Solar-Fit Renewable Energy Radio
Join Solar-Fit President & CEO, Bill Gallagher as he interviews local and national leaders in the renewable energy & health industries to discuss their contributions to the clean energy community.
Thu, March 27, 2025
Listen to Bill Speak with VP of AGC Brian Turmail About His Career and The Challenges America Faces When Training Workers to Meet Industry Demands
Hear Bill's interview with Brian Turmail, Vice President, Public Affairs & Workforce, Associated General Contractors of America. (AGC). Brian's role is to develop and oversee all public, member, and chapter communications activities for the 27,000 member construction trade association. He also helps oversee the implementation of the association's Centennial "Future Focus" plan designed to position the association to help member firms thrive amid significant technological, process, and labor transformations taking place within the industry. Brian has been a guest on our show before and he does an excellent job of outlining the challenges America faces in regards to hiring and training a workforce to keep pace with the construction industry demands. As an example, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 80% of construction companies in Florida say they are having a hard time finding workers. This poses a serious issue as our state is experiencing explosive growth and we need workers for every facet of the construction industry, including infrastructure improvements, roads, bridges, homes, condos, and office buildings, manufacturing plants, and more. Brian and Bill discuss the return of vocational education in our schools to further develop a "home grown" workforce, as well as an H-2B program to help provide workers to meet employment demands. The construction industry offers amazing opportunities for individuals who wish to earn an earnest living...and perhaps one day, start and run their own business. Support the show
Tue, March 18, 2025
Listen to Bill Talk to Solar-Fit's Newest Members Scott and Jason and Their Journey To Helping Homeowners
Hear Bill chat with two of Solar-Fit's newest team members, Scott Jamieson and Jason Ruona. These two amazing individuals will be helping homeowners with the design of renewable energy systems that best fit their families' needs...and their budgets. Scott is a local fellow that comes to us from the world of professional golfing. It is not surprising that our team members are getting in line for lessons to prepare for our next golf outing. Jason hails from Minnesota, and he has fallen in love with our beautiful Florida weather. Both Scott and Jason are consummate professionals, and staunch advocates of energy freedom. They are ideally suited to share the economic and environmental benefits of solar power and solar storage with homeowners who wish to save money and increase the value of their property. Thanks for the excellent interview, guys. We are glad to have you on board to help our friends and neighbors "Plug into the Sun"! Support the show
Tue, March 18, 2025
Listen to Bill Interview Founder of GETI Mats Larsson About Renewable Energy Solutions
Hear Bill's conversation with Mats Larsson, founder of Global Energy Transformation Institute (GETI). Mats has become a recognized leader and visionary in the fields of energy transformation, electrification, and sustainable development. He joined us on the phone from his hometown in Sweden for the interview and shared a lot of interesting information about his mission to drive the widespread adoption of clean renewable energy solutions. Mats is also a noted author of many books that are now available on Amazon. We have included one here that is a great read. Thanks again, Mats, for the education and the very cool information about Sweden. It sounds like a beautiful location to call home...or for a vacation holiday visit Support the show
Fri, March 07, 2025
Listen to Bills Conversation with His friend the CEO of Survival Dispatch Chris Heaven About Preparation for Natural Disasters
Hear Bill's conversation with his friend, and American patriot, Chris Heaven. Chris is the CEO of Survival Dispatch, one of the most trusted sources for information on preparation methods in the event of natural disasters, (such as hurricanes here in Florida), or other anomalies that threaten to disrupt our lives. Chris does an amazing job of detailing measures that we can take to protect ourselves, and our families, in the event that things "go sideways". Survival Dispatch currently touches over 1.7 million people through their various channels and the content is incredible. Subjects include everything from power outages, water shortages, cyber issues, and many more areas of our life that we all take for granted. This is a subject that we should all take to heart and Survival Dispatch provides the content to guide the way. Support the show
Wed, February 26, 2025
Listen to Bill, Gloria and Joe Discuss the Solar-Fit Solar Forum Events
