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BUSINESS NEWS GREEN STREET POWER PARTNERS AND SWINERTON RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPLETE 315 KW SOLAR ARRAY FOR GANN ACADEMY Local solar project developer, Green Street Power Partners, LLC, and California-based partner Swinerton Renewable Energy , held a ribbon- cutting ceremony this morning to celebrate the completion of a 315 kilowatt rooftop solar system at Gann Academy. Green Street Power Partners, LLC also presented Gann Academy with a donation to the school. Gann Academy is buying the power generated from the solar system at a discounted rate through a power purchase Aagreement from Green Street Power Partners, LLC. The photovoltaic array is expected to generate approximately 394,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, offsetting roughly 25 percent of Gann’s electricity usage. Additionally, over the 25-year lifetime of the system, Gann will realize more than $600,000 in savings. “Bringing solar power to more schools is a primary goal for our team at Green Street Power Partners, LLC,” said Scott Kerner, CEO and co-founder of Green Street Power Partners, LLC. “Gann Academy has prioritized the importance of renewable energy at their

school, and we are very excited to help them achieve their green energy goals.” Gann Academy’s solar project had uniquely humble beginnings. The idea of bringing solar to the school – what kickstarted the entire project, originated from a group of students interested in the environment. “Energizing our school with solar power exemplifies Gann’s values,” stated Rabbi Marc Baker, head of school. “Our mission statement talks about ethical responsibility, empowering our students, and building a better world. This project is such a beautiful example of this mission in action.” Gann Academy’s system was constructed by Swinerton Renewable Energy. “Gann Academy joins nearly 5,000 K-12 schools across the U.S. in recognizing that an investment in solar is an investment in their students, staff, and community,” said George Hershman, general manager of Swinerton Renewable Energy. “Solar installations save thousands of dollars in electricity bills, freeing up funds for improved facilities, additional teachers, and more extracurricular programs. We’re pleased to partner with Green Street to bring clean power to Gann Academy.”

Swinerton offers engineering, procurement, construction, and SOLV services for solar photovoltaic plants throughout North America to a diverse range of clients. More than 130 years of building landmark projects, Swinerton has forged a reputation for unsurpassed safety, workmanship, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction. Today, SRE’s team takes pride in building cost-effective solar systems that will generate reliable, clean power for many years to come. SRE has delivered more than three GW solar projects and our SOLV team manages more than five GW of PV plants. Gann Academy is Greater Boston’s independent Jewish high school, recognized for an innovative curriculum that combines in- depth critical analysis, experiential learning, and a focus on building a better world. With an unparalleled commitment to faculty development, small classes, and a unique advisory system, Gann prepares students to live lives rich with accomplishment and meaning and to contribute to their communities and the world. Gann Academy is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and serves more than 280 students from 22 communities across the full spectrum of Jewish observance. Renewable Energy

4) Create some accountability on both sides of the table. We often hear how frustrated marketing is that they’re tasked with proposals or articles and can’t get input or content from project teams. Now those metrics outlined in the above rec- ommendation can’t be executed, so marketing is additionally burdened with stress over not being able to hit these goals due to lack of interest from co-workers. A strong marketing department with the ability to insist on participation from project teams and support from firm leadership can effect the kind of change we need. The industry is going through an incredible phase of growth, demand, and profitability. Just because it’s easy to win work does not mean that it’s easy to win the most interesting or most lucrative projects. Remember that an investment in marketing pays off in a major way, although the fruits of the effort can be hard to notice until we get the big win or close-out that record job. Our research indicates that the most profitable firms in the AEC industry invest more heavily in marketing than the average firm. Let’s not burn out the key contributors in the process. JAMIE CLAIRE KISER is Zweig Group’s director of consulting. Contact her at jkiser@zweiggroup.com. “Our research indicates that the most profitable firms in the AEC industry invest more heavily in marketing than the average firm. Let’s not burn out the key contributors in the process.”

JAMIE CLAIRE KISER, from page 3

degreed, credentialed, and experienced professionals in a term that really sounds like an afterthought, at best. So what can we do? 1) Increase internal marketing visibility. Celebrate and acknowl- edge marketing feats. 2) Frequently and enthusiastically train and educate staff on the engine that marketing provides and the value of the brand. One of my favorite recent “Lunch and Learn” events at Zweig Group was an hour of jaw-dropping art and education from our graphic design savant, Donovan Brigham. I learned how much I didn’t know about graphic design, and left with a renewed sense of pride in our team. I also learned about the heated debate regarding the correct pronunciation of GIF. (I bet you didn’t know that a lot of people pronounce it JIFF, did you?) “Remember that an investment in marketing pays off in a major way, although the fruits of the effort can be hard to notice until we get the big win or close-out that record job.” 3) Instead of living in a constant state of rushing from one proposal to the next, establish metrics for marketing as you do for all other parts of the organization. Web hits, press releases, blog posts, number of contacts added to the CRM database, proposal volume, social media posts – give your marketing team something for which they can feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment for attaining.

THE ZWEIG LETTER June 11, 2018, ISSUE 1252

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