People

Outreach and Communication

Kevin Koch

With a background as a neuroscientist and mountaineer, Kevin came to sustainability through his connection to nature. He believes in living symbiotically with his environment, which has led him to spend over thirteen years in the renewable energy field. He is NABCEP certified in Photovoltaics (PV) and Solar Thermal. He and his family live with PV, solar hot water, and greywater systems.

Justin Orkney

Justin migrated south to Tucson to study engineering. Since graduating from U of A, he had been looking for ways to combine his engineering background with his life-long commitment to the natural world and a harmonious co-existence with it. He is excited to have spent over four years as part of a company that applies a holistic approach to sustainability. He is a NABCEP certified PV installer and lives with PV, solar hot water, and rainwater catchment systems.

Danielle Kontovas Fidel

Danielle studied human physiology in college which led her to complete a Masters of Public Health program in Environmental Health Sciences. Learning about the impact that humans have on the environment and how these impacts affect our lives has led Danielle to commit her life to educating people about helping, not hurting this fragile planet. Danielle is an avid organic gardener and lives with PV, solar hot water, and greywater systems.

Nicole Koch

Nicole has a long standing interest in natural building, a healthy environment, and sustainability as it relates to quality of life. She brings her skills in administration, human resources, and sudden bursts of cleaning to TFS. Having retrofitted a 1905 adobe with solar, greywater, and rainwater harvesting, she and her family are now putting their efforts toward another old home that has gracefully accepted the addition of pv, solar hot water, and greywater.

Tiernay Marsh

Tiernay received her undergraduate degree in International Studies with a focus on Environmental Issues and Marketing from the University of Arizona. Her passion for renewable energy systems has been growing for years and she believes that community support and education is one of the most important factors in the success of solar in an area.

Tamarack Little

Tamarack grew up in Tucson and earned a degree in elementary education at the University of Arizona. In addition to classroom teaching, he has taught outdoor education and facilitated a solar energy outreach program, while always finding time to hike, bike, and take photos. He lives with PV, solar hot water, and at least 25 mesquite trees

In the Field

David Walker

Late baby boomer David Walker grew up in suburban Los Angeles, the youngest of nine. Talk about sustainability! He and his family of four are loving communal life in the shadow of Sentinal Peak, gaining nourishment from neighbors and friends and of course, our sun and our mother Earth.

Stephan Leimroth

After working as a soil scientist for several years, Stephan decided to pursue a career as an electrician and a plumber in the solar industry, in which he has now been working for over seven years. He enjoys living simply, has lived off the grid, and now lives with PV and solar hot water systems. Stephan is a NABCEP certified solar hot water installer and a NABCEP certified PV installer.

David Stevenson

A native Tucsonan, Data David appreciates the Sonoran Desert and life in Tucson where he enjoys hiking, cycling, and Arizona sunshine. David applies his technology background to PV and solar hot water monitoring systems with a goal of inspiring clients to help our planet. David lives with PV, greywater, and rainwater catchment systems.

Mike Kanne

At a young age, Mike learned about the connection between people and the land they inhabit. He has a deep respect for the fragile balance required for sustainability and is thrilled to be working with a company that supports his belief in a sustainable future and to be doing work that respects and protects the environment. He spends most of his leisure time with his wife and their son, Thackery, camping, hiking and making music.

Rob McLane

Rob McLane

Rob lives with his wife Sarah, a native Tucsonan, and their two children, as well as chickens, two bearded dragons, and all the cool undomesticated lizards in the backyard. Rob and Sarah moved to Tucson with their son Carter in 2008, and both were surprised to find they could bicycle and walk to many places here. The best things that have happened to Rob since moving to Tucson have been the birth of his daughter, Hazel, and getting a job at TFS.

Adam Saunders

Adam, TFS’s resident high-fiver, got into the solar industry in order to work for something he believes in and brought his extensive electrical skills. With his wife Heidi and baby Lailah, Adam is happy to help keep Tucson green by harvesting rainwater for their yard and doing other things like drying clothes outside in the AZ heat. Set to graduate from the Arizona Builder’s Alliance this year, he is an invaluable electrician and goof ball.

Jesse Coughlin

With a background in construction, Jesse came to TFS because he feels that the solar industry has a future and because working at the company like TFS just makes you feel good. Jesse got his degree from the University of Arizona in Regional Development and lives in Tucson with his dog, Cheyenne, a short haired pointer. Apart from installing solar panels, Jesse is an avid rock climber and biking enthusiast.

