Robert A. Freling - Executive Director

Bob has been the executive director of the Solar Electric Light Fund since 1997. Under his leadership, SELF has installed over 550 solar energy systems in 25 countries, making it one of the world’s leading nongovernmental organizations that designs and implements solar energy-based solutions for those living without access to electricity.

An early advocate of access to energy as being essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, he is widely considered an authority on the subject of energy poverty. During his tenure he has broadened SELF’s mission and vision to address the broader implications of energy poverty. In 2000, he developed the Whole Village Development Model, an innovative approach for using solar energy to help communities improve their health, education, food and water security, and economic development programs. Bob received a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies from Yale University and a Masters degree from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California. In 2008, Bob received the King Hussein Leadership Award from Her Majesty Queen Noor.

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Jeff Lahl - Project Director

As project director, Jeff combines a strong and varied management background, solar expertise, and international development experience to lead all of SELF’s unique and challenging projects. He has had overall responsibility for implementing SELF’s fieldwork in Haiti, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Benin, South Africa, Lesotho, Nigeria, and Bhutan.

Previously, he worked in the solar energy industry as a system designer and specifier, as well as a community college instructor. He first became involved with solar electrification for international development as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1993 to 1995, when he managed the Kingdom of Tonga’s solar electrification program. Jeff’s career in solar started over 20 years ago when he founded a company that designed and built solar homes.

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Lisa Esler - Finance Director

Lisa is Certified Public Accountant and has 15 years’ experience in financial management of international projects and programs. After working with Price Waterhouse in Moscow, Russia she spent 10 years working with the Eurasia Foundation as Controller and then Director of Internal Audit. She is fluent in French and Russian.

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Jean-Baptiste Certain - Project Manager

Jean-Baptiste (“JB”) is responsible for coordinating the implementation of SELF’s solar projects in Haiti for schools, health care facilities, water facilities, agricultural projects, and solar streetlights in transition camps. While living and working in Haiti since 2011, JB has been responsible for the local coordination of all projects, logistics, interactions with partners and government, and the hiring and supervision of installation crews of 12 or more technicians. In 2009, he completed training with the Solar Energy International (SEI) focusing on Rural Electrification for the Developing World and Sustainable Development for Rural Communities courses. Upon completing his studies, he spent six months living in Sabana Grande, an Indigenous rural community in northern Nicaragua where he was involved in manufacturing solar modules, designing and installing PV systems in local schools and households for Grupo Fenix. A native French speaker, JB is fluent in Spanish and English and is also conversant in Haitian Creole.

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Jeff Korcan - Design Engineer and Project Manager

Jeff is a design engineer and project manager, bringing to SELF over two decades of experience in designing large manufacturing systems and managing large construction projects for both US corporations and the US government. He has managed the installation phase of several large projects in Haiti for SELF during 2011 and 2012. Having a long standing interest in the renewable energy field, Jeff transitioned to the solar industry in 2006 after relocating to Maui, Hawaii, where he worked with several solar contractors designing and installing solar electric systems. He is an engineering graduate of West Point.

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Georgia Lawson - Communications Director

Georgia manages SELF’s marketing, social media, press relations, and other communications. She comes to SELF with a comprehensive background in public relations, working primarily for tech startups and innovators. Prior to that, she served as a television news reporter covering policy and economic development, among other topics. She studied international affairs, environmental studies, and journalism at George Washington University, with research experience in Costa Rica. Georgia is based in Portland, OR.

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Molly Mayo - Development Director

Molly brings two decades of executive director and development leadership experience to SELF. As founder of an award-winning nonprofit working at the intersection of social services and sustainability, she is recipient of Sustainable Business Portland's Innovation in Equity Award. A nonprofit jill-of-all-trades, her career is passionately dedicated to helping people, animals, and the planet, while building a more equitable world. Molly studied theatre at Reed College and Earlham College, and earned a master's degree in special education from Portland State University. Based in Portland, Oregon and Provence, France, and having traveled to over 20 countries, Molly speaks French and Spanish.

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Alee Wade - Administrative Assistant

Alee is a dedicated nonprofit professional with more than six years of expertise spanning operations, human resources, program management, development, and evaluation. Her passion for making a positive impact led her to SELF, where she is eager to contribute to meaningful change. Alee holds a master’s degree in Sport Psychology from Ball State University, and earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Government & Legal Studies and Psychology, with a minor in Russian Language, from Bowdoin College.

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Claudalex Lauture - Senior Technician, Haiti

Claudalex is a photovoltaic (PV) designer, installer, and electrician from Haiti. He is responsible for installing and maintaining SELF’s PV systems in the Central Plateau, Artibonite, and Southwest Coast regions of the country. Over the 10 years that he has worked with SELF in Haiti, Claudalex has led Haitian teams through PV installation projects, worked with mini-grid PV systems, and has served as an on-site staff member who responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of PV systems. In 2018, he was a team leader in the Katansama village solar system project in Colombia. Prior to SELF, he worked as a solar technician at Raymag S.A. and as a PV designer/installer at Green Energy Solutions. Claudalex studied electromechanical engineering at Universite GOC and Electrotechnique at Centre de formation technique professionnel Haiti Tec.

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Cyrus Kasusya Daudi - Project Coordinator, Kenya

Cyrus K. Daudi is a certified NEMA Environment Lead Expert with over 13 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, environmental management and project management. He has successfully collaborated with international audit teams, including GOLDER and RAMBOLL, on biodiversity and environmental social monitoring for Konza Technopolis City Phase 1. He oversees the implementation of IFC performance standards and manages the KoTDA Biodiversity Management Plan. Certified in integrated planning for Climate Change and Biodiversity through IUCN/UNITAR.

His expertise includes facilitating SEIA, EIA, LEED, and EDGE. A champion of community empowerment, actively addresses poverty and climate change through community-based livelihood projects, such as water initiatives, conservation programs, and greening programs in semi-arid Kenya. Currently, Cyrus is responsible for community and stakeholder engagement and management, compliance oversight, and the implementation of water projects. This includes the installation of solar-powered water pumping stations and related distribution systems at Njapit, Community, and Rhino Sanctuary. This will contribute to sustainable water access, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and poverty alleviation through the use of clean energy.

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