Hear Bill, Gloria, and Joe having a great time talking about solar power and the upcoming Solar-Fit Solar Forum events. These Forum's are a chance for people who are interested in solar power to ask questions about everything from tax credits, to net metering, to measuring solar performance, and even solar storage technology. Please watch for the event dates if you would like to attend, and RSVP to Kim@solar-fit.com. It is so much fun to visit with Gloria and Joe. Gloria has a green thumb...and loves to work in her garden, and Joe is our in-house digital tech guru...and Pickleball aficionado. They are both so knowledgeable and dedicated to helping others, just like the rest of the Solar-Fit Team. So proud to have such great friends and partners committed to helping folks in our community and beyond"Plug Into the Sun". Support the show
Mon, February 17, 2025
Listen to Bill Interview REC Regional Sales Manager-Southeast Sebastiaan Lang About REC and Their Focus
Hear Bill chat with Sebastiaan Lang, Regional Sales Manager-Southeast for REC Americas. REC Group, founded in 1996, has been a trusted solar panel manufacturer, and a true pioneer in the solar industry for nearly three decades. Their principal focus is on producing high quality, high performance solar panels, (modules), for both residential and commercial applications. An example of their dedication to excellence is the fact that their solar panels will retain 92% of its power, even after 25 years of exposure to the extreme heat here in Florida...and the freezing conditions that our friends "up north" sometimes enjoy. The residential solar panel that is extremely popular today is the REC Alpha Pure-RX Series. This all black solar panel not only looks beautiful on the roof of homes across the land, it also utilizes the latest heterojunction technology. These panels are now available in sizes up to 470 dc watts. (To provide perspective, just a few short years ago, a typical solar panel might have been about 250 dc watts in size). On the commercial side, the REC Alpha Pro M Series and is available in sizes up to 640 dc watts. (WOW)! This is ideal for large scale installations allowing businesses to take control of their overhead, lock in their energy costs, and provide an environmental footprint that reflects the sustainability goals of the company. Both the residential and the commercial solar panels carry a "World Class" REC 25 year ProTrust Warranty. It was fun to hear of Sebastiaan's travels abroad and the journey that brought him to REC. We hope you can join us as Sebastiaan shares examples of the popularity of solar power around the world and some of the unique features that make REC solar panels so unique and popular. Support the show
Mon, February 17, 2025
Listen to Bill Talk with Joe G and Gloria About Their Solar Experience and Our Sales Academy
Hear Bill G. having a fun discussion with two of Solar-Fit's rockstar team members, Gloria Eidson, VP of Sales, and Joe Giordano, our in-house tech guru and designer of the Solar-Fit Sales Academy training guide. Gloria is celebrating her 30th year with Solar-Fit helping our friends and neighbors "Plug Into the Sun"... and Joe has just surpassed his 12th year with our team. Imagine, if you will, over 42 years' experience between these two stellar solar advocates... and they are gearing up for another outstanding year guiding our customers on their journey to energy independence. We have to admit, this edition had a lot of playful chat, but you will find some great information embedded in the interview as well. Joe goes into detail about the opportunities for honest, dedicated individuals to join our team, while sharing some details about our Sales Academy and the training our new awesome recruits will receive. Gloria talks about having over 100 Solar-Fit customers...in just one development! Wow...that is beyond impressive! (Gloria actually has thousands of customers that love her energy and enthusiasm. We hope that a few hundred Solar-Fit customers are listening in today so they can send along a thumbs up! Renewable energy is our future, for sure. Solar power plays an important role in our nation's energy supply... and we can help you harvest the sun's free energy today, if you wish to become energy independent. Join us in our mission to help American homeowners and business owners become self-reliant and keep their hard-earned dollars... in their personal piggy banks. Thanks Gloria and Joe for the fun Sun Trip! Support the show
Thu, February 06, 2025
Listen to Bill interview Business Development Manager At Home Grid Energy Ryan Longhurst About How Solar Storage Can Benefit You
Listen to an exciting conversation with Ryan Longhurst, Business Development Manager at Home Grid Energy! We’ll be discussing the importance of solar + storage and how Home Grid’s stackable energy storage solutions can protect your home and family during power outages. With hurricanes and grid failures becoming more frequent, now is the time to ensure your home stays powered! Support the show
Tue, January 28, 2025
Listen to Bill Interview Division President Lowtility and Bob Harrington
