If you stopped by GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles this year, you probably saw someone working diligently behind a desk when you first came in to the office. Vivi Fuentes, who has been working this year as our Project Fellow, has been sitting behind that desk, designing solar electric systems and pulling permits for our installations. Vivi’s journey with GLA has been an exciting one so far, read on to see how she went from being a volunteer to a full-time designer.
How did you become involved with GRID Alternatives?
I first became a GRID volunteer in July 2013 when my professor at Golden West College suggested I get some hands on experience. At the time, I also worked the graveyard shift. I would get out of work at 6:00 am, work at an install until 2:00pm and then go home to rest. It paid off, as in less than 3 months, I became a roof and ground team leader, something I’m really proud of. Honestly, I am the most proud of my orange Team Leader shirt because it is a sign that I’ve put in the work and I have accomplished something that is not only valuable to the people I teach.
How did you come to be GRID’s Project Fellow?
While I was installing it was great, I got to learn a lot, but I didn’t see installing as a career path. In school I had the opportunity to take a drafting class. In a discussion with my professor, we tried to think about how I could do drafting and solar. We realized design was the perfect fit. Then I got in contact with GRID, and at that time, Bo Thai started training me to design. When I got my job at GRID, I felt amazing. I felt it was the best thing that could happen at this moment of my career.
What is one thing you’ve learned through GRID that you will keep forever?
I learned to give and to never stop giving. I learned a lot from GRID in the past and continue to do so now. I would like to give back to GRID and to other people through the knowledge I’ve gained.
What is one of your proudest moments with GRID?
It meant a lot to me when I got my orange shirt. First I wore white as a volunteer, then when the Solar Installation Supervisor saw that I passed all the tasks and that I could teach people, he honored me with the orange shirt. I was very proud of myself. I never thought I could attain that shirt and lead a team in the construction field. I wore my orange shirt on the first day of work.
What exciting projects are you working on?
A few weeks ago I had my first group of volunteers for a design training. I think a lot of people feel like me, that it is great to learn the installation process, but they want to learn other aspects of solar. In the solar industry there are so many different types of jobs for people. I know this training will open the door for many people and help them see that there are other types of solar jobs out there. The design training isn’t only a design training, but also an opportunity to learn about the permitting and drafting process. Hopefully it will help people find what they want to do.
Any advice you can give to people looking to step into the solar industry?
There are no shortcuts. Keep trying and keep doing, if you fail once, you gotta dust yourself off and move on. Keep trying, because eventually you will get it. When I first started volunteering, I never thought I would be hired, I never thought I would end up doing the designs, I never thought I’d be in a position to train other people and that’s why I would like to give other people the same opportunity to learn and to discover other aspects of solar.
After a successful SolarCorps year, Vivi has been hired on by GLA as a full-time Project Management Associate for 2015. Congrats Vivi! To learn more about available SolarCorps opportunities please visit our jobs page.