Ethan Pristach

I followed the install manager and CEO of Sunup when they decided to start their own solar business. As the business grew and then expanded to Illinois at the beginning of 2024, I did as well. I had been running my own install crew until July of 2024, and then moved up to a "Field Supervisor" position. Although field supervisor was my official title, I wore many hats and had many more responsibilities than my title reflected. A good part of the time I was the only person of management in the state of IL while operations continued to be ran out of Phoenix. As one might imagine I had to be very fast at problem solving, trouble shooting, and giving direction, because not only was I responsible for 15 crews, I also had electrical panel upgrades almost every day, or at very least service calls to attend, on top of fielding calls from my crews, homeowners, and operation back in Phoenix. In the first quarter of 2025 I was given the opportunity to take a position back in Phoenix working in our national HQ as National Service Manager. In this position I got familiar with working in an office setting, which at first felt foreign, but soon I gained traction and fit well with our operations team as a very valuable resource for information and in-field processes. During this time, I was responsible for all in house and contracted service calls for both Arizona and Illinois operations. I was kept very busy scheduling with homeowners, slotting services in between our install calendars with crews, and giving specific instruction and guidance on how to address the service issue. Although I excelled in this position, I was asked to move back to Illinois as the company was facing staffing issues and needed me back in the field as to not fall behind on installs. I have since been working in the field doing installs, service calls, panel upgrades and anything else the company needed.

I started my solar career when I moved to AZ with Sunup America. I had little experience in electrical work and zero experience in the solar industry. I quickly moved from installer to roof lead in the first 6 months of being with Sunup, and within 10 months I was running my own install crew as I learned the install process quickly and efficiently. As a crew lead, I was responsible for all the work taking place on the jobsite and held accountable for not only my work but the work of my crew members below me, and their safety. It was also my responsibility to have clear communication with homeowners on the install process, inspection process, and how to operate/maintain their new solar system.

I worked in the shipping department for the first two years I worked with Vortex. Job duties included prepping valves for shipment, building pallets/crates for valves to be shipped in, handing shipping paperwork, and using a forklift to load trucks. I transferred out of shipping to take a press brake position. Once I learned press brake I began being cross trained in many different departments as I do like to learn new skills. I was cross trained in paint, grind, laser, band saw, air cylinder, tumbler, machine shop and was even sent to another Vortex facility to help catch them up with production goals. I also taught myself how to MIG weld at that time.