Top North Bay contractors of 2013

JQUACKENBUSH

October 7, 2013

The following are profiles of top executives of the highest-ranking companies on the following lists: Commercial General Contractors, published on March 18; Commercial Landscape Contractors, Sept. 9; Electrical Contractors, Feb. 11; HVAC Contractors, Sept. 9; licensed contractors on the Solar Companies list, June 17.Commercial general contractorsRichard GhilottiGhilotti Construction Co., 246 Ghilotti Ave., Santa Rosa 95407; 707-585-1221; ghilotti.com; 387 employees; '12 revenues: North Bay $99.0 million, companywide $152.0 million

President and Chief Executive Officer Dick Ghilotti, 66, co-founded the general engineering contracting company in 1992. The company has established offices in Marin and Napa counties and the East Bay and acquired North Bay Construction in 2010.

A major current job is a $28.7 million contract to expand the Airport Boulevard interchange on Highway 101 north of Santa Rosa. Big jobs in the past 12 months include $23.2 million for the Old Redwood Highway interchange on that freeway in north Petaluma, $22.9 million in upgrades to the "Novato Narrows" on Highway 101 between Petaluma and Novato and $19 million in site work for the new Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa hospital.Mike GhilottiGhilotti Bros., 525 Jacoby St., San Rafael 94901; 415-454-7011; ghilottibros.com; 83 employees; '12 revenue: North Bay $59.3 million, companywide $90.1 million

Mike Ghilotti, 51, became president in 2000 of the general engineering contracting company his grandfather James Ghilotti started in 1914.

A large job for the company now is $66.3 million for the expanded Petaluma Boulevard South interchange on Highway 101. Large recent jobs have been $44 million for widening of that freeway and expanding the Wilfred Avenue interchange in Rohnert Park, $20 million for widening Highway 12 through Jameson Canyon Road south of Napa and $20 million for paving Highway 101 from Golden Gate Bridge to Corte Madera.Jon FoadRudolph and Sletten, 1504 Eureka Rd., Ste. 200, Roseville 95661; 916-781-8001; rsconstruction.com; 67 employees; '12 revenues: North Bay $27.0 million, companywide $841.0 million

Jon Foad has been with the Redwood City-based company since the late 1980s and became vice president of operations for the Sacramento region in 2007.

A major North Bay job for the company is $182 million to build Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park. The facility is set to open in early November and cost $800 million when fully outfitted with 3,000 slot machines and other items as well as several restaurants.

The company was involved with $90 million in contracts for phases 1--10 on the Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, which opened in Rohnert Park for concerts a year ago.Roger NelsonMidstate Construction, 1180 Holm Rd., Petaluma 94954; 707-762-3200; midstateconstruction.com; 65 employees; '12 revenues: North Bay $46.1 million, companywide $97.4 million

Roger Nelson, 67, has been owner and president of 78-year-old Midstate for 36 years.

A major North Bay contract being finished is $30.6 million from Regency Centers to build the East Washington Place regional mall in Petaluma. Large recent projects have been $25 million for an expansion of The Meritage Resort & Spa in south Napa and $13 million for modernizing the performing arts center at the College of Marin campus.Kelly KolanderO.C. Jones & Sons, 930 Shiloh Rd., Bldg. 46, Windsor 95492; 510-526-3424; ocjones.com; 65 employees; '12 revenues: North Bay $23.1 million, companywide $145.1 million

Kelly Kolander is president and chief executive officer of the Berkeley-based general engineering contractor founded in 1924.

A large current North Bay project has been $100 million for Fairfield truck scales on Interstate 80. Recent big North Bay jobs have been $16 million for work on Highway 101 in Novato and $5 million for infrastructure at Green Music Center at Sonoma State University.Glen GhilottiTeam Ghilotti, 2531 S. Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma 94952; 707-763-8700; teamghilotti.com; 35 employees; '12 revenues: $17.0 million

President Glen Ghilotti, 55, started this general engineering contracting company in 2007, the fourth Ghilotti family business in the North Bay. He is the son of Henry "Babe" Ghilotti, co-founder of San Rafael-based general engineering contracting company Magiorra & Ghilotti and what is now Petaluma-based Shamrock Materials.Jim MurphyJim Murphy & Associates, 464 Kenwood Ct., Ste. B, Santa Rosa 95407; 707-576-7337; j-m-a.com; 46 employees; '12 revenues: North Bay $4.1 million, companywide $33.1 million

President Jim Murphy, 71, started the company in 1968. It specializes in design-build, hospitality, private-school, custom-home and wine-related projects.

