Power to the People works together with communities in the developing world to install solar electric (photovoltaic) systems on community buildings like schools, health clincs, libraries and orphanages.

We believe sustainability is about living a balanced and healthy life without harming those around you or those to come. By having access to information and opportunities, we all make better decisions and are more likely to act in a way that does not harm the earth or future generations.

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Power to the People is made up of an advisory board and a group of volunteers in northern and southern California that either work professionally in the solar industry or support the advancement of renewable energy technologies. Below is a partial list of some of our key volunteers.

Jenean Smith is an advocate for the advancement and use of renewable energy technologies. She works in the solar industry and created Power to the People to help people in the developing world benefit from renewable energy. Before moving to California, she was the Youth Program Director for the Riecken Foundation in Honduras where she created a youth leadership program for rural Honduran teenagers in 33 communities. Before her time in Honduras, she was a small business/IT volunteer in the Peace Corps in San Lorenzo, Nicaragua.  During her time in the Peace Corps she worked with community members to create a financially sustainable community library, teaching people basic computer and business skills.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, an MBA from Northeastern University in Boston, and a Master's degree in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School of Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

John Hoffman currently works in the solar industry for Cogenra based in southern California.  John‘s focus is commercial PV feasibility and system design.  Before this, John lived in Aspen, CO where he was the co-founder and co-owner of Johnny McGuire’s Deli (established 1989).  John recognizes the importance of integrated design in operations and construction and is currently pursuing LEED credentials.  John graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1989 with a BBA in Finance and is a licensed California Real Estate Salesperson. 

James Kao is a city planner with experience in landscape architecture, urban design, smart growth, green building and sustainable communities.  He currently works at the City of Signal Hill near Long Beach where he has begun coordinating development and implementation of a sustainable city plan.  James holds a BS degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University and a Masters in Real Estate Development from USC.  He is a lifelong outdoors and nature enthusiast with a passion for world culture, languages and adventure travel and has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and Europe.  James is a proponent of developing sustainable communities powered by renewable energy here and abroad and is also a member of a dozen environmental advocacy organizations that focus on alternative transportation, urban forestry, wildlife conservation, and environmental education. 

Colin Bright served two years with the US Peace Corps in Nicaragua from 2005-2007 were he taught high school kids about the importance of entrepreneurship and business development. He taught business skills and tried to promote the expression, 'If you can't find a job, study how to make one for yourself'. While in Nicaragua Colin saw the pros and cons of subsistence farming and became aware of the growing use of technology in the world. During this time he was able to look at his own culture and nation's history from another perspective and learned a great deal about himself and his place in the world. Colin is currently an outreach manager at GRID Alternatives where he has an outlet to explore his passions in environmental science, entrepreneurship, community development, sustainability, and volunteerism. Colin started his career working part time for the family business, helping support biological science consultants with fieldwork. Colin is an alumnus of Hanover College and holds a degree in Business Administration.

Heather Wadia is a strategic communications consultant who works with corporate and non-profit organizations focused on renewable energy, sustainability and international development. With more than 15 years of experience, she has managed PR efforts for Fortune 500 companies and directed significant public advocacy and community relations programs nationwide. Recently, she was Vice President, Corporate Practice at MS&L San Francisco, where she led client strategy and activities relating to corporate reputation, crisis and issues management, public education campaigns and media relations. Earlier in her career, Heather was Director at Public Strategies, where she spent 11 years working on the public affairs firm’s largest accounts. Heather now works with organizations focused on humanitarian issues and sustainable practices. 

Ryan LeBlanc, a NABCEP certified solar installer, is a Technical Sales Support Specialist at SMA America. He is the founder of Natural Energy Works, has been a renewable energy system designer, installer and consultant for over nine years, teaching for the Solar Living Institute and private companies. Experienced with a variety of renewable energy technologies and practices, he has professionally installed everything from residential solar, wind and micro-hydro systems to large commercial, agricultural and governmental utility tied projects.