Listen to this insightful conversation with Don Worthington, Division President of Lowtility, and entrepreneur Bob Harrington! This is part one of an exciting two-part series where we dive into cost-effective ways to reduce your monthly expenses by combining existing debt with renewable energy home improvements. Learn from the experts about financing solutions that help you save money, hedge against rising energy costs, and keep more of your hard-earned cash in your pocket! Plus, we'll cover how Lowtility makes it easier to tackle essential upgrades like roof replacements, especially for Florida homeowners. Be sure to mark your calendars for next week's episode—there's even more valuable information on the way! Support the show
Wed, January 15, 2025
Join Bill and His Good Friend Dr. Elmer Hall For An Exciting Conversation About AI
Join Bill and his good friend, Dr. Elmer Hall, for an exciting conversation about the fascinating world of AI! Dr. Hall, an expert in strategic planning and patent commercialization, is back on the show to share his insights on how AI is rapidly transforming the way we share and receive information. He’s also an accomplished writer, with several books on Perpetual Innovation and Regenerative Dynamic AI. This episode is extra special as Bill and Dr. Hall take turns asking each other questions—some funny, some thought-provoking, and all packed with useful information. Whether you’re curious about AI or looking to better understand its potential, this episode is for you! Support the show
Wed, January 15, 2025
Listen to Bill Talk with His Daughter Kim and Granddaughter Meghan About Their Family Business and
Hear Bill's conversation with his famous and beautiful guests, Kim Brooks, President of Solar-Fit, and Meghan McDonald, Marketing & Media Executive for Solar-Fit. If these names sound familiar to any of our long-time listeners, it is because Kim is Bill's daughter...and Meghan is Kim's daughter...and you guessed it...Bill's granddaughter! Talk about a family based company! And oh yes...Jeff Brooks, our awesome lead service technician is Kim's husband! On a broadcast coming soon, we will have Kim's other daughter's, Marissa, (our Permit Coordinator), and Lily join us for some more family fun! It is truly wonderful to come to work each day surrounded by some of the most wonderful people on the planet and the family as well. We are so blessed. This was a fun episode as it is the first show of the New Year...and 2025 marks our 50th year helping our friends and neighbors "Plug into the Sun". During the show, we recalled several decades of memories including the first bag phone, phone booths, beepers... (even leisure suits), and moved all the way forward to the newest technologies driving commerce and our individual habits today. These inventions and creations would seem foreign to most of us, even ten short years ago. Today, they are commonplace and they are most certainly changing the way we live, and even the way we think, with AI just starting to take root. To be honest, it has been challenging, but rewarding, to keep up with the changes. The younger generation today has become so adept at navigating the media sites that it is amazing just to watch them work their magic. Join us for some fun and if you are serious about making a difference in the world and saving energy dollars...Give Kim or Meghan a call and let them know that you heard about their adventures on WNZF Talk Radio. Support the show
Thu, January 02, 2025
Listen to Bill and Gloria Discuss Solar in the New Year and How You Can Get All Of the Benefits
Join Bill and Gloria for the New Year’s edition as they discuss the benefits of renewable energy and the economic advantages of owning your own solar system for your home or business. Speaking of the New Year, have you noticed how quickly time is flying by? Here’s something to think about: If your current electric bill is $250/month (without solar power), over five years, you’ll spend $15,000 on electricity—assuming utility rates stay the same. But with a modest 3.5% annual rate increase, that total jumps to $16,087. Now ask yourself: Do you think utility rates will go down, stay the same, or increase? If you said “increase,” you’re in agreement with 99% of the people we’ve interviewed. Maybe it’s time to take control of your energy future and consider Solar-Fitting your home or business. At Solar-Fit, we design, engineer, install, and service solar systems for every home and budget. Don’t want to dip into your savings? No problem! Our Zero Down, Low Payment Solar Easy Program allows you to use your utility savings to pay for your new solar system. Plus, if you qualify, you can take advantage of the 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit as a bonus. Support the show
Thu, January 02, 2025
Listen to Bill's Continued Interview with Jeff Winton and Nikki Shaffer About Mental Health