The largest current project is $20 million through 2016 at the Union for Reform Judaism's 600-acre Camp Newman property near Santa Rosa. Phases include nine sleeping cabins with 1,300--2,600 square feet each, a new administration and clinic building, and new dining hall.Jeff LuchettiJeff Luchetti Construction; 70 Stony Point Rd., Ste. D, Santa Rosa 95401; 707-527-5788; jlcbuild.com; 39 employees; '12 revenues: $60.0 million

Jeff Luchetti, 56, started JLC in 1998. Since then, the company has diversified. JLBuilders builds custom homes, and JLModular constructs permanent and movable buildings for schools, hospitals and correctional facilities.

The largest recent project is $20 million to renovate the Mills High School gym and theater in Millbrae. Big recent North Bay projects have been the Child Study Center for College of Marin in Larkspur, Martin Luther King Jr. classroom building in Marin City and VEC at St. Helena High School.Mark DavisWright Contracting, P.O. Box 1270, Santa Rosa 95402; 707-528-1172; wrightcontracting.com; 45 employees; '12 revenue: $89.2 million

Mark Davis was promoted to president from vice president and operations manager in 2009. He has been working at Wright Contracting for 29 years. Paul V. Wright started the company in 1953.

The largest current job is $65.4 million for the Queen of the Valley Medical Center North Pavilion acute care center in Napa. Recent large jobs have been $10 million for Mendocino College's Lake Center in Lakeport, $4 million for executive offices for E&J Gallo in Healdsburg and as much for Luther Bank Savings' headquarters in Santa Rosa.Craig Nordby, Dave Schroeder and Rick ShoneNordby Construction, 1550 Airport Blvd., Ste. 201, Santa Rosa 95403; 707-526-4500; nordby.net; 25 employees; '12 revenue: North Bay $14.0 million, $15.0 million companywide

Nordby Construction was founded in 1978 by Wendell Nordby Jr. His sons "Del" and Craig Nordby were involved in senior positions in the family business, until Del Nordby left a few years ago to pursue real estate development and Craig Nordby in 2010 assumed full ownership of the company.

The largest recent project were upgrades to the Kendall-Jackson Welcome Center on Fulton Road north of Santa Rosa.

Del and Craig Nordby in 1996 started Nordby Wine Caves. Rick Shone is president of that company.

The Nordbys started Nordby Signature Homes in 2004. Dave Schroeder manages that custom-home builder.Commercial landscape contractorsSteve GlennonCagwin & Dorward, P.O. Box 1600, Novato 94948; 415-892-7710; cagwin.com; 169 employees

Steve Glennon became president, chief executive officer and chief operating officer when longtime top executive Dennis Dougherty retired. Previously, Mr. Glennon was vice president and COO. Ornamental horticulturalist Tom Cagwin and economist David Dorward started the company in 1955 and retired in the early 1990s.From Novato, the company serves California from 14 locations, from the Novato headquarters and offices from Santa Rosa in the north to Monterey in the south and east to Modesto and Sacramento.Darryl Orr and David PenryPacific Landscapes, P.O. Box 481, Sebastopol 95473; 707-829-8064; pacificlandscapes.com; 75 employees

Owners Darryl Orr and Dave Penry, each with four decades of landscape industry experience, started the company in 2000.

With certifications and training in water conservation and natural horticulture, Mr. Orr was a driving force in the company's offering organic landscape management.

Mr. Penry has been active in water-conservation policy and education, including involvement with the Sonoma County Water Agency Landscape Water Advisory Group and assistance in starting the Water Management Technology program at College of Marin. He also has been outspoken on the the national stage about the need for immigration reform to ensure a legal workforceKelly Solomon, Rob Solomon and Lebo NewmanCoast LM, 103 Camino Oruga, Napa 94558; 800-578-8810, coastlm.com; 68 employees

Chief Executive Officer Kelly Solomon and Rob Solomon, operations director and president, teamed with Reno-based landscape contractor and business broker Lebo Newman and his wife, Merrill, in late 2005 to start CoNorast, which serves Napa, Solano, Marin and Sonoma counties.

Mr. Solomon started UpValley Landscape in 2001, and Ms. Solomon joined as a partner and chief financial officer in 2002. The Newmans were owners of Redwood Landscaping, a large Santa Rosa-based company sold to LandCare in 1998.

