Eric Hinckley
Technology Advisor
Eric is Chief Technology Officer of Renova Capital Partners, a private equity firm with an established track record of investing in, financing and operating renewable energy assets. Since inception in 2007, Renova has successfully developed and capitalized over $600-million of renewable energy infrastructure.
In addition to Renova Capital Partners, Eric’s experience includes:
- Former COO and SR. VP at BriteStreet Energy Group, LLC
- Former Chief Technology Officer at AES Distributed Energy, Inc.
- Former Chief Technology Officer and Sr. VO Operations at Main Street Power Company,
Inc. - Former President and Founder of Solar Resource Consulting, LLC.
- Former COO of Simple Solar Systems, LLC.
- Former Chief Technology Officer and COO of Solorado Energy, LLC.
Eric holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado and is a NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) Board Certified Solar PV Installation Professional.
Edward Green
Patent Attorney and Intellectual Property Consultant
Edward H. Green, III is, in his own words, a “geek” with 15 years of design engineering experience. It was the combination of intellectual challenge and being involved in the latest, cutting-edge technology that first attracted him to engineering. For Ed, a career in patent law was a natural progression.
His vast experience with digital electronics includes designing circuits found in SPARC® and PowerPC® architecture microprocessors, video compression boards, minicomputer memory controllers, missile guidance systems and satellite data acquisition systems. Having worked in both product design and research environments in the commercial computer and defense industries, as well as field work in the oil business, Mr. Green is also the co-inventor on four U.S. Patents. His engineering affiliations include IBM, Sun Microsystems, Olivetti, Lockheed, and Gearhart Industries.
Mr. Green applies his extensive technical background to protect clients’ inventions across a wide range of technologies, including processor architecture, discrete and integrated electrical circuits, memory, software, networks, wireless communications technology, laser printers, robotics, data processing, internet business methods, power control, and mechanical and industrial designs. Mr. Green also secures and defends intellectual property rights for authors, artists, architects, and musicians through copyrights, and helps business people protect their brands and image through trademark registration and enforcement.
Mr. Green obtained his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 1985, with an emphasis in digital electronics. He earned his Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, in 1999 from the evening program at North Carolina Central University School of Law, while practicing engineering full-time. Mr. Green is admitted to practice law in the state of North Carolina and in the federal district court, and he is also registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C.
A member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, North Carolina Bar Association and Triangle Intellectual Property Law Association, Ed still manages to find time to participate in a variety of recreational pursuits. Hobbies include riding motorcycles, flying airplanes, and a variety of shooting sports. He can often be spotted with his wife Sandy, three daughters, and chocolate lab Casey (also a female), pulling an RV camper across the countryside.
Ken Gilbert
“In Residence” Professional Engineer
Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Master Electrician in Virginia. Member and current Electrical Sub-committee Chair, Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam Development Committee for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), Project Manager, Building Systems, Control Systems Design, Construction, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Global Expansion, Technical Enablement & Education, Policy & Procedure Development, Estimates. Experience in Residential, Commercial, Institutional, Governmental, and Industrial Project Design and Implementation.
Bruce Gibson
Sr. Software Engineer Consultant
Bruce Gibson has been involved in software design and development for thirty years, from implementing abstract ideas to heads down coding. Bruce brings to Koolbridge Solar his extensive management experience, with hands-on software and new technologies development knowledge. Graduating with an electrical engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame, Bruce transitioned into software development of embedded electronic devices working for a Department of Defense contractor.
With his technical background, Bruce has managed numerous engineering teams over the years to develop industrial as well as commercial electronics products spanning a multitude of industries such as petroleum, building controls automation, and retail. Founding two software development companies that targeted embedded design, he has more recently expanded his focus to integrating technologies such as cloud and native mobile devices.
Pin-Huang Hsieh
Embedded Software Engineer
Pin-Huang Hsieh has 20-years embedded firmware/software design experience, and is familiar with a variety of 8/16/32-bit microcontroller for industrial electronic controls. His previous job positions includes Development Engineer, Electrical Engineer and Embedded Software Engineer. Mr. Hsieh founded EFware Design, LLC in 2013, and his consulting business for embedded software design and development. His specialty includes control system and embedded system design. He holds both a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from University of Colorado, Denver.
