In her own words, Rhonda Rhoque, a GRID Greater Los Angeles volunteer, shares her story of transitioning into a career in solar.
After five years in the fashion industry, the recession placed the future of my career in jeopardy. Customers’ mindsets shifted from the desire to purchase luxuries like a pair of $200 jeans to paying for the necessities. While considering new career paths, I sought out ways to work in renewable energy. Through my environmentally-conscious upbringing in Berkeley, California, saving resources had always been a part of my daily routine. I rationed water, recycled, and conserved energy whenever possibple. I thought everyone lived this way, until I moved to Los Angeles. It took over two years to get recycling bins at my apartment complex!
I was eager to build upon my knowledge of living an environmentally-conscious lifestyle so I decided to take the solar sales course at Los Angeles City College. I enjoyed learning about the business side of solar power and wanted to gain hands-on experience. My classmates encouraged me to volunteer with GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles (GLA). At my first installation, I was nervous but excited to learn and get involved. I loved learning about solar, giving back to the community, and helping the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions one house at a time.
Volunteering with GLA solidified my decision to pursue solar as a full-time career. I applied for a sales position with American Solar Direct. While I was shy, conveying the important message of solar energy’s benefits for the environment and homeowners eclipsed my hesitation. After two years there, I was one of their top sales representatives. Now, I work for Sunrun Solar in their sales department, and I love what I do! It is not just a job for me, it is a personal mission - working in the solar industry fulfills my wish to help the community and to discover an environmentally friendly option for energy. As stewards of the earth, I feel we must extend our awareness of preserving our homes and communities in responsible ways.
I want to thank the GLA family for all of their encouragement and support in pursuing a new, meaningful career in solar energy.
Thank you Rhonda for sharing your experience and perspective with the GLA community. We can’t wait to see what your future in solar holds for you!