EP 5: Chat with Brooke Starr Haman

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Sharon Lee talks with Brooke Haman about the latest innovations in renewable energy and how Georgia Power has incorporated them. Brooke tells us how the solar industry has gone through a multidimensional change that has affected not only the ways in which energy is produced but also the consumers' desires and needs. Additionally, she deepens on her work values and the importance of mentorship and inclusion for her, and how she has incorporated them into programs at Georgia Power.

 

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee taps over a decade of solar sales experience, having led the creation of a solar division for a leading manufacturing/construction firm, resulting in over 17 MW of solar in its portfolio as well as solar ultimately becoming its highest-grossing revenue vertical. Lee has been involved in the GA Solar Energy Association, serving on the board of directors as the marketing chair, organizing the annual conference, as well as vice-chair, and ultimately the first female chair of the organization in 2015. She is also a charter member of the Professional Women in Building chapter of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association, a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and Women in Solar Energy (WISE). Lee earned her B.S. degree in communications with double minors in marketing and psychology from Middle Tennessee State University, after spending three years at the University of Tennessee in the pre-health curriculum. Lee is the mom of two boys, ages 14 and 11, and a rabid college football fan. She and her husband, John, spend most of their free time at the baseball or football fields unless they can steal away for a quick round of golf.

 

Brooke Haman

Brooke is in charge of the managing strategy, design, and implementation of renewable energy procurement and self-build programs in Georgia Power. Throughout her trajectory, she has worked with companies like the Southern Company system teams and industry stakeholders like an External Affairs Project Manager to investigate and include emerging technologies as part of Georgia Power's generation fleet and/or customer offerings. Brooke has worked on Georgia Power for over 10 years as  Renewable Energy Principal, Renewable Development Lead, Green and Renewable Energy Project Manager, Metro Sales, and Energy Efficiency Project Manager. She is currently the Renewable Customer Projects Supervisor.

 

Insights from this Episode

• What has happened in Sharon's life lately
• How did a communication major end up in the solar industry
• What changes has Brooke Haman noticed in the solar industry
• How the definition of utility-scale has changed over the years
• How does Brooke manage mentorship with her co-workers
• The reason why Brooke's group in Georgia Power attracts women in the solar industry
• The importance of accessibility for the renewables programs
• The relationship between Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission
• The purpose of the rate case

 

Quotes from the Show: 

• “We as consumers look at every single day businesses that we choose to patronize or places we choose to purchase something… and you’ll see that they all have these little stamp that they are carbon neutral or you know, they’re doing their part”- Brooke Haman in “The Sunnyside Podcast”
• “To me is sort of the spirit of mentorship [the one] you have to build, you know, you have to build horizontally and vertically because I can’t do it all on my own right? Um, chicks that know what they are doing”- Brooke Haman in “The Sunnyside Podcast”
• “We got [Georgia Power] a lot of customers with a lot of renewable goals and needs and we want to be part of the solution, but we just really want to work to find that solution on the front end instead of the back end”- Brooke Haman in “The Sunnyside Podcast”
• “[About Georgia Power] really trying to be more carbon-free with our generation resources and at the same time provide more renewable programs for customers to participate in as they have those goals”- Brooke Haman in “The Sunnyside Podcast”

 

Stay Connected:

 

Sharon Lee

LinkedIn: Sharon Lee 

Facebook: Sharon Lee

 

Brooke Haman

LinkedIn: Brooke Haman

Georgia Power: https://www.georgiapower.com/

 

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This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.