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Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide top-quality pool heating and energy products. We believe our first responsibility is to the customers
who use our products. We will provide these products at the lowest possible cost to the end user.
In carrying out our day-to-day business we strive to treat our associates with respect & integrity and follow the philosophy that our customers deserve the best.
Through a long-term commitment to this mission, we will be known as a company that provides the highest quality, best service and
strongest warranty for the best price. This reputation will establish Solar Direct as the customer's number one choice in pool heating and energy products.
History
Solar Direct has been in the energy business since 1986.
In its earlier years, the company specialized in high technology niche energy products. Some of these included geothermal heating and cooling and NASA developed heat pipe dehumidification systems. Projects included many installations for high profile government, commercial and prestige homes. In the early 90's, the company's focus shifted to swimming pool heating. Other product lines included solar energy for heating water and producing electricity, plus other pool and energy related items.
Today
The company's home office is located in Bradenton Florida.
The manufacturing facility is located in Clearwater Florida, with distribution points throughout the US. Solar Direct is the one-stop source for all of your Solar, Pool Heating and Energy-related requirements. We offer free design engineering, worldwide shipping of do-it-yourself kits, as well as complete installation services
Our Staff
- Dale A Gulden, C.E.O. and Director of Marketing Dale
graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in Business Marketing and Economics. In 1978, he relocated to Florida, and pursued a career in sales and sales management with several local solar energy companies. He joined the company in 1986 as Sales Manager, and in 1988 became the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Marketing.
"I spend most of my time educating consumers. One of our main goals is to be sure that we provide the customer with the knowledge to choose the correct product to meet their needs."
- Kirk Maust, CFO and General Manager Kirk received a Mechanical Engineering degree specializing in Thermal
Engineering and Solar Technologies from Pennsylvania State University in 1981. After graduation he moved to Florida to manage the solar division of a heating and air conditioning firm. In 1986 he
formed the existing company under the name Energy Equity, which was soon after renamed Solar Direct.
"Years of
in-field experience have taught me to continually search out top-quality materials and products. I've learned over the years that doing it right the first time not only saves money, but it makes for happy
customers."
- Jeremy Duguay, Senior Project Engineer / International Operations Development Jeremy has an extensive background in environmental research
and design. Originally from Bathurst NB, Jeremy received his Industrial Engineering Technology degree from NBCC. He has received further credits from University of New Brunswick, University of Central
Florida and the Florida Solar Energy Center in Photovoltaic System Design and Utility Interactive Grid Tie Systems. Jeremy relocated to Florida and joined Solar Direct in 2000. Jeremy speaks fluent
French and English.
- Sheila Gulden, Operations Manager Sheila joined
Solar Direct in 1996 as the Assistant to the General Manager. She has a comprehensive knowledge of the operations of the company, including back office logistics, warehouse and fulfillment, and
finance. In 2000, Sheila was promoted to Operations Manager. She has also recently received her Business Administration degree from Keiser College.
- Rebecca Palmer, Operations Coordinator Rebecca recently
joined the team as Operations Coordinator. She has varied experience in warehouse management and fulfillment operations. Rebecca coordinates all installation, service and shipping orders. She
acts as liaison between customers and the installation crews. She also works with the Accounts Receivable and Payable Departments.
- Pilar Komishane, Assistant Director of Marketing / Manager Hispanic Marketing
Department Pilar began her marketing
education at Politecnico Grancolombiano University in Bogota, Colombia. She has transferred her marketing and advertising credits to Manatee Community College seeking an Associates degree in Business
Marketing. She has had several manufacturer and retail sales, as well as customer relations positions, in Colombia and the U.S. dealing with the Hispanic community. She speaks fluent English and
Spanish.
- Bill Tracy, Contractor Division Manager Prior to joining the company in 1998, Bill had an extensive background in sales
in the travel industry. He was a member of the Maine International Trade Agreement to establish trade between New England and Viet Nam. He is also a Certified Commercial Diver and has considerable
pool related knowledge from working with his sister's very successful pool service and leak detection business. His division, Pool Heating Distributors (PhD), concentrates on recruiting and servicing
contractor accounts. Bill's Special Forces military service background as a Specialist in Communications for the 82nd Airborne Division brings a strong level of commitment and dedication to his team.
- Carl Cooper, Residential Sales Manager Carl brings many years of sales and
management skills from the HVAC and Solar industry. Carl is our local in-home sales specialist with a very high sales closing ratio. He joined the company in early 2000. His primary role is to oversee residential sales staff and all sales department functions.
- Lisa Rudman, Telephone and Internet Products Sales Specialist Lisa is originally from the Bahamas and joined our
team in April of this year. Lisa has attended college at the University of Tennessee, Kings College, London England, and Hotel Training College Nassau Bahamas. She has held several positions in Customer Services and Web Support Phone Sales with major companies including Toys-R-Us.com, and Carnival's Crystal Palace.
- Janell Norton, Reception, Telemarketing and Marketing Team Member Janell, a graduate of Consolidated School of Business, began
her telemarketing career managing a 25 person "boiler room" for the Police Athletic League, and later worked for the Shriners promoting the Barnum and Bailey Circus. She has also held a variety of
sales and marketing positions in magazines, marketing
research, and later attained management and regional sales management positions with Staff Leasing and Olan Mills Portrait Studios. Her experiences also include many years of dedicated service for women's abuse shelters, and drug rehabilitation centers in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.
- Jason Aristide, Director of Information Technologies Jay landed his first computer related job proofreading pascal code for
MicroCode Ltd in Columbus, Ohio at the age of 10. As an adult he has worked in various technical positions, doing contract work for companies such as Dell computers, Time Warner/RoadRunner, Tompkins
Industries (parent company to over 150 corporations worldwide), Prodigy Internet Services,
E-Z Internet services, Centurion Technologies of Tampa Bay, the DALnet IRC network (spanning 15 countries and allocating over 285mbit of bandwidth per second).
- Jason Tomczyk, Warehouse & Fulfillment Coordinator Originally from Thunder Bay Ontario,
Jason is currently working on his General Arts & Science Program. His previous experience includes Warehouse Clerk for Bazaar & Novelty in Thunder Bay Ontario. Prior to that he was Warehouse Assistant Manager for Timbuktu Natural Foods, Biocosmic Book Company and Vital Source Timbco Inc in Scarborough Ontario. Jason recently joined the team as Warehouse & Fulfillment Coordinator, handling all aspects of inventory management and shipping. He is also training in our Service Department in order to provide backup service support when needed.
- Tom Waller, Installation & Service Manager Tom has over 15 years of in-field experience with Solar Energy System
installations and service. He has been with the company since 1999.
- Keith Maust, Design Department Keith provides graphic design services to the company. He is a graduate
from The Pittsburgh Art Institute.
- David Rose, General Business Consultant David brings to the Company his skills in vision and infrastructure
development, planning, capitalization, communication, team building, marketing, and the creation of business-relationship documents and agreements. His background includes 20 years as an entrepreneur, and 3
years as senior instructor for an international venture-training network. David's skills are diverse, and his continued participation is a valued part of our long-term development plans.
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