Small Town News

Flexera VP rises to top of his profession

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Benjamin Farr earns solar energy sales certification

Flexera Inc. Vice President Benjamin Farr this month became the first solar professional in Delaware and among the first nationwide to become certified as a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners photovoltaic technical sales professional.

His certification, said NABCEP Executive Director Ezra Auerbach, sets Farr at the top of his profession.

The solar energy sales certification program was developed

to ensure quality throughout the photovoltaic sales process and offer consumers confidence when seeking quotes, proposals, and energy and financial estimates for commercial and residential solar projects.

Farr is one of the founding partners of Flexera, a Harbeson-based company that opened its doors in 2006 with four employees and today employs 33 full-time staff members and is one "of the fastest-growing alternative energy companies in Delaware.

As vice president, Farr plays a strategic role in developing and supporting long-term business development and sales systems. He specializes in designing thirdparty ownership structures to facilitate large-scale photovoltaic system installations, creates re turn on investment models for power systems, handles large commercial and governmental accounts, and provides long-term business, planning, marketing, sales training, financing, technology research, corporate expansion and acquisitions services.

Recent high-profile Delaware solar projects he has overseen include the new Sussex County Emergency Operations Center solar farm in Georgetown, which broke ground in March; a four-system solar project for Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club near Bethany Beach, which pioneered green energy for golf and country clubs in Delaware; and a landmark community project at Forest Reach, also near Bethany, where Fair worked with Delmar-va Power to develop a new Rate-X system so the community could power its street lights with solar energy.

A member of the Delaware Solar Energy Coalition board of directors, Farr has more than 15 years of experience in sales leadership, management and business development.

Farr said his entrance into the field of alternative energy began. with a fascination with the potential that solar, wind and emerging green technologies have to impact people's quality of life in a positive way immediately and for the long-term health of the planet.

He said the NABCEP certification program helped him sharpen his skills to better serve Flex-era clients large and small. Flex-era is the only alternative energy company in Delaware to hold NABCET PV sales certification as well as NABCET PV installation certification.

"We take pride in being on the cutting edge of technology and providing the finest level of service for our clients possible, from the first consultation tiirough ongoing follow-up after the system is installed.

"I am very fortunate," said Farr. "It's rare for a person to be able to make a good living and love what they're doing while being rewarded with knowing they're having a positive impact on the world at the same time."

NABCEP is considered the most respected and well-established national certification organization for renewable energy professionals in the country.

To earn his NABCEP PV sales certification, Farr was required to demonstrate his knowledge on subjects as diverse as qualifying the customer; site analysis; conceptual design; financial costs, incentives, and savings; financial benefit analysis and financing; nonfinancial benefit analysis; performance analysis; and proposal preparation.

In addition to passing the exam, NABCEP-certified PV technical sales professionals are often required to show that they have real-world experience as a lead person on a sales team as well has have a minimum number of hours of advanced training.

Auerbach said,"One thing you can be assured of with NABCEP-certified PV technical sales professionals is that your sale won't be their first. Anyone who makes the considerable effort required to earn [this certification] has been required to document his or her experience and education as part of the eligibility process.

"They have also made a very real commitment to upholding high standards of ethical and professional practice. We are delighted to welcome Ben Farr of Flexera to the ranks of the industry's new standard for sales professionals."

NABCEP is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors consisting of volunteer representatives of the solar industry, NABCEP certificants, renewable energy organizations, state policy makers, educational institutions, and the trades.





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