The company also has locations in Cotati, the East Bay, Roseville and Sacramento. It won a 2013 award from the East Bay chapter of the Commercial Landscape Contractors Association in the Small Commercial Maintenance for the Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream headquarters in Berkeley.Jeff PottoroffNorth Bay Landscape Management, 444 Payran St., Petaluma 94952; 707-762-3850; northbaylandscape.com; 68 employees

Jeff Pottoroff started the company 1996 after acquiring a small landscaper. The company grew two more times by acquisition.

The company won awards last year from the North Coast chapter of the Contractors Landscape Contractors Association in the Small Design-Build and Unlimited Residential Maintenance categories.John and Denise FitzgeraldLandesign Construction and Maintenance, P.O. Box 2326, Santa Rosa 95405; 707-578-2657; landesign-inc.com; 65 employees

President John Fitzgerald and Denise Fitzgerald, vice president and director of marketing, started Landesign in 1990.

This summer Landesign started moving toward setting up a Marin County operations hub. [See "Landesign expands to Marin County," June. 3.] The company last year started a new division, One Putt Greens, to install artificial turf to meet increasingly stringent water standards in Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

In June, the company won Commercial Landscape Contractors Association first-place awards in the Renovation category for Santa Rosa Plaza in Santa Rosa; Medium Installation of Landscaping, for Acacia Lane Senior Apartments in Santa Rosa; and Small Commercial Maintenance, for Vintage Brush Creek in Santa Rosa.Pierre MarizcoMarizco Landscape Management, P.O. Box 8160, Santa Rosa 95407; 707-546-9100; marizco.com; 63 employees

President and Chief Executive Officer Pierre Marizco started the company with just a truck and a mower in January 2004 and has expanded it to serve clients in Sonoma, Marin, Solano, Napa and Contra Costa counties from locations in Santa Rosa and San Rafael.

The company's employees have told the Business Journal that it's one of the Best Places to Work in the North Bay for six years.Peter Andreucci, Bud Reeves and Michael GreeneBartlett Tree Experts, 60 Hoag Ave., San Rafael 94901; 415-472-4300; bartlett.com; 39 employees

For 18 years, Peter Andreucci has been vice president of the western U.S. division of Stamford, Conn.-based Bartlett Tree Experts, which has more than 100 offices and started in 1907. He has been with the company since 1987.

Bud Reeves, an ISA board-certified master arborist, joined Bartlett Tree Experts in 1994 and has been manager of the Sonoma office since 2005.

Michael Greene, an ISA board-certified master arborist, is manager of the San Rafael office. He has been working in tree care in Marin County for more than three decades.Ed NessingerNessco Construction, 244 Colgan Ave., Santa Rosa 95404; 707-541-0107; nesscoconstruction.com; 34 employees

President Ed Nessinger, 49, started Nessco in 1994. The company not only installs and maintains commercial landscapes but also works on erosion-control and site-improvement jobs as a general engineering contractor.

Mr. Nessinger also is co-owner of Santa Rosa-based commercial general contractor R.E. West Builders.Greg Shooter and Marianne ShooterThe Shooter Co., 79 Galli Dr., Ste. E, Novato 94949; 415-883-7223; theshootercompany.com; 34 employees

The Shooter family started this landscaping, general engineering and class B building contracting company in 1970.Dan FixDan Fix Landscape Construction Co., 134 Gary Pl., San Rafael 94901; 415-453-1604; danfixlandscape.com; 26 employees

Fix Brothers Landscapes started in San Geronimo northwest of San Rafael in 1980, and Dan Fix Landscape Construction launched in San Rafael in 1989.Electrical contractorsLeslie MurphyW. Bradley Electric, 90 Hill Rd., Novato 94945; 415-898-1400; wbeinc.com; '12 electrical contracting revenues: $64.0 million; employees: 200 full time, two part time

Leslie Murphy, 51, is chief executive officer of the electrical contracting company her father, William Bradley, started in 1977. The company now has six divisions: WBE Electric, WBE Telcom, WBE Network Systems, WBE Security Control Systems, WBE Audio Visual and WBE Traffic Signals & Highway Technology.

Security Control has gone worldwide through a partnership with First City Care of London and Singapore. WBE Audio Visual in August announced an installation partnership for LifeSize HD Video Communications Solutions with that division of computer device maker Logitech.

