When Rex Sauls talks about solar, his eyes light up like a kid in a candy store. He’s hooked! Rex’s passion for solar began decades ago through his love and interest in solar cars. He always thought that harvesting energy from the sun was a better alternative to fossil fuels. Over the years, he let his solar passion simmer while he pursued careers as a studio cameraman for a television network, to a salesman, ranging from part sales at a motorcycle shop to even owning a pet store with his wife.
In the late 2000s, Rex found himself another casualty in the economic crisis. He was recently unemployed, but with decades of inside and outside sales experience. Seeing this as an opportunity rather than a setback, Rex chose to follow his passion for solar. He invested in solar classes in San Francisco and jumped on the opportunity to volunteer with GRID Alternatives to gain hands-on skills in solar installations. His passion for solar continued to grow through GRID Alternatives where he gained more than 150 hours of installation experience and quickly became a certified Roof and Ground Team Leader, teaching and guiding other volunteers on how to install solar!
Recognizing Rex's talents and skills in both solar and sales, GRID Alternatives helped Rex land a canvasser job with a growing solar company. It proved to be the perfect fit with his sales background and solar passion. He then moved on to join the sales team of another well-established solar company. For over a year now, Rex has been selling solar electric systems to interested homeowners throughout the Southern California region.
To top it off, Rex’s success working in the solar industry has allowed him to have a solar electric system installed on his roof! He now proudly owns a home that drives on sunshine.
Rex continuously pursued sales, a career that he loves. This goes to show that gaining hands-on installation experience with GRID exposes volunteers to varying career paths within the solar industry.
Our only guess for what's next on his wish list: a solar charged car!
Explore your solar career path by volunteering with GRID Alternatives! Visit GRID’s Volunteer page or contact Cindy Corrales, GRID IE’s Workforce Development & Volunteer Coordinator at volunteerie@gridalternatives.org.