Hear Bill's continued interview with Jeff Winton, Founder and CEO of the non-profit Rural Minds & Nikki Shaffer, Director of Occupational health and Wellness at Pfizer. It became obvious after the first segment that we had so much more to talk about in regards to mental health... so... we invited Jeff and Nikki back to share more information about how to recognize the signs of mental distress, how to best assist others, and perhaps even ourselves, as outside and perceived pressures seem to accelerate during the holiday season. One of the many takeaways from this discussion was the importance of seeking support from others. Encouraging individuals to reach out to friends, family members,and/or health professionals when stressful situations result in thoughts of suicide, or self harm. These feelings may be fleeting... or perhaps longer lasting...but help is always available. The new Suicide Hotline number is 988 and it will connect you to 24/7 assistance and support. Other facts that Jeff and Nikkii shared with us are "triggers", sometimes associated with depression during the holiday season, and how to plan and cope with these seasonal occurrences. Effective measures of prioritizing self-care to control these feelings include getting enough sleep, engaging in regular physical exercise, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation, and maintaining a healthy diet. In an idealistic world, the holiday season is a time of joy, happiness, and harmonious family gatherings. If someone is struggling during this time of year, we should encourage them to engage in healthy coping mechanisms, such as engaging in hobbies or activities they enjoy and just be there for them. One of the last topics we covered is the importance of pets in the equation. If you are reading this and you have a dog, cat, bird, or any other pet...you know exactly what we mean. There is something soothing about having a "pal" that loves you unconditionally:) Thank you once again, Jeff and Nikki for your incredible insight into a topic which is so important to us all. Support the show
Mon, December 16, 2024
Listen to Bill and Gloria Give a Special Shout Out to Our Local Commercial Solar Champions
Join Bill and Gloria this Saturday morning for the Solar-Fit Renewable Energy Show, where we’ll be giving a special "shout out" to some of our local commercial solar champions! These are businesses that have made the smart decision to reduce their overhead and operating expenses by harnessing the power of the sun. It’s always fun to recognize our friends and customers who are leading the way with solar energy. You’ll hear about some familiar names, including auto dealerships, storage facilities, manufacturers, furniture stores, churches, office buildings, municipal and recreation facilities, universities, and so much more. For example, did you know that Daytona Dodge-Jeep and Maserati are powered by the sun? Yep, that’s right! Here are just a few of the many Solar-Fit powered facilities you might recognize: - Hudson Furniture (Ormond Beach, Sanford, Ocala) - All Aboard Storage (Flagler Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach) - Ball Fabrics (Deland) - SAFE Manufacturing (St. Augustine) - Baumgartner Company (Deland) - International RV Resort (Daytona Beach) - Palm Coast Southern Recreation Center (Palm Coast) - Stetson University (DeLand) - Entech Manufacturing (Ormond Beach) - UU Churches (Ormond Beach and St. Augustine) - Allen Chapel Church (Daytona Beach) - South Daytona Christian Church (South Daytona) - Rotomation Manufacturing (Ormond Beach) - Holly Hill Pictona (Pickleball Arena, Holly Hill) - Holly Hill YMCA (Holly Hill) …and many more businesses we’ve helped “Plug Into the Sun!” We’re incredibly grateful to all of our commercial partners for choosing Solar-Fit as their trusted energy partner. Support the show
Mon, December 16, 2024
Listen to Bill Speak with Jeff and Nikki About Mental Health, Occupational Health, and A Call to Action
Jeff and Nikki join us "on air" to share important information about mental health and measures we can take to help ourselves and others as the Holiday season approaches. Jeff founded Rural Minds as a result of a family tragedy and he is dedicating his energies to connecting rural Americans to much needed mental health services and helping them tell personal stories to assist others on similar journeys. Nikki has over 27 years of Occupational Health experience and she is now responsible for Pfizer health and wellness employees, globally. Some of the mental health statistics they share are shocking, and an indication that a "call to action" is needed. For example, were you aware that according to the National Alliance on Mental Health, an estimated 6,387,811 people residing in Florida live in communities that do not have enough mental health care professionals? Listen in and learn about some of the stressors in life that can cause a level of unease that in some cases result in a need for assistance or treatment. The takeaway is... do not be afraid to reach out for help personally... or to anyone who you feel can use a helping hand through a difficult time in their life. This message is not just for the holidays folks...this is for everyday life as well. It was a gift for us to have two of our nation's mental health experts on our show and we are committed to having Jeff and Nikki back soon, as they have much more knowledge to share. Don't forget folks, the National Hotline number for you, or someone you know, who is experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress is 988. This allows access to a 24/7 support system. If there is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room for help. Support the show