Jeremy Hammond graduated from the University of Oregon in 2006 with a degree in international studies and currently holds the position of Strategic Account Manager at Clean Power Finance, a renewable energy solutions company.  After graduating from the University of Oregon, Jeremy worked in Salzburg, Austria at the Salzburg Global Seminar, an NGO dedicated to bring together future and present world leaders to solve global issues. He then spent one year in rural Rwanda working with the Access Project of Columbia University, an NGO that aims to improve health management systems.  Additionally in Rwanda, Jeremy did freelance photography publishing work in Forbes magazine and winning a national photography award with IKAZE magazine.  Returning from Rwanda, Jeremy joined Clean Power Finance, helping launch their online solar installer sales platform CPF Tools.  He is passionate about cultures and languages, renewable energy, and photography.

Violeta Moran was born and raised in El Salvador. Since a young age she demonstrated a high interest in business and altruism. At the young age of 12, she got involved in her family's real state business, Costa Dorada. She began as a translator, and soon became personal assistant and eventually help run the organization with her mom, president and owner of the business. During her free time, Violeta would collaborate with her family on projects such as individually teaching women from their hometown Panchimalco how to sow and assemble clothing.  Evolving into a family mission, Violeta, her mom and sister, decided to put together a small business and workshop in which these women could learn, create, and produce clothing and accessories. Women learned how to manufacture clothing, use their creativity, and sustain their families. Currently, Violeta is a Business Administration college student on the East Bay, CA. and continuous to get involved in the various family businesses. 

Dan Dumovich currently works with GRID Alternatives, a non-profit solar organization which serves low-income households throughout California. Dan made his way down from Seattle after a degree in Political Science and Anthropology from the University of Washington in 2009. His love for the Sun and empowering communities derived from traveling and working on development projects in Central and South America where he saw huge gaps in the access to energy and opportunity. After focusing on political campaigns and international education, he is now dedicated to providing sustainable, renewable resources to those most in need. Dan is also enjoying his current "settling down" in San Francisco, exploring the city's cultures, nearby mountains and trails with his bike and backpack.

Loren Holzem holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and has been working for Bay Area non-profits since he graduated in 2006. Loren is passionate about protecting the environment and learning more about renewable energy. He has traveled through Central America and enjoys learning more about culture and language. Loren began volunteering with Power to the People in order to gain experience in renewable energy and to learn more about life in Nicaragua and the developing world.

Colleen Smith currently manages the Legal/Contracts Administration department of Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.  Her journey with TAEC started in Marketing twenty-five (25) years ago, eleven (11) of those past years have been spent in the Legal Department.  Colleen holds a BA in Marketing, but her true passion lies within travel. She traveled to Nicaragua in 2007 and vowed to return often.   Colleen prefers to venture to places where you can ‘experience’ the land, the people and their culture, not just ‘visit’ them. What began as a role in corporate sponsorship soon became a personal commitment to aid in the sustainable development of rural Nicaraguan communities through off grid solar energy. Power to the People has provided Colleen the opportunity to meet certain job related commitments (sponsorship) while expanding her thirst for travel, adventure and ‘hands on’ community involvement (voluntourism). “You can’t trust your judgment if your imagination is out of focus”…Mark Twain

Stelli Munnis was born in Managua, Nicaragua, but raised in the US. She loves getting involved in social, educational, and mission work in Nicaragua. She has traveled to Nicaragua with Seeds of Learning, a nonprofit organization that builds schools in rural areas, and she is helping to organize ongoing mission trips to Nicaragua with members of her church and local community in State College, PA, for the purpose of spiritual growth and cultural exchange. Stelli is an Account Manager for SunPower Corporation, a leading manufacturer and installer of high-efficiency solar electric systems in commercial, utility, and residential markets. As an employee of SunPower, Stelli is the liaison between the SunPower Foundation and Power to the People. Stelli holds a Ph. D. from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Florida.

Brad Allgood is a new media consultant and award-winning filmmaker with a diverse background in the biological and physical sciences as well as international development, Latin American affairs and public health. He served for 3 ½ years as a community health volunteer in the Peace Corps Nicaragua where he worked with youth promoters to produce radio and television programs addressing reproductive health issues, as well as managed a preschool cafeteria renovation project through a USAID grant. Since the Peace Corps, he has been working with organizations to produce media as part of their marketing and communications strategies. Most recently, he worked for PBS Marketing and Communications as an Associate Producer, producing on-air, on-line and radio promos for PBS programs, including the highly acclaimed Masterpiece series Downtown Abbey and the American Experience film Freedom Riders. Brad holds a M.A. in Film and Video Production from American University School of Communication, and is currently working as Field Project Manager in Nicaragua for Power to the People.