Positive Energy Solar Bikes for Community and Team Building
(photo: Brian Leddy)
It's mid-June, and Positive Energy Solar is gearing up for a big weekend at the "24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest" mountain bike race near Gallup. "Many of our employees are avid bike riders, but all levels of riders are participating this year. We enjoy each other's company, and this race is another way we learn how to work together to accomplish a challenging goal—just like we do every day in our business," said Regina Wheeler, Positive Energy Solar CEO. Positive Energy Solar has entered three competitive teams into the race: one solo rider; one duo team; and one six-person team. They also have a non-competitive team riding the long course and a children's team riding the enchanted lands course, a five-mile loop meant for families to enjoy together.
The race covers 15 miles of mountain bike trails (mostly on singletrack) for a full 24 hours! Riders navigate in the middle of the night using headlamps and bike lights. "We love a good challenge, and every year the group from Positive Energy Solar that comes to camp and ride has gotten bigger. Now our solar trailer powers the event and we've made lots of friends. Tons of benefits and tons of fun – doesn't get any better than that," said Mark Drummond, Service Manager at Positive Energy Solar and the company's ride organizer.
Positive Energy Solar is New Mexico's largest B Corp, a designation that requires a commitment to the planet, people and good business. They are advocates for policy that benefits New Mexicans by creating jobs, preserving resources and controlling energy costs for homeowners, businesses and organizations. Positive Energy Solar employees receive benefits, training, career development opportunities and a voice in running the company and shaping the community.
So, why would a solar company choose to challenge themselves with a mountain bike race such as this? "We love this event because it gives us a chance to connect with each other on a very human level outside the office," said Karen Paramanandam, marketing director for Positive Energy Solar. The race, produced by Zia Rides, also will support three non-profit organizations serving the Gallup region, aligning firmly with Positive Energy Solar's commitment to community. Search and Rescue (who will be providing services at the race), Youth Conservation Corp. and the new Summer Youth Corp., an organization giving summer camp experiences to Navajo children, will all benefit from this year's race.
Positive Energy Solar's solar charging station will be powering those lights for the nighttime laps. (Courtesy Photo)
Positive Energy Solar's enthusiasm for the "24 Hours In The Enchanted Forest" race is highly contagious. "This year, we've even got three executives from SunPower®, our vendor for high efficiency solar panels, joining us. SunPower is an excellent partner because they are just as passionate about building the community as we are," added Paramanandam.
Right now, community building for New Mexico's top-rated solar company1 means donning orange-and-black jerseys and shredding as many laps as they can while cheering on their colleagues. It means supporting a great community event and reinforcing the bonds their team has forged in order to provide their customers with an even greater level of excellent service in the months ahead.