WBE added a San Francisco office last year and has an office in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2012 named the company among the top five woman-owned business in the area. WBE this year was named one of North Bay Business Journal's Best Places to Work for the sixth time.James BrownMike Brown Electric Co., 561 Mercantile Dr., Ste. A, Cotati 94931; 707-792-8100; mbelectric.com; '12 electrical contracting revenues: $25.0 million; 85 full-time employees

President James Brown, 51, is the oldest son of Mike Brown, who started the company in 1975.Jim ChiappariNorthern Electric, 3190 Regional Pkwy., Santa Rosa 95403; 707-571-2265; northernelectric.com; '12 electrical contracting revenues: $15.0 million

Project engineer and head superintendent Jim Chiappari, 50, is son of owner and Chief Executive Officer Mike Chiappari, who started the company in 1980 with William Calvert.Jolene Corcoran, Ray Lunardi and Ron LunardiLunardi Electric, 5334 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa 95407; 707-545-4755; lunardielectric.com; '12 electrical contracting revenues: $13.6 million; employees: 57 full time, three part time

Jolene Corcoran, 60, is president of the company her father, Joe Lunardi, established five decades ago and retired from in 1994. Ms. Corcoran writes bid estimates and manages personnel. Ray Lunardi, 53, handles project management and estimating, and his twin brother, Ron, oversees operations.Larry Dashiell and Keith HitmanSummit Technology Group, 2450 Bluebell Dr., Ste. C, Santa Rosa 95403; 707-542-4773; summit-e.com; '12 revenues: $9.0 million electrical, $1.72 million solar; 50 employees

Chief Executive Officer Larry Dashiell took over operations of the company in 1986 from his father, who started it in 1968. In 1997 he helped start the Redwood Empire chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors trade group.

The company has diversified into telecommunications and photovoltaic system installations as well as electrical contracting.

President Keith Hitman started as a purchasing and warehouse manager in 2007 and was promoted in May 2011.Ray Reyff Sr. and Ray Reyff Jr.Reyff Electric Co., P.O. Box 1196, Rohnert Park 94927; 707-585-2481; '11 electrical contracting revenues: $8.2 million; employees: 40 full time, one part time

Ray Reyff Sr. is president of the electrical contracting company he started in 1980 and now operates the second location, located in Fairfield to cover Solano and Napa counties.

Ray Reyff Jr. now owns and operates the Rohnert Park office, which serves Sonoma and Marin counties.Ruben PerezNapa Electric, 2240 Brown St., Napa 94558; 707-252-6611; napaelectric.com; '12 electrical contracting revenues: $8.0 million; 40 full-time employees

Ruben Perez, 61, is owner and general manager of Napa Electric, started in 1939 by Art and Dorothy Tockey. Mr. Perez started as an apprentice there in 1972 , moving into sales and management in 1995. Nine years later he acquired full ownership.Barbara RagsdaleKnights' Electric, 11410 Old Redwood Hwy., Windsor 95492; 707-433-6931; knightselectric.com; '12 electrical contracting: $6.5 million; 40 full-time employees

Barbara Ragsdale became president and chief executive officer in 2007, replacing her father, Bob Knight. She had been chief financial officer since Knights' Electric was incorporated in 1982.Ed GugelR. McClure Electric, 706 Portal St., Ste. D, Cotati 94931; 707-792-2101; rmcclure.com; '12 electrical contracting revenues: $6.0 million; 30 full-time employees

Ed Gugel is president of the electrical contracting company started in 1978.Floyd Wiggins, Julie Wiggins and Dean WigginsWiggins Electric, 1370 Airport Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403; 707-545-7869; '12 revenues: $5.0 million; 30 employees

Julie and Floyd Wiggins started the company in 1973, and Dean Wiggins joined ownership in 1997.

That was about the same time the Wigginses started JF Lighting & Design next to the main office.HVAC contractorsPaul IrwinBell Products, 722 Soscol Ave., Napa 94559; 707-255-1811; bellproducts.com; 123 employees

Paul Irwin, 56, is president of the company Joe Bell started in 1945. Mr. Irwin started with Bell as an estimator in 1982.Paul BighamBigham's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, 1400 Petaluma Hill Rd., Santa Rosa 95404; 707-545-1800; onehourheatandac.com; employees: 62 in HVAC, 65 in North Bay and 80 companywide

Paul Bigham started Bigham's Heating & Sheet Metal in 1991 and incorporated as Bigham Services in 1997. The company has expanded to serve the Bay Area.

The company added the One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning franchise for servicing.Bill RogersJohnson Controls, 2226 Northpoint Pkwy., Santa Rosa 95407; 707-546-3042; johnsoncontrols.com; 50 in HVAC and in North Bay, 162,000 companywide

Bill Rogers is a service and installation manager responsible for the North Bay office, located in Santa Rosa, and has worked with the company since 1978.

