The Training Team at NCCETC hosted the first Mentor Bootcamp from July 8 to 10, 2024, as part of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) funded program: Building Sustainable Pathways to Improve Underserved and Underrepresented Worker Access for Renewable Energy Infrastructure in Rural, Southeastern North Carolina. The program is intended to develop and prepare the next generation for mid-level solar energy professionals that are based in rural or underserved communities located in Southeastern North Carolina. Read more about the specific goals of the project and planned Solar Training Bootcamps in this May 2024 article.

The Mentor Bootcamp brought experts from various backgrounds to NCCETC to collaborate and identify best practices for the program that will hold its first training class next year for recent graduates and young professionals.

Partnering with employers within the solar industry will allow training participants to obtain internships and form connections that will put them on a direct path to a job within the field. Engaging with mentors from local solar companies, academia, and workforce development organizations will equip participants with technical and professional development skills to prepare them for long-term success in clean energy careers.

Yes Solar Solutions has been operating in North Carolina for 15 years and is one of the state’s leading solar installers. They offer solar energy consulting and solar installation services to homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations throughout North Carolina. Yes Solar has a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and aims to educate anyone who wants to make the transition to solar energy. The company is also North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) accredited and Green Plus certified.

Wyatt Bailey is the Operations Manager at Yes Solar Solutions and was asked to participate in the Mentor Bootcamp by the organization’s CEO, Kathy Miller. After receiving a master’s degree in appropriate technology from Appalachian State University, Bailey joined Yes Solar as a foreman in 2021. A year and a half later, he was promoted to Operations Manager where he now oversees design, project management, installation, and solar system services. He went into the Bootcamp excited for the opportunity to network with individuals across the state to develop training and learning opportunities for future solar professionals.

NCCETC aims to promote the development and use of clean energy while also providing support and resources to the public. The Center’s training and workforce development efforts connect the needs of job seekers with solar industry needs for qualified workers. Yes Solar Solutions’ work intersects with NCCETC’s mission and Bailey’s role, as he is “heavily involved in the successful and quality installation of residential and commercial solar systems in North Carolina.” His time with Yes Solar has provided him with the opportunity to gain in depth knowledge of solar system design, installation, and service. He says he can use this knowledge and experience to “teach and guide mentees to becoming successful solar professionals.”

One of the main aspects of the Bootcamp was to introduce the mentors to the Fundamentals of Solar PV Design and Installation (FSPV) course, as that will be the starting point for next year’s students to learn the technical components of solar services. Although Bailey had not taken the course yet, he noticed similarities between FSPV and the introduction to solar course he had taken at Appalachian State University. He noted that it was valuable to work through the FSPV course with the other mentors to determine where improvements could be made, and which sections should have the most time dedicated to them. Bailey says, “the industry changes so rapidly that it’s important to make sure the course material is as current as possible.”

As one of few in the group with technical knowledge and experience with solar installation, Bailey recognized that many of the mentors came from education and workforce development backgrounds. Bringing a wide range of professionals from different areas of the state together made for a diverse group of individuals prepared to support each other and their future mentees.

Bailey says he would recommend that other clean energy industry professionals engage with future Bootcamps and other courses at the Center, adding that “working with groups from a variety of professions and backgrounds is important to understand the wider needs of communities and how your own profession can benefit those communities.”