Mon, December 16, 2024
Listen to Bill and Dr. Elmer Hall Discuss Strategic Business Planning Company and AI
Hear Bill's interview with his longtime friend, Dr. Elmer Hall. Dr. Hall is president of Strategic Business Planning Company. SBP develops plans that every organization needs (tm): Start-ups, nonprofit, sustainability and patent commercialization. And now, rapid planning using Regenerative Dynamic AI. Dr. Hall has published several books and has been a professor of business (DBA & MBA) and Management Information Systems (MIS). Bill and Elmer have collaborated on several local commercial renewable energy projects and his experience is invaluable when it comes to business owners wishing to control their overhead by harvesting the sun's free energy. This was a great conversation, as Elmer shares information about one of the world's most powerful educational tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI). To learn more about how Dr. Hall can help your business or nonprofit, please give him a call: Elmer Hall (954) 704-9100 SBP Support the show
Tue, November 26, 2024
Listen to Bill and Gloria Welcome Back Regan Russell Solar-Fits Newest Team Member and Solar Advocate
Hear Bill and Gloria welcome their friend Regan Russell back to the Solar-Fit Team! Regan is a "rockstar" solar advocate who has worked in the industry for the past few years with our good friend, Mike Newman, up in the beautiful city of Jacksonville. Regan wanted to be closer to home, Palm Coast, to be able to spend more time with his family, and we are so glad he is back with us to help the folks in Flagler County... Solar-Fit their homes. Great conversation during the show about solar, and the newest, and most relevant home improvement...solar storage. After our most recent experience with Hurricane Milton, we are all aware of the potential to lose power. Listen in to learn about solutions to keep your family and home safe in the event of an unanticipated grid outage. Thanks for the great input, Regan, and welcome back to "America's Solar Team"! Support the show
Tue, November 26, 2024
Listen to Bill Interview Engineering VP at VB Engineering Roger Messenger About The Solar Industry
Hear Bill's interview with Roger Messenger, Professor Emeritus FAU, Vice President of Engineering VB Engineering, Inc. Roger is a longtime friend, and a brilliant engineer. His decades of experience, and his contribution to forwarding the use of renewable energy in Florida was recognized and acknowledged by his peers resulting in his induction into the Florida Solar Energy Industry Association, (FlaSEIA), Solar Hall of Fame. While the world continues to spin at a furious pace, Roger's calm, collected mannerism is a welcome respite. He thinks through problems and comes up with practical solutions that leave you thinking..."I wish I had thought of that"! Along with his many other duties, Roger is on the Advisory Board for the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa Beach. Thank you Roger, for your friendship through the years... and for spending some time with us On Air to share valuable information about the importance of solar power and solar storage when it comes to America's energy independence and our homeland security. Support the show
Wed, November 13, 2024
Listen to Bill and Executive Vice President of Sunnova Michael Grasso Discuss Energy Innovation and Solar Benefits
Hear Bill's interview with Michael Grasso, Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer with Sunnova, one of America's leading solar residential and commercial solar and solar storage companies. Sunnova is committed to energy innovation by offering an easy pathway for homeowners to transition to solar power to save energy dollars... and protect our environment. Michael does an excellent job of explaining the operation of a solar energy system and the benefits to their thousands of customers who have chosen to use their services. Sunnova specializes in providing access and reliable energy with customized options to fit any home and budget. One amazing fact is that Sunnova SunSafe solar + storage systems energized over 54,000 customers in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Ernesto. Thank you, Michael, for taking time to share this important information with our listening audience, and for Sunnova's ongoing commitment to help our nation harvest clean, renewable energy! Support the show
Wed, November 06, 2024
Listen to Bill, Gloria, and Jerny Rieves Discuss Levels Of Good Health and Quality of Life
Hear Bill and Gloria discuss the ultimate form of renewable energy...our health...with our newest team member, Jerny Rieves. Jerny has a wealth of experience helping people gain, and maintain, the ultimate level of good health. We talk about nutrition, hydration, exercise, dancing, aerobics, pickleball...just about everything you can imagine to be able to enjoy a better quality of life... and enjoy the experience in the process. Thank you, Jerny, for the valuable education...and welcome to the Solar-Fit Team! Support the show
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