taught classes at conferences all over the US and continues to serve as a subject matter expert for the solar contractor's exam.
- Robert Schabes: Robert and a partner created a dealershop to sell and install solar domestic water heaters and utilized a HUD incentive program to help make solar sales and later became a national leader in the distribution of solar water heating products.
- Michael Newman: Mike has worked in all areas of the solar industry including manufacturing, financial management, sales and marketing, dealer and installer training, research and development and product development.
- Bill Gallagher: Bill started his solar business in 1975. Every Saturday morning he hosts the Solar-Fit Renewable Energy Show interviewing local and national leaders in renewable energy.
- Peter DeNapoli: Pete spent 42 years at the forefront of the PV industry's off-grid and grid-connected markets.
- Victor Eyal: Victor immigrated from Israel to the US in 1981 and realized the opportunity for solar on American roofs. He formed an international network of solar swimming pool and water heating dealers and distributors for Heliocol.
- Philip Fairey: Mr. Fairey has more than 25 years experience in building science research. He developed the Florida Building Energy-Efficiency Rating System and led the development of EnergyGauge®
- Bill Guiney: Bill has more than 40-years of experience in the solar industry. He accounted for over 250 projects which include some of the largest solar thermal systems installed in the country.
- John Harrison: John was responsible for administering the activities of the FSEC Solar System and Collector Certification Programs in which he worked very closely with members of the Florida and national solar industry.
Posthumously
- Billy Byrom: Billy entered the renewable energy business in 1979. Billy was an entrepreneur that loved American manufacturing. He genuinely cared about the quality of his products and about the consumer and the longevity of their system. He was also passionate about his employees and their families, and all his friends in the solar thermal industry and proud that his products were 100% US made.
- Steve Gorman: Steve worked hard on fighting climate change, making us more energy secure and creating clean energy jobs in Florida.
2023 Rising Star Awards
Daniel Moore
Castaways Energy
Michelle Solano
Solcium Solar
Stetson Tchividjian
D3 Energy
Joel Durrance
Greentech Renewables
Dema Headley
Climate First Bank
Jeff Juger
Jinko Solar
Justin Vandenbroeck
esaSolar
Hall of Fame Previous Years
Colleen Kettles
1994 Member
Doug Root
1990 Member
Don Kazimir
1995 Member
Jim Roland
1997 Member
Dr. Erich Farber
1998 Member
Ben Bentley
2000 Member
1988 Charter Members
Dr. David Block
C.E. "Ed" Glenn
Senator Bob Graham
Shirley Hayes
Ron Yachabach