RETI staff and students (Gavin, Will, Shannon, Mike) continue to expand their skills and knowledge through their participation at solar events.  Recently, they participated in the Show Me Solar event featuring Aur Beck, a NABCEP certified instructor.  This three-day event included solar design, application, and installation.  Aur gave personal hands-on training and tips on installing different systems at this off-grid solar installation site located at Terre Bella Farms in mid-Missouri.

Dr. Gavin Perry hits the ground running as one of RETI’s new instructors.

RETI instructor staff grows with Jeffrey Owens, an Army Iraq war veteran, and Dr. Gavin Perry, Washington University PhD graduate and 32-year employee of Washington University.

ENTECH Training

ENTECH Training

Twenty-six attendees and eighteen visitors came through the 10-day energy training program held at the Marriott Hotel (Airport) in April 2009. It was an awesome display of courses taught by the leading experts in the renewable energy field according to Colonel Stan Brown, President of the Paralyzed Veterans of America for Missouri. World ranked geothermal engineering expert such as Dr. Shawn Xu, a University of Missouri-Columbia professor who has completed five “pilot projects” for the Department of Energy (to include the geothermal energy system used at the recent Beijing Olympics (Birds Nest).

Attendees, that included veterans and disabled veterans, were providing training in green-construction, solar products and installation, and geothermal products, installation and service. The course content also provided the attendees to complete site visits at Matt Belcher’s four custom built green homes currently under construction. Matt, a frequent speaker before the DOE and the National Green Builder’s Association across the nation, shared invaluable information throughout his 3-day presentation. Tom gave a very informative and interesting class on natural gas energy usage, efficiency and effectiveness throughout the St Louis region. He followed his presentation with a ride in Laclede Gas’ natural gas operated tour bus which took the students to their facility at their Lambert Airport site.

Vaughn Prost

Vaughn Prost, Director for Training & Technology, at the Renewable Energy Technical Institute (RETI), became only the second individual to pass the NABCEP certification examination in the State of Missouri. Prost took the examination in Chicago, IL in preparation for his director’s position at RETI. However, Prost is no stranger to taking certification and qualification tests as he is also a Professional Engineer, having graduated from Stanford where he obtained his Masters Degree.

“This brings a huge credibility factor to our renewable energy program at RETI”, stated Prost. Our program is focused to encourage our students/graduates to become NABCEP certified which displays their knowledge, skills and commitment to the industry, as well shows potential employers the depth of the abilities.