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

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 16, 2021

Additionally, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not commonly taught in school. During our preliminary visit, I kept in mind that they could just accomplish about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the property. We talked about a couple of additional energy efficiency upgrades to the home to minimize energy usage, which could offer a greater energy offset. Angela initially winced at the thought of investing more money into the house, however ultimately she called me back and stated she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades. Thanks to the Air conditioner upgrade, they have decreased their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before installing solar.

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the 4th installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installment features market leaders and topics related to speeding up a fair and just transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are thriving in the eco-friendly energy sector.
What inspired you to start SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I always set high expectations for myself and always look for opportunities to serve others– be it by offering extraordinary client service, language translations, or merely sharing understanding with others. My personal goals and desire to help others led me to operate in the sustainable energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a larger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our companys objective is simple: we want to make solar easy and cost effective every step of the method. We largely serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and adopt sustainable energy as a way of living, assisting generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey toward establishing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha moment” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my organization partner and I had the opportunity to sign up with an extremely promising small solar installation company in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity offered 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 client service know-how to develop SUNTEX where “the client is the factor we exist as a business”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic neighborhood and our clients with exceptional consumer service.
Why is concentrating on the Hispanic neighborhood a priority for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have actually personally experienced a lack of care and interaction from those that can not recognize with our culture. We knew that solar advantages everyone, regardless of race or background, and that our individuals would need a lot of assistance to understand how to acquire this advantage for their houses.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
Being a small company with a high level of service expectations for our clients features its own set of obstacles. However, the best difficulty we face is shared by a variety of small services: turnover. Furthermore, even though solar power has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not widely taught in school. We have to spend a lot amount of time training sales personnel to make sure they are able to provide a high level of customer service.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By merely living up to our truthful worths. I have discovered throughout my life that in organization, there is no other way to do it ideal however to be honest. While others may take shortcuts, the truth constantly prevails.
Please show us a recent company success story.
During our preliminary consultation, I kept in mind that they might just accomplish about 56% of solar energy offset due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the home. We talked about a couple of additional energy efficiency upgrades to the house to decrease energy consumption, which could offer a greater energy offset. Angela at first flinched at the thought of investing more cash into the home, however ultimately she called me back and stated she desired to move forward with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades.
Throughout the setup, we ended up paying for Angela and her elderly mother to remain in a hotel up until their assessments and upgrades were complete to guarantee they were comfortable throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electricity utilized in her home. Thanks to the air conditioning upgrade, they have actually reduced their energy consumption significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we suggest by “customer support.”
From a national point of view, how can we enhance access to renewable enery?
From my experience, there is a huge space in access. The majority of the house owners that we visit are lucky to own a home, yet many of them have actually not received solar due to numerous combined or separated factors such as subprime credit rating, lower annual household income, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of offered loan programs. These neighborhoods need more assistance and education on the importance of setting up a planetary system that can save them money. We need to supply more individuals with chances to embrace renewable resource with fewer hassles.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your company?
By empowering us to think that there is someone there to support our growth in this market, and offering us the chance to satisfy others in the same boat. Now I know that there is wish for minority small organizations in the renewable resource market.
How can prospective partners work with you?
It is very important that we share the exact same worths and objective to assist others, even if it indicates getting out of our convenience zones. It might cost a little more for us to do company, however its worth it in the end for our customers. If youre willing to begin there, we d love to meet to talk about possible partnership opportunities.
Is there anything else you wish to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are genuinely grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the chances you have offered. I know this is just the beginning, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; nevertheless, I eagerly anticipate becoming a sponsor to assist lead the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my customers and partners at SUNTEX, because they are the fuel that drives the objective!
For more information about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
###