Johnson Controls has 162,000 employees in more than 150 countries, specializing in optimizing energy and operational efficiencies of buildings, automotive batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles, and interior systems for automobiles.

The Global WorkPlace Solutions group, which is focused on building efficiency, has more than 21,000 employees.James LandaSimpson Sheet Metal, 2833 Dowd Dr., Ste. C, Santa Rosa 95407; 707-576-1500; simpsonsheetmetal.com; 48 employees

In 2004 owner Jim Landa, 49, joined Simpson, which started in 1977. He came from 10 years as president of Empire Waste Management and a career in finance with Waste Management in Oakland and Chronicle Publishing in San Francisco.Les PetersonPeterson Mechanical, 21819 Eighth St. E., Sonoma 95476; 707-938-8481; petersonmechanical.com; employees: 38 in HVAC, 141 total

Les Peterson, 63, is president and chief executive officer of the company started in 1915 by Ed Peterson, his granduncle. These days business is split 45 percent each between plumbing and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, with the rest in HVAC service work.

The company also was ranked No. 1 on the most recent Business Journal list of top North Bay plumbing contractors, published in 2010.Joe HenryHenry Mechanical, 7656 Bell Rd., Windsor 95492; 707-838-3311; henrymechanical.com; 33 employees

Joe Henry purchased ownership of the 20-year-old company in 2005 from his father and founder, Doug Henry.Bruce WrightAirco Commerical - North Bay, 6650 Goodyear Rd., Benicia 94510; 707-746-5693; airco-commercial.com; employees: 20 in North Bay HVAC, 25 North Bay and 102 companywide

Bruce Wright has been general manager since 2005 and vice president since mid-2008. He has been in sales for the company since 1994.Jon Gundersen and Tom SosineUnited Mechanical Inc., 520 Mercantile Dr., Ste. A, Cotati 94931; 707-796-7400; umi1.com; employees: 20 in HVAC and the North Bay, 375 companywide

Tom Sosine is an owner of San Jose-based United Mechanical.Ted Treat and Jason GeorgeACCO Engineered Systems, 737 Southpoint Blvd., Ste. G, Petaluma 94954; 707-776-2748; accoes.com; employees: eight in HVAC in the North Bay and total

Glendale-based ACCO is one of the five-largest HVAC contractors in the U.S. Ted Treat is Petaluma construction manager. Jason George, 46, has been Vacaville construction manager since April 2006.Etta AllenAllen Heating and Sheet Metal, 31 Industrial Way, Greenbrae 94904; 415-924-2425; allenheating.com; employees: seven in the North Bay and 11 companywide

The company started in 1962. Etta Allen has been president since 1974.Solar contractorsJohn SchaefferReal Goods Solar, 27 Simms St., San Rafael 94901; 888-567-6527; realgoodssolar.com; '12 solar revenue: $12.0 million North Bay, $92.9 million total; employees: 53 North Bay, 334 total

John Schaeffer, 62, general manager for retail and distribution at publicly traded Real Goods Solar (Nasdaq: RSOL). He started Real Goods Trading Company in 1978 and remains on the board of directors. Colorado-based Giam combined North Bay operations of Marin Solar and Real Goods in 2009.

When Real Goods acquired Alteris Renewables in January 2012, Mr. Schaeffer became president of the residential side of the company. RGS Energy is the commercial and utility division. This summer, Real Goods acquired New York-based Mercury Solar Systems and Denver-based Syndicated Solar.

Among its dozen-plus offices nationwide, Real Goods has a branch in San Rafael and a branch and store on the 12-acre Solar Living Center in Hopland.Rick TurleyAloha Solar, 212 Second St., Petaluma 94952; 707-789-9537; aloha-solar.com; '12 revenues: $8 million in North Bay, $8.88 million total; employees: 10 in North bay, 15 total

Rick Turley is president. With Bill Turley Jr. he co-founded the company, formerly known as Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions in 1984. The company installs solar electric and hot-water systems.Bill StewartSolarCraft, 285-D Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato 94949; 415-382-7717; solarcraft.com; '12 solar revenue: $6.52 million; 42 employees

Bill Stewart, 61, is owner and president of SolarCraft, which Dennis Nuttman and he started in 1984. He is a member of the North Bay Leadership Council and was on the boards of the Marin Economic Forum and California Solar Energy Industries Association.Aran MooreSun First! Solar Energy Systems, 3060 Kerner Blvd., Ste. W, San Rafael 94901; 415-458-5870; sunfirstsolar.com; '12 solar revenues: $3.2 million

Aran Moore started Marin Solar in Sausalito in 1984. He formed Sun First! in 2009 after Real Goods Solar acquired Marin Solar two years earlier.Nate GulbransenWestcoast Solar Energy, 5800 Redwood Dr., Ste. D, Rohnert Park 94928; 707-664-6450; westcoastsolarenergy.com; '12 revenue: $2.8 million; 20 employees

Chief Operations Officer Jeremy Greer started Westcoast Solar Energy in December 2007 and incorporated the company with President Nate Gulbransen in July 2011.

Also in 2011, Mr. Gulbransen teamed with Londo Franci, the second generation of Sebastopol-based Franci Construction, to form Homestar Building Performance to complete energy-efficiency analysis and upgrade projects.Jeff Mathias and Mike PaneSynergy Solar & Electrical Systems, 708 N. Gravenstein Hwy., Ste. 134, Sebastopol 95472; 707-823-8003; synsolar.com; '12 solar revenues: $1.05 million; six employees

Jeff Mathias started at the company as a journeyman electrician and solar project manager in 2006. Mike Pane joined West County Solar, the predecessor of Synergy, in 2003 as an apprentice and became a journeyman electrician. In January 2007 they purchased the assets and changed the name.

The company was accredited by New York-based North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners in early 2012. Synergy installs photovoltaic demand and backup energy systems as well as electric-vehicle charging stations, in addition to conventional electrical contracting.Hardy KuenzlGaia Energy Systems, 716 College Ave., Ste. E, Santa Rosa 95404; 707-538-8554; GaiaEnergySystems.com; '11 revenues: $264,000 solar, $3.43 million total; employees: three in solar, 15 total

President Hardy Kuenzl in 1981 immigrated from Germany, where he had lived off the grid and had designed photovoltaic systems. He later earned an electrical contracting license. In 1994 he started Gaia Energy Systems in Willits. Kate Collins became a partner in 2003 after their marriage, and she has been using her business background in company administration.

Ms. Collins has advised the green-building programs at Mendocino and Santa Rosa junior colleges.John ParrySolar Works, 400 Morris St., Sebastopol 95472; 707-829-8282; solarworksca.com; 2010 solar revenues: $4 million; 13 employees

Owner and Chief Executive Officer John Parry built Solar Works from a one-person solar hot water installer in 1986.

He also has been an adviser for the California State License Board's solar installer license examination.Warren BrownOne Sun, P.O. Box 532, Graton 95444; 707-824-1951; onesuninc.com

After 30 years operating his namesake electrical contracting business, Warren Brown in 2001 began focusing exclusively on design and installation of solar-electric systems for businesses and municipal facilities in Northern California through his company Solar by Design, later renamed One Sun.

Mr. Brown was instrumental in forming North Coast Builders Exchange’s Green Building Committee and setting up a high-tech green-building education center in Santa Rosa and overseeing training in such materials and methods for the exchange’s about 1,800 members. His local advocacy for renewable energy includes advising on local green-building ordinances.

One Sun Inc. specializes in the design and installation of commercial, industrial, municipal and agricultural grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems. The company is a licensed general and electrical contractor and offers the combination of solar technology expertise, comprehensive construction capability and business management experience.Paul and Keith KruetzfeldtSolar Universe of Santa Rosa, 3636 Airway Dr., Santa Rosa 95403; 707-623-1464; solaruniverse.com

President Paul Kruetzfeldt started Kruetzfeldt Construction Co. in 1977 and in 2009 acquired a franchise from Livermore-based Solar Universe. Keith Kruetzfeldt, his son, joined the company in mid-2009 and is vice president.

Both Kruetzfeldts have master's engineering degrees, in electrical engineering from U.C. Los Angeles for the father and in mechanical engineering from U.C. Davis for the son. The younger Kruetzfeldt was involved in ground-level research for what would become the U.C. Davis' Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center.Doug MaySPG Solar, 20 Leveroni Ct., Novato 94949; 415-883-7657, spgsolar.com

Doug May was appointed chief executive officer in August 2012. He has nine years of experience in solar industry cost-trimming and innovating, most recently as president and CEO of Unirac. He has three decades of experience in high technology and renewable energy.

Dan Thompson started the company in 2001 as an installer of residential systems in Marin County. Now the company is tackling large projects nationwide and innovating installation systems, such as panel arrays that can float on irrigation ponds and the recently released single-axis sun-tracking system.