Washington Solar Energy Industries Association, the trade group representing the Evergreen Sate’s fast-growing solar industry, has a new leadership team for 2021.
Elected as WASEIA’s new president is Markus Virta. Markus is Director of Sales and Business Development for Western Solar in Bellingham and has more than a decade of experience in the solar industry.
“Over the years WASEIA has benefited from very effective and thoughtful leadership. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of prior presidents and founding board members and am confident that our organization will continue to grow and evolve as the clean energy industry continues to accelerate.”
Markus is passionate about fostering more balanced and affordable access to renewable energy. He values integrity and transparent business practices and he strongly believes that the Washington Solar industry is strongest when united. He is proud to be a member of a talented, forward-thinking, and passionate group of industry leaders. He previously served as Secretary of WASEIA. He has served on the Board of the organization since 2017.
Virta succeeds another solar industry stalwart from Bellingham, Dana Brandt, owner and founder of Ecotech Solar. He’s been involved in renewable energy projects in eleven countries on five continents and founded Ecotech as Whatcom County’s first solar contractor in 2004. He has been a member of WASEIA’s Board since 2014.
WASEIA’s new Vice President is Kaitlin Borstelmann, Manager of CED Greentech’s Seattle and Bellingham branches. Kaitlin has been in the solar industry for 12 years, working with specific focus in the southern California, Hawaii and Pacific Northwest markets. She has worked in both sales and operations management in various solar sectors: residential and commercial installation, manufacturing, software, finance and now in distribution. She is committed to bringing a holistic view of the industry to all of her work for the WASEIA membership. .
She is a past board member of the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA) and is currently serving as Treasurer on the board of the Oregon Solar Energy Education Fund (OSEEF). Kaitlin is the founder of POWERpnw, a community solar professionals in the Pacific Northwest renewable energy sector who are focused on generating new levels of industry inclusiveness through community networking events and projects focused on diverse workforce development and empowerment. POWERpnw recently merged with OSEEF in order to bolster and amplify mutual goals. She first joined the WASEIA Board in 2019.
Named WASEIA Secretary is Dave Kozin. Dave is co-owner and CFO of Seattle-based A&R Solar. An industry veteran, he helped found WASEIA’s predecessor, Solar Installers of Washington, in 2013 and re-joined the WASEIA Board earlier this year. Dave holds an MBA in Sustainable Business and is a NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional. His vision is to encourage cooperation and transparency in order to build a strong, vibrant solar industry throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Returning as Treasurer of WASEIA for 2021 is Shannon Ellis-Brock, COO of Bellevue-based Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union (PSCCU). I PSCCU was one of the first non-installer members of SIW and Shannon first joined the WASEIA Board in 2018.
