Janet Hughes

I have had a passion for the solar industry since 1988 when I helped some friends install a small off grid system with Arco "brownie" 40W modules in rural New Mexico. It changed their lives forever. They did not have to haul gas and run a generator as much and their children were excited that they could play video games. I moved to Texas, became a Master Electrician, ran an electrical contracting company Janet's Electric for 16 years, and received solar training from SEI in 1998. From there it has been PV all the way. Austin Energy launched their PV incentive program in 2004, and my crew only wanted to install solar. I became a solar energy installation instructor in 2008, have been a certified Master Solar Trainer with IREC since 2009, trained instructors in the DOE Solar Instructor Training Network, and ran the PV training program at Central New Mexico Community College. I currently am a quality assessment reviewer for the Institute for Building Technology and Safety, IBTS, and creating online PV training courses. IBTS conducts field inspections in key solar markets for developers. I am part of the review team that reviews these inspections. My work with IBTS since 2013 has inspired me to build short, focused courses that address the training needs I have seen in the field. From my many years as an electrical and solar contractor I learned how hard it is to get new and ongoing employees trained quickly so they can be productive on the job. My focus is to address these needs.