ASES Members – This year, we have 7 eligible candidates and 4 open seats on the board. Listed below are the candidates, their statements, and their short videos. The voting period ends on December 2. We will announce the 2025 Board of Directors shortly thereafter. Members will receive a separate email with voting instructions.
I’m John Edward Avenson, retired from AT&T Bell labs but still working to educate the public about the huge power of the sun when it comes to green building design. I’m a lifetime member of both ASES and CRES since 2006. I have been one of the lead committee members for the Denver National ASES Solar home tour since 1999. I have taken training courses for the Passive House building code from both PHIUS.org and PHI.org.
At nine years old I was made aware of the warming power of the sun when I visited the Ruins of the Ancient Cliff Dwellers in Colorado. The forest ranger told me that they dug their homes on the side of the mountain where the winter sun shined and kept them warm all season. So, I thought, Why don’t they build houses that way? – This green home concept was a major goal under President Jimmy Carter when he created SERI / NREL in the late 1970s to get America off of Fossil fuels. In 1981 SERI ran a contest among Colorado Builders to design efficient homes. It was like a choir of angels to me that I could realize my modern version of the Anasazi Indian cliff dwellings. In addition, growing up in the 1960s was the influence of the futuristic Jetsons cartoons, Star Trek and Space Odyssey 2001. My SERI Designed Passive Solar heated home has a combination of these Sun and automation concepts. After going through my first winder season, the energy for heating was near 0 and I knew I would tour the public through my house from then on to the present.
The ASES mission matches my goals to move our culture and existence on mother earth back to sustainability, by making use of our free energy source, the Sun.
Paul Fenn
I would like to contribute strategically to the board’s direction on how to achieve the energy transformation. Specifically, I will introduce community energy strategies to change the political and economic equation for energy localization. I can contribute intellectually regarding landmark efforts and successes achieved by many communities around the country to implement energy transformations, bring new paradigms and business models to the board’s consideration and development, contribute to model new policies and program designs, organizational messaging, the selection of potential participants in ASES conferences, and its engagement of the municipal energy policy community. I would also like to contribute writings to ASES publications and the groups that produce them.
Cynthia Finley
As a board member of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), I will be committed to advancing our mission of promoting sustainable energy through education, advocacy, and innovation. My contributions will focus on several key areas:
Strategic Advocacy: I will leverage my experience and collaborate with stakeholders, I aim to promote policies that support solar energy development and accessibility.
Educational Initiatives: I am passionate about education and will work to expand ASES’s outreach programs. I plan to assist with resources that empower communities to understand and adopt solar technology, fostering a culture of sustainability.
Community Engagement: I will prioritize engaging with local communities to raise awareness about the benefits of solar energy. By organizing events and partnerships, I hope to advocate for renewable energy solutions.
Innovation and Research: My work at Interstate Renewable Energy Council will allow me to support ASES in identifying emerging trends in solar technology.
Diversity and Inclusion: I believe in the importance of diverse voices in shaping the future of energy. I will promote initiatives that ensure underrepresented communities are included in solar energy conversations and benefit from its advancements.
By bringing my expertise and dedication to ASES, I aim to contribute to a sustainable energy future and help position solar energy as a leading solution for environmental challenges.
Richard Hartung
Renewable energy policies are changing. Solar panel innovation is advancing faster. Homeowners have slowed solar purchases in some markets. Financial impacts of solar have changed, for companies and individuals. Environmental concerns are growing. These shifts and more are happening while electricity demand is surging. The solar energy sector and renewable energy more broadly have major challenges, to say the least. ASES needs to address the issues by ensuring that strategy evolves and is implemented effectively.
In my activities as a board member at sustainability-focused non-profits such as Solar Washington, an educator on climate change, a freelance writer and a coach for start-ups, I have led and participated in actions by individuals and organizations to manage effectively amidst rapid changes. I led one non-profit through the challenges of Covid as president and coordinated the development of digital strategy for another at that time. As a co-founder of the local chapter of a global non-profit and the co-founder of an investor group focused on innovative sustainability-focused start-ups, I developed and led successful implementation strategies. I have also leveraged my experience as a homeowner with solar and as a knowledgeable solar sector participant to lead workshops on solar. At these and other organizations, I leveraged my experience and collaborated with teams to innovate, grow the organizations, support members and thrive amidst change.
