What qualifications do you have that align with the job description?

In terms of COMMUNICATING WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, I’m familiar with how doable it can be to handle difficulties as long as it is clear that the project is aligned with the person’s financial goals and there is a sense of great rapport circling around the people within and outside of the organization.

I also see how important it is to be DETAIL-ORIENTED in solar transactions in order to maintain trust with clients and make them feel fully supported every step of the way. I remember annotating the Power Purchase Agreement when my company first started offering it so that I could have thorough knowledge of it and, in turn, could effectively fulfill client needs.

I am accustomed to BREAKING DOWN THE PROFITABILITY of solar from when I used to create customized sales powerpoint presentations by extracting information from the contracts. There is definitely an art to summarizing contracts, and I see it as a transferrable skill I can take from that role to this one. I also understand the important role that the tax credits play in making solar a financially strategic investment and am glad to see that managing the solar farm tax equity portfolios is a component of the CCR position.

I’m also a persistent PROBLEM SOLVER. I was always reformatting my powerpoint template to make it more convincing to the prospective clients. I do well when I am provided with a puzzle to focus on so I could see myself thriving in a role that is concentrated on handling contract and compliance issues in a way that brings optimal benefits to all parties involved.

I’m glad to hear that the asset management department has a hand in a wide array of matters across the organization because I enjoy having a diverse array of RESPONSIBILITY in contributing to the company’s impact. I also appreciate professional positions where I have a lot of responsibilities and am held accountable because it makes me feel more engaged and alive.

I’m familiar with the DEVELOPMENT CYCLE of residential solar projects. Specifically, I would navigate obstacles throughout the development cycle such as design errors, permit approval delays, financing approval difficulty, construction errors, delays in receiving approval from the utility to complete interconnection etc. So, I’m accustomed to communicating with landowners in moments where challenges arise and finding a solution between them and the company that I work for. I would even remain the point of contact for my customers after installation.

Aside from that, my high level of ORGANIZATION is going to be able to fuel my success at this job as it has allowed me in the past to excel in various types of roles because organization helps me not get overwhelmed in positions where I am learning new skills. Keeping current on reporting has a lot to do with allocating the appropriate amount of time to do something and having a system for getting things done.

Specifically, my Master’s program revealed to me how crucial the renewable energy INDUSTRY is to mitigating global climate change. The other environmental problems our world faces are only exasperated with global warming and the urgency needed to address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions attracts me to working in utility-scale solar. I have also noticed that I become very immersed in what I am doing in a position that handles high-value assets. When I feel invigorated, I become extremely detail-oriented which would put me in a great position to review and approve all financial transactions associated with the solar farms. Vlad mentioned that there is always more work to be done, and I want to be in the position where I have the opportunity to get on a rhythm with getting things done.

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Strengths: results-driven, stakeholder relations, contracting, creative problem-solver, project management, strong background in mathematics courses, extensive understanding of the terminology and development cycles of solar projects, trained in sales, communication with other internal departments, highly motivated, detail-oriented, self-directed contributor and team leader by example, shows respect, collaborates effectively, ambitious, approachable, creative, diligent, disciplined work ethic, forward-thinking, logical, rational, sees challenge as opportunity****

Shared vision with smart people, Enjoy taking on additional responsibility that is diverse, Do well in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, Learning involves putting yourself out there and asking questions, Always changing, Want to work hard to change the world, highly-motivated, resourceful, thorough, hard worker, simplify something complicated, attention to detail

[[The jobs I have had recently have required me to be detail-oriented as well. Specifically, plant and tree identification involves deciphering species from each other by noticing the details. I also had to be precise while taking measurements for Duke Energy because they had specific budgets for different tree types and sizes. Carolina Native Nursery involved sorting through and maintaining a large excel spreadsheet of plant inventory. We had about 40 greenhouses of plants and hundreds of different species. Then, in the forester position, I was inputting my data into a big spreadsheet. So, I had to make sure I was adding my data to the correct row and column every time. We had to abide to certain formatting guidelines while inputting the data into the spreadsheets, as well.]]

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Tell me about yourself:

I grew up a Chicago Cubs fan out in Glenview, IL. It’s about 30 minutes northwest of the city. After that, when I was at Colorado College, I developed a passion for skiing and hiking. It led to me doing a study abroad program focused on Environmental Conservation in New Zealand. I then travelled overseas after undergrad and, when I got back to the states, I really enjoyed being an environmental education volunteer in Santa Barbara. At that point, I decided I definitely wanted to make the focus of my career be in the environment and grew interested in the renewable energy sector. I was accepted to be a sales consultant and project manager at a residential solar company up in the east bay. In the position, I was fascinated that there was a product that saved people money and cut greenhouse gas emissions. I had a strong passion for the product which was crucial to me closing deals. After about a year, I decided to get more experience traveling through the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program. It led to me deciding to officially make my academic credentials in policy more specific to the environmental sector. At the start of Covid-19, I became a full-time remote grad student on the coast of California in Santa Cruz. Then, when I moved to Asheville, I eventually began working in tandem with my studies. Over the course of my academic program, I realized that working in solar goes well with my strengths because I am naturally wired to be in a finance role, as I am organized and efficiency-oriented, and also want to do work in an area I’m passionate about. The massive impact of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a utility-scale solar company with a driven and fun culture attracts me to CCR.

Why CCR?