Bob Newell
Building Consultant
Bob Newell has been a local building contractor, mainly in Mid to Southeastern North Carolina, for 33 years. His abilities range from building large residential homes to managing crews up and down the East Coast remodeling Waffle House restaurants at a pace of one per week. Bob is also an inventor and now consults for Koolbridge Solar in an official capacity and helps lead the company’s efforts in solar roof-top and eventual solar farm construction.
Martin Kuttner
Electrical Engineer Consultant
Martin is an Electrical Engineer with over 20-years of industry experience in research and development of analog, RF and digital receiver and real-time microcontroller based products. In addition, Martin has proficiency in the design, on-site testing and deployment of embedded control systems for both domestic and international environments. He has worked on both high-end and cost-sensitive product lines and understands the design rationale for both types.
Martin’s equipment design knowledge ranges from deserts to Antarctic, and corrosive saltwater air, as well as office ambient conditions along with complicating factors such as EU, RoHS and WEEE manufacturing regulations. He has interfaced with both FCC, CE/EU compliance laboratories to verify that products meet or exceed domestic and international standards. His latest projects include the Atmel ATmega product line, where he added an AVR One development system, imagecraft C compiler, as well as a CCS compiler for a microchip PIC line.
Martin has a BSEE from the College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor., and presently resides in Holly Springs, NC
Mike Nicklas
FAIA, President
Michael Nicklas graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Architecture and has been the President of Innovative Design, www.innovativedesign.net , since the firm was established in 1977.
Mr. Nicklas, while a founding member and later Chair of North Carolina Solar Energy Association, twice Chair of American Solar Energy Society and President of International Solar Energy Society, led many of these societies’ most significant efforts – from solar tax credits in the NC Legislature to having language supportive of energy-efficiency and solar energy included within the United Nations Earth Summit’s Agenda 21. To promote solar energy, Nicklas has met with the Heads-of-State of eight countries. He has presented or organized over 350 lectures and conferences attended by 75,000 people in 27 countries and 32 states to promote sustainable development.
Mr. Nicklas’ extensive knowledge of solar and architectural design has led him to become a valued resource in these areas. He has been appointed to the United Nations Development Programme Advisory Committee, NC Energy Policy Council, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Advisory Board, NC Solar Center Chair, US Office of Technology Assessment Renewable Energy Advisory Board, AIA Committee on the Environment Steering Committee, NC Governor’s Task Force on Solar Law, NC Department of Public Instruction Solar Advisory Committee, AIA’s representative on ASHRAE’s Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 Schools and lead a United Nations Earth Summit Delegation promoting solar energy.
Innovative Design is responsible for over 4,750 energy-efficient, environmentally sound solar buildings, saving the equivalent of 130 megawatts of peak electricity and total energy savings in excess of $196 million.
Dave Hollister
President & CEO Sundance Power Systems
Dave brings over 27 years experience to the Koolbridge Solar Board of Advisor’s position in solar, environmental sciences and other sustainable design – most notably in solar systems design. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Biology from Fort Lewis College. Dave served as the National Action Coordinator for Greenpeace for 9-years and was instrumental in the development and execution of their Direct Action campaign strategy. He has served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association and currently serves on the Advisory Board of Appalachian State University’s Appropriate Technology Program. Since 1995 Dave, along with his wife, Sierra, have been building Sundance Power into one of the most trusted renewable energy service companies in the Southeastern United States. He is a renowned speaker at regional conferences and has been a prime mover in raising energy consciousness among policy makers and the general public.
Sundance Power Systems, Inc. has been in business for over 20 years and is committed to participating in the healing of the planet and creating a sustainable quality of life for humanity through the introduction of renewable energy into society at large. The Company provides a full-range of solutions that includes – Renewable Energy for the Home, Commercial and Large Scale Energy Projects, PVC Panels and Systems, Solar Hot Water Thermal Systems, Radiant Floor Heating, Wind Power, Micro Hydroelectric, Service and Maintenance Programs.
