“As we have added staff, I find as much joy in seeing the growth in my colleagues as I do in designing and developing projects for our clients,” Becka says. “It’s very important to me that all staff members, regardless of their roles and responsibilities at Pisgah Energy, are inspired, feel a sense of purpose in their work, and have room to grow.”
Pisgah Energy’s vision of success extends beyond project milestones and bottom lines. Central to their ethos is a steadfast commitment to delivering on promises, ensuring that clients receive unparalleled support and guidance throughout their sustainability journey.
Check out our full Q&A with Becka below…
Tell us about your business and the role you play in it.
Pisgah Energy is a solar and energy storage design and construction firm. We opened our doors in 2019 to serve commercial, municipal, institutional, and utility clients across the Southeast. We provide design, consulting, and design-build services, backed by our team’s combined 60+ years of experience in the industry and a strong belief in exceptional customer service and high workmanship standards. As Founder, President, and Senior Project Developer, I am responsible for bringing in projects, maintaining client relationships, and ensuring that our values and process remain intact as we grow.
Where did your career find its start? How did you get involved with your company?
I’ve been working in solar since 1999, so I’m one of the dinosaurs in the industry. I graduated from Appalachian State University with a BS in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Renewable Energy and had a job lined up in Colorado as a technician installing solar arrays on prisons. I’ve worn many other hats since then! From climbing around on rooftops installing panels to working in sales – I’ve done it all. I started Pisgah Energy because I felt that the commercial and industrial sector was underserved from a solar perspective, and I wanted to bring my experience and knowledge of solar design and constructability to companies that fall within this group.
How has your company grown over the years?
Slowly and deliberately. We got our GC License in 2022 so now we can build the projects we develop. We have four full-time employees and are eyeing growing the team even more this year.
What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome?
We opened our doors right before the pandemic and getting through that first year was definitely challenging. At the time, it was just my wife and I working full time, so we were able to keep things moving forward. We were also lucky to have started a large project that really helped to sustain us.
What’s a little-known fact or trivia about your business?
We have a company mascot! Ruby, my American Akita, comes to the office with me almost every day.
How has your/your company’s idea of success transformed?
I used to define success in the simplest of terms – are we meeting our goals and are we continually improving our process? As we have added staff, I find as much joy in seeing the growth in my colleagues as I do in designing and developing projects for our clients. It’s very important to me that all staff members, regardless of their roles and responsibilities at Pisgah Energy, are inspired, feel a sense of purpose in their work, and have room to grow.
What’s the greatest business advice you’ve been given?
My dad has been a business owner for a long time. One thing he told me that really stuck was, basically, keep your team lean and only grow when you need to.
What is most important to you/your company now?
Doing what we say we’re going to do; both for our clients and the company. For our clients, that means supporting and educating them through the project development process while ensuring the systems we install are of the highest quality, will save them money, and reduce their emissions for years to come.
What do you see as your company’s legacy?
Being the most knowledgeable solar design and construction company in the Southeast for large industrial and municipal clients. This ultimately requires great care and consideration for every project and client we work with, regardless of the project size.
Learn more about Pisgah Energy at pisgahenergy.com.