Over the course of my academic program, I realized that working in solar goes well with my strengths because I am naturally wired to be in a finance role, as I am organized and efficiency-oriented, and also want to do work in an area I’m passionate about. I also enjoy problem-solving to make large-scale transactions happen. The massive impact of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a utility-scale solar company with a driven and fun culture attracts me to CCR. I learned from my first round interview that CCR is my ideal work environment as I would be surrounded by smart and healthy people who are passionate about supporting the environment. I feel engaged, stimulated and alive while handling a high-value product. It cultivates tenacity in me because I feel so charged. I also like working in small teams in which I have the chance to have an actual conversation and not just passively listen. It’s invigorating for me to be in an intense and uncertain industry, laugh at the issues, and walk away knowing we are doing everything we can.

Tell me about a time you failed:

Failure is a particularly interesting topic considering the role it plays in entrepreneurship. I see failure as helping to refine our processes rather than ultimately losing at something. For example, in the residential solar job, I had a long learning curve. I could have jumpstarted my success in lead acquisition sooner if I had practiced my pitch more. I could have closed more deals at the beginning if I was fully prepared with the technical knowledge to do so. Eventually, I excelled at the job, but I could have saved myself a lot of struggle and gained even better results by initially preparing more. At my next sales job which was Carolina Native Nursery, I decided to accelerate my learning curve by organizing the knowledge I was responsible for. I took the initiative to make plant identification notecards and diligently studied them. It helped me gain confidence to do well at the job from the onset of it. I learned that preparing at the beginning makes things more enjoyable.

Advanced in Microsoft Office Suite, desire to increase excel proficiency. Interested in technology: writing my thesis on how SaaS can improve broad integrative analyses given the large quantity of diverse data related to global climate change.

How are your classes applicable to the industry?: Academic background pertinent to this s a lot of change which is exciting and also brings a lot of challenges. The tariffs bring inconsistency. The political climate is uncertain.

Interview Questions=

What are examples of how the accounting department and asset management department collaborated to bring the Shakes project to fruition? Largest project in company history, in Texas

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What qualifications do you have that align with the job description?

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Strengths: results-driven, stakeholder relations, contracting, creative problem-solver, project management, strong background in mathematics courses, extensive understanding of the terminology and development cycles of solar projects, trained in sales, communication with other internal departments, highly motivated, detail-oriented, self-directed contributor and team leader by example and showing respect, collaborates effectively, bridge the gap between landowner and technical aspects of the project as the primary contact/facilitator, ambitious; approachable; creative; diligent; disciplined work ethic; forward-thinking; logical; rational

See challenge as opportunity****

Shared vision with smart people

Enjoy taking on additional responsibility that is diverse

Do well in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Learning involves putting yourself out there and asking questions

Always changing

Want to work hard to change the world

Lots to do and learn

highly-motivated, resourceful, thorough, hard worker, simplify something complicated, attention to detail,

California-Irvine area, international travel, academic focus in International Relations within Political Science, Los Angeles, Santa Monica

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Why CCR?

Over the course of my academic program, I realized that working in solar goes well with my strengths because I am naturally wired to work as a business woman. I am organized, productivity-oriented and enjoy making large-scale transactions happen. The massive impact of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a utility-scale solar company with a simultaneously driven and fun culture attracts me to CCR. I feel as though it’s the perfect place to contribute to growing the industry.

I learned from my first round interview that CCR is my ideal work environment. Driven, fun, humble, opportunity for movement up the company for someone with tenacity, surrounded by people who are passionate about supporting the environment, surrounded by smart and healthy individuals, handling a high-value product, constantly aiming to be efficient. I also like working in small teams in which I have the chance to have an actual conversation and not just passively listen. It’s invigorating for me to be in an intense and uncertain industry, laugh at the issues, and walk away knowing we are doing everything we can.

Advanced in Microsoft Office Suite, desire to increase excel proficiency. Interested in technology: writing my thesis on how SaaS can improve broad integrative analyses given the large quantity of diverse data related to global climate change.

How are your classes applicable to the industry?: Academic background pertinent to this s capacity to handle the added renewable energy systems. Issue with recycling solar panels. Everything is still so new so there’s a lot of change which is exciting and also brings a lot of challenges. The tariffs make it difficult to keep supply costs down, as well. The political climate is uncertain.

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Still remote, offices are still open though. People still go into office, need proof of vaccination. People go into the office on a voluntary basis. SF, LA, Asheville, Durham.

Interviews and on boarding is virtual. Training will happen remotely, no need to go to the Durham office. Eventually, the position is moving to the Durham office and will be voluntarily go into the office. Coordinator (0 years experience) and Analyst (1-2 years experience) positions have growth opportunity to become Asset Managers. Access to the other departments in this role is conducive to people being able to move around within the company. Headquartered in Santa Monica (100 people), SF (Project Finance and Legal Presence, 50 people), Durham (100 people), Asheville (a little less people, and looking to outsource O&M department). Reports to director of Asset Management who reports to Becky (the CFO and COO).

Asset Management Services for owned and third-party assets including contract and compliance management, technical and financial performance review and fleet optimization.

What is the basic difference between wind and solar?

People are very friendly are mainly interested to know you as a person and your experience in the work you will do.

Walk me through how you proceed the approval process for a project.

How are your classes applicable to the industry?

Describe a typical day in your role for this company you worked for.

It was more focus on fit and asking you reasons as to why you would like to work for this specific company.

What do you know about Cypress Creek Renewables? What qualifications do you have that align with the job description? Why do you want to work within this company and this role? What is your ideal work environment?

What would you like to add to your resume after working here?

What attracts you the solar industry in a finance role?

How do you envision working remotely as part of a team that also largely works remotely?

Do you feel comfortable managing your workflow largely on your own, with supervision from the team in another state?