Given its reach directly and through partnerships, ASES has a unique opportunity to address the issues in the solar and renewables sectors even more so we can help members and the broader community move usage of solar energy along faster. I look forward to leveraging my experience to build on the many initiatives at ASES that serve a variety of communities, and to collaborating to develop and enhance or support activities to drive solar energy usage forward.
Gaurang Sharma
As a board member, I am fully aligned with ASES’s vision of transforming the world to 100% renewable energy, equitably and sustainably. My strategy to achieve this goal focuses on a multi-faceted approach, driving innovation, policy influence, and collaboration across sectors. By fostering partnerships between key stakeholders—academia, industry, and policy-makers—I will work to bridge the gap between technology and implementation.
I will also champion policies that support the widespread adoption of renewable energy systems, ensuring they are inclusive and accessible to all, particularly underserved communities. Through research and public outreach, I plan to accelerate the development of scalable, smart energy solutions that adapt to diverse environments, enabling regions worldwide to transition to clean energy seamlessly.
In alignment with ASES’s vision, I am committed to spearheading initiatives that promote renewable energy education and awareness, empowering individuals and communities to take active roles in the energy transition. By advocating for equitable access to renewable technologies and resources, I will contribute to building a future where clean energy drives both economic growth and environmental stewardship, ensuring that we reach 100% renewable energy globally in a fair and sustainable manner.
Kajal Sheth
As a prospective board member of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), I aim to leverage my extensive experience in solar energy systems and data science to advance the organization’s mission. With over five years in the solar industry, my expertise is well-suited to enhance ASES’s educational and outreach initiatives through strategic use of data and technology.
On the Program Committee, I plan to integrate my knowledge of solar PV systems to enhance the content and delivery of ASES’s conferences, webinars, and the National Solar Tour. By incorporating the latest solar technology trends and performance data, I will help ensure our events remain at the forefront of industry advancements, providing valuable insights and learning opportunities for both professionals and the public.
In the External Affairs and Communications Committee, my focus will be on strengthening ASES’s Chapter Relations and Technical Divisions. I aim to expand our membership base by enhancing engagement strategies and utilizing data analytics to better understand and serve our members’ needs. Working closely with the Solar Today Editorial Board, I plan to improve content relevance and engagement through targeted articles and digital outreach that resonate with current and potential members.
Additionally, I am committed to supporting ASES’s fundraising efforts. My experience in securing funding for renewable energy projects and my data-driven approach will be instrumental in identifying potential donors, optimizing fundraising campaigns, and enhancing donor engagement. This will not only help in achieving our financial goals but also in maintaining a sustainable funding base.
I am also eager to promote ASES’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives, believing that advancing these values is crucial for creating a more inclusive and equitable environment within the renewable energy sector. Through active participation and dedicated effort, I aim to help ASES grow as a leading advocate for solar energy, driving educational initiatives, enhancing member engagement, and ensuring the organization’s financial sustainability. I look forward to contributing to ASES’s mission and working collaboratively with fellow board members to promote a sustainable energy future.
Gokhan Tekiner
In today’s world, equal access to more and clean energy is crucial, and we need communities like ASES to drive such change. By raising awareness, advocating for policies, and sharing knowledge, ASES accelerates the shift to sustainable energy. This change benefits not just the environment but also society, improving well-being, economic growth, and global fairness. I am dedicated to supporting ASES’s mission in a meaningful way.
I am an experienced energy industry professional with 15 years and a global expert in delivering energy projects with a focus on renewables, sustainability, and decarbonization. I am based in Houston, Texas and currently leading business development and partnerships in solar and renewables for a major energy company. Previously, I served as a Vice President at a leading US Solar developer and earlier advised boards and executive teams in setting energy transition strategy. The global sustainable energy projects I have delivered won industry awards including those from the World Bank and Power Magazine. I hold a master’s in engineering, am a chartered accountant, and am currently pursuing my executive education at Harvard Business School.
I’m passionate about making more and clean energy accessible to everyone and believe that together, we can make a real difference. I have an integrated understanding of the challenges and opportunities for solar and renewable energy adoption, and expertise in negotiations, forging partnerships and driving collaboration across various stakeholder groups. If elected to the ASES board, I aim to bring extensive learnings from utility scale solar and renewables projects and harness my expertise and network from those to drive impactful initiatives.