Mark Gilbert

Mark, a New York import, jumped into installing solar power because it seemed like a promising industry. Having moved to Tucson in the 1970’s, he practiced habitat restoration in the Sonoran Desert before joining the TFS team. With a grown daughter and son close by, Mark composts daily and lives with PV and passive water harvesting.

Andrew Chandler

Andrew, an Arizona native from Prescott moved to Tucson after getting his BA from Ft Lewis College in Durango, CO. He relocated to the desert where he now lives with his fiance and three chickens in a home with solar PV, solar hot water, rainwater harvesting and greywater harvesting. He was excited to join the TFS team to become part of an industry that he feels he can ethically support.

Willie Lear

Willie has always believed in the sustainability ideal. Having lived off-grid for four year with his wife, Willie joined TFS and is happy working with the great people here. When not installing solar panels, he works on making his home more sustainable by gardening and adding more water harvesting and solar to his home. In order to maintain a sustainable lifestyle, he lives with solar hot water, photovoltaic panels, chickens, practices permaculture and shops local.

Kevin Giardino

Having previously worked for 9 years at the National Outdoor Leadership School, Kevin’s choice to work in the solar industry and at TFS stems from a passion for wilderness and a deep respect for wild places. He believes the future of both wild and less wild places on earth depends on a shift away from our conventional, fossil fuel based, energy infrastructure. Kevin earned a renewable energy degree from San Juan College in New Mexico and hopes to apply this knowledge to contribute to the future of solar power. The sunshines of Kevin’s life include his wife Ann, one year old daughter Mattson, and golden retriever Ginger.

Tim Hagyard

Tim, who has lived in Tucson all his life comes to TFS from a varied background dabbling in bar tending, custom furniture design and home remodeling. When not occupied with TFS shenanigans, Tim spends his time lovingly crafting woodwork and custom metal fabrication that he uses in remodeled homes. He lives in an old renovated and converted warehouse with his wife, two lovely children, chickens and greywater harvesting.

Steven Johnson

Steven was building houses in Virginia when he first became interested in the solar industry. Since the state did not have a strong solar industry, he decided to seek a warmer, sunnier state and ended up moving to Tucson in 2001. Steven has been working in the solar field ever since and is looking forward to seeing what new innovations are around the bend. Steven enjoys all manner of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing and biking which he does with his son, Zane.

Behind the Scenes

Erika Roush

Erika has worked in the renewable energy industry for over eight years. She brings an interest in helping people rethink their approach to energy usage and how they can live more lightly on the earth. She has solar water heating and electric systems and makes use of passive solar space heating.

Neil Saunders

Neil’s time spent studying engineering made him more aware of our society’s use and over consumption of resources and energy. He realized his need to work with sustainable technologies and now for over five years he has brought his background as an electrician and an engineer to his work with TFS. Neil, his wife Erica, and their boys, Elias, Owen, and Mateo live with photovoltaic, solar hot water, rainwater catchment and greywater systems.

Matt Conley

Matt developed a deep respect for nature at an early age and continued it with degrees in architecture and environmental design. He brings to TFS his concern for the way that we inhabit our environment and for the footprint that we leave for future generations. Living with passive water harvesting, Matt shares his love for camping and gardening with his daughter, Dahlia.

Kelly Rehm

Kelly is an almost-a-native Tucsonan who (foolishly) moved away twice to pursue scientific and academic careers in cold and/or dark places. She’s back for good and applying skills from her diverse background in engineering, optics and architecture to protect the unique social and natural climate of the Old Pueblo by harvesting sunshine – one roof at a time.

520-740-0736: Turning Values Into Action Since 2003

People

Outreach and Communication

Kevin Koch

Justin Orkney

Danielle Kontovas Fidel

Nicole Koch

Tiernay Marsh

Tamarack Little

In the Field

David Walker

Stephan Leimroth

David Stevenson

Mike Kanne

Rob McLane

Adam Saunders

Jesse Coughlin

Mark Gilbert

Andrew Chandler

Willie Lear

Kevin Giardino

Tim Hagyard

Steven Johnson

Behind the Scenes

Erika Roush

Neil Saunders

Matt Conley

Kelly Rehm

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