WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Solar Energy Industries Association today announced the hiring of two first-class executives who are ideally suited to help the trade association match the solar industry’s skyrocketing growth in the years ahead.

John Smirnow will rejoin SEIA as general counsel and vice president of market strategy and Tony Chen will serve in the newly created position of vice president of business development.

“The SEIA Board of Directors has set as priorities aggressive solar deployment with the support of a trade association capable of leading that growth,” said SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “I couldn’t be more excited for Tony and John to join my leadership circle and bring their considerable experience to bear on our ambitious vision.”

“Whether through building on our traditional membership, capitalizing on our events, or developing new services and products for the solar industry, there are fantastic opportunities for growth,” Mr. Chen said. “I can’t wait to get started finding creative ways to help the industry itself and SEIA realize its enormous potential.”

“Abby’s strategic vision and her laser focus on supporting a thriving solar industry is what made this job so appealing to me,” Mr. Smirnow said. “No doubt our industry faces challenges, but I firmly believe that this leadership team can knock down barriers to market entry for our members and build an unparalleled energy industry trade association through strong strategic positioning.”

Mr. Chen has more than a decade of experience in business development in the solar industry, including as vice president of sales and business development at Cool Earth Solar, and as a project development manager at SolarCity where he managed a $35 million sales pipeline. His vast experience with companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 corporations will be critical as SEIA looks to expand its offerings and reach new audiences for engagement.

Mr. Smirnow is an internationally-recognized trade and customs lawyer. His hire marks a return to the SEIA team; he served previously as SEIA’s vice president of international trade. Since then, Mr. Smirnow has been providing legal services to solar companies around the world on trade and market development. He also founded the Global Solar Council on behalf of 17 national and regional solar associations and served as the Council’s first Secretary-General. Mr. Smirnow has deep expertise on solar development and policy, and his input on strategic decision-making will significantly bolster SEIA’s advocacy work.

About SEIA®: 

Celebrating its 44th anniversary in 2018, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, which now employs more than 250,000 Americans. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to build jobs and diversity, champion the use of cost-competitive solar in America, remove market barriers and educate the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

Media Contact: 

Dan Whitten, SEIA's Vice President of Communications, [email protected] (202) 556-2879