If you are in the solar energy business and haven't heard of Mercury Solar Systems, than you must not live on the East Coast; as it stands, Mercury Solar Systems is one of the 'leading solar integrators' for both residential and commercial rooftops. And it just so happens that David Sugrue, Boots alumni, is now managing all of South Jersey for the company.

David began his business development career 12 years ago in the battery industry. Like most of our alumni who started out in completely different fields, he started seeing signs that his professional battery career was about to reach a dead end. "Companies were closing, there was no innovation and internal growth was extremely limited," he explains.

In 2008, he began researching with the hopes of discovering a career that held more excitement. Solar energy's emergence in the marketplace definitely caught his attention. While still retaining his position at the battery company, David learned more about solar by taking courses and further research, which also included his attendance at ASES Solar Conference in Buffalo, NY. "It was a sign from God; a solar conference... in Buffalo," David exclaims.

What he also found is that fundamentally, solar is not all that different from the familiar technology of batteries. They both use DC power, but solar panels create energy and batteries store it. Once David crossed this bridge in technology, he started feeling pretty confident about the next step. Who would have guessed that the next step was being laid off by the battery company? "I saw it as an opportunity," David says. "I had spent all this time learning solar-- but for what? I could finally put it to use. Up until this point I had only one foot in the water." It was then that David enrolled in our Boots 6-Day Solar PV Boot Camp. We couldn't help but chuckle when he described our enrollment advisor as part guidance counselor.

So what made David so committed and motivated to enter this new industry? David summed it up best by quoting Tony Robbins. The self-help guru’s books helped him realize that, "life is about vision and having convictions. If you have conviction, nothing is impossible. Set goals that are ambitious and prepare to capitalize on opportunities. That is the definition of luck; the intersection of preparation and opportunity."

His favorite part about the 6-Day Solar PV Boot Camp was the structure and his subsequent networking opportunities with other people in the business. David also comments that it was during the boot camp, he understood the difference between a professional and an amateur.

After he graduated, he started as a freelance business developer, creating a solar division for a Buffalo-based electrical contractor. Now, he's moved to New Jersey where he can reap the benefits of New Jersey State's SREC incentive, one of the most progressive in the nation. Currently, David manages approximately 40 people and their office in Mays Landing is busy with 20-25 projects a month.

What advice does he have for people looking to break into the renewable energy industry?

"Study and Read as much as you can about the industry and volunteer in local activities. That is the most cost effective way to build a network. Be prepared to take advantage of opportunities that are present and know that there are more coming in the future."