At Job-I-Con, Makello’s Win is “Made in the Shade”

Makello’s display at the entrance of the KRA San Diego Career Centers career fair. Credit: KRA

Skyline showcases are difficult to manage.  At the September 18, 2019 “Job-I-Con” Hiring Event, held at the San Diego Library, 9th floor, the window walls stand 25’ tall, on 3 sides. The east wall and roof shade cast the entire room into heavy contrast between 10 AM and 12 PM.  

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Makello understands what daily solar progression, heat gain, glare and backlighting issues from floor to ceiling windows can do to participation at a trade show.  For greatest exposure to candidates before they break a sweat, sometimes a good location choice is near the entrance. 

The aisles surrounding our table pass by Makello video displays, where “Why Makello?” and “What We Do” plays on repeat, next to our job postings.  Engineers drawn to the videos of Solar Power, Plug-In Vehicles, and Energy Storage soon create noise and crowding in front of our table.  

If pictures are worth a thousand words, it makes sense why our visitors often arrive with a good understanding about our mission, our vision and our purpose.  When job seekers are able to relate their goals and experiences to the company as a whole, it is possible to go beyond the currently open positions and find added value or new opportunities.

Despite her initial reservations about the match between a solar company and her interest in GIS Maps, Linda Boisvert stands out among the 60 visitors.  Makello Research Assistant position adapts to a GIS mapping focus.  An On-The-Job training program by San Diego Workforce Partnership makes it possible for Makello to invest in Linda’s skill development, using her Associates degree and lab work, to solve business technological challenges.  Linda’s background in Anthropology and Drafting/CAD, along with 11 years of HOA Management experience, helps Makello discover new potential revenue streams.

Linda’s mapping accomplishments shine in Makello’s Service Areas and in blog articles, such as “African Americans Concentrated in Diverse Redlined San Diego”, which highlight issues of Environmental and Social Justice, Transportation, and Health.  Makello receives recognition from several non-profit organizations for our educational webinars and board presentation of the map and analysis.  We look forward to continuing to support community development programs and hospitals throughout San Diego with valuable interactive research maps.  

Linda’s demographic and incentives maps uncovers an “Energy Upgrade LIFELINE” program for low income and medical care qualified residents, and for fire-threat communities.  Thousands of San Diego homes and businesses can qualify for up to 100% incentives on Solar Power, Plug-In Vehicles, and Energy Storage. Affordable Energy Independence!

Metro Career Centers and the San Diego Workforce Partnership empowers the San Diego community by connecting jobs to qualified applicants.  Makello encourages San Diego companies to get outside of the bubble and make valuable connections at workforce.org.

Makello works with non profits and other agencies to create maps for Environmental Justice initiatives.

1930s redlining impacts African American communities today
1930s redlining still impacts African American communities 90 years later.
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My UC Davis Environmental Engineer Internship

Energy Efficiency Research Intern Ashiq Syed with Makello
Energy Efficiency Research Intern Ashiq Syed with Makello
Energy Efficiency Research Intern Ashiq Syed with Makello CEO Charlie Johnson

I first heard about Makello from a friend who was attending the UCSD Spring Job Fair. At the time, I was a fresh graduate in Environmental Engineering from UC Davis exploring companies that were as passionate about renewable energy as I was. From my friend’s vivid explanation of Makello’s job booth, displaying their countless solar installations and home energy improvements, I knew this was one opportunity I couldn’t miss out on. 

I went onto Makello’s website and read more about the company goals and beliefs regarding solar and electric vehicles, and found that it matched my interests perfectly. After submitting my resume and getting scheduled for an interview with the lead Energy Efficiency Analyst, I was eventually offered the Energy Efficiency Research Position by the CEO himself, Charlie Johnson. 

Solar Energy is Makello’s primary focus when it comes to the company’s purpose. In a very profitable position within the market, Makello establishes its own leads, assesses a homeowner’s electricity consumption, designs an adequate solar array to meet those needs, and then hands off the design to any solar installation company of their choice. During my time as a lead solar array designer on the Makello solar design team, Green Energy EPC was the primary solar installation company Makello worked with, considering the two company owners had developed a very strong partnership over the years. 
In addition to being a solar design firm, Makello stood out from the competition by seeking alternative techniques to reduce a homeowner’s electric bill before assessing the electricity needs. To make it simple, by essentially spending $200-$300 swapping out a houses incandescent lightbulbs and excessive energy consuming appliances, a homeowner could potentially cut down the cost of their solar array by $2,000-$3,000. Such cost savings took many customers by pleasant surprise.
Lastly, Charlie Johnson is firm believer of energy independence, which is why he believes that an all-electric future of vehicles is much closer and more affordable than society thinks. With every customer, Charlie carefully sits down and explains what long term cost savings can mean for each respective homeowner. In more cases than not, the average homeowner is capable of purchasing a brand-new Tesla within a matter of 5-6 years if they were to go solar today.
Charlie’s heart and soul are truly and deeply ingrained in renewable energy and electric vehicles. And although it was time for me to move on and explore other opportunities closer to home, Charlie’s drive and passion will surely open up a whole new frontier to the next generation of renewable energy connoisseurs. -by Ashiq Syed