Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Ally Mendoza, CEO of SUNTEX

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 16, 2021

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is happy to share the fourth installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installation includes market leaders and topics connected to speeding up a fair and just transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are thriving in the renewable resource sector.
What inspired you to start SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I always set high expectations for myself and always search for chances to serve others– be it by providing exceptional customer support, language translations, or simply sharing knowledge with others. My personal goals and desire to help others led me to work in the renewable resource sector, where I can pursue this dream on a larger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss mission is simple: we want to make solar simple and inexpensive every action of the way. We mostly serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and adopt renewable energy as a way of living, helping generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey toward establishing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha minute” when you chose to concentrate on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my business partner and I had the chance to join a very appealing small solar installation business in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity readily available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community. As a result, my partner and I integrated his experience in offering to the Hispanic market with my customer support knowledge to produce SUNTEX where “the consumer is the factor we exist as a company”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic neighborhood and our customers with exceptional client service.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic community a top priority for SUNTEX?
Primary: it remains in our blood. My business partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can recognize well with our individuals and their worldview. Number Two: in the past, we have actually personally experienced an absence of care and interaction from those that can not determine with our culture. We understood that solar benefits everyone, no matter race or background, which our people would need a great deal of support to comprehend how to obtain this advantage for their homes.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
Being a small business with a high level of service expectations for our clients features its own set of challenges. The biggest obstacle we deal with is shared by a number of little organizations: turnover. In addition, despite the fact that solar power has been around for a while, the basics of these tasks are not widely taught in school. We have to invest a lot quantity of time training sales personnel to make sure they are able to supply a high level of customer service.
How are you making an effect through SUNTEX?
By merely living up to our truthful worths. I have actually discovered throughout my life that in organization, there is no other method to do it best however to be truthful. While others might take faster ways, the reality always prevails.
Please show us a current company success story.
Throughout our preliminary appointment, I kept in mind that they might only accomplish about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes usage rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We discussed a couple of additional energy effectiveness upgrades to the home to decrease energy intake, which could offer a greater energy balanced out. Angela at first winced at the idea of investing more money into the home, however ultimately she called me back and stated she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades.
During the setup, we wound up paying for Angela and her senior mother to remain in a hotel until their upgrades and assessments were complete to guarantee they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electricity used in her home. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have reduced their energy consumption considerably, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we indicate by “client service.”
From a national viewpoint, how can we improve access to renewable enery?
Most of the house owners that we go to are fortunate to own a home, yet numerous of them have not certified for solar due to a number of combined or separated aspects such as subprime credit score, lower yearly household earnings, self-employment, or an absence of knowledge of offered loan programs. We need to supply more individuals with opportunities to adopt renewable energy with fewer hassles.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your company?
By empowering us to think that there is somebody there to support our growth in this market, and offering us the chance to fulfill others in the exact same boat. Now I understand that there is hope for minority little services in the renewable resource market.
How can prospective partners work with you?
It is essential that we share the exact same worths and mission to help others, even if it suggests leaving our comfort zones. It might cost a bit more for us to do business, however its worth it in the end for our consumers. If youre ready to begin there, we d love to satisfy to go over possible partnership chances.
Exists anything else you wish to show ACORE members and partners?
We are truly grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have actually provided. I know this is only the start, and we have a long road ahead of us; however, I anticipate ending up being a sponsor to help lead the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my clients and collaborators at SUNTEX, because they are the fuel that drives the mission!
To get more information about SUNTEX, visit https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not widely taught in school. Throughout our preliminary appointment, I noted that they might just achieve about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes intake rates and shading from trees on the home. We went over a couple of extra energy performance upgrades to the home to decrease energy consumption, which could supply a greater energy offset. Angela initially flinched at the idea of investing more money into the home, but ultimately she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Thanks to the A/c upgrade, they have lowered their energy consumption significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar.