Our “Inside Carolina Solar Services” segment highlights the many staff members that keep CSS running smoothly. We sat down this month to chat with our Central Regional Manager, Forrest Huynh.
Question: What is your background? How long have you been with CSS?
I always wanted to do work that could make a positive impact in the world. Climate change was a huge topic while I was in school at Appalachian State University, and it was there that I decided I wanted to do something that benefits the environment. I pursued a B.S. in Sustainable Technology, which provided hands-on experience to kickstart a career path to help the planet.
Following graduation, I worked with an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor doing residential and commercial solar install and utility scale preventative maintenance. I started at CSS in early 2017 as an electrical Technician Level 1. From there I worked my way up to Senior Technician, then served as a Regional Manager out in Oregon, and eventually moved to my current position in North Carolina in late 2021.
Question: What does a typical day look like for you? Describe a bit about what you do in your role at CSS.
As the Central North Carolina Regional Manager, I serve as the business unit leader for a region spanning just East of Raleigh to a little West past Shelby, North Carolina and down into upstate South Carolina. In short, I’m a project manager who coordinates jobs and directs field teams for preventative, corrective and vegetative maintenance.
I usually start my day by reviewing emails and cases that have come in from the previous evening—urgent issues, specific Client requests, weather-related re-routes, etc.—and I’ll modify the field teams’ schedules based on things that pop up within a 12-hour time period. The schedule will be updated, work orders assigned and relevant parties coordinated with. Once teams are prepped, dispatched, and ready to go, I’ll review work orders from the previous day. This involves making sure that for all work done in the field, cases are filled out correctly, closed, or otherwise set to the right status (re-dispatch, billing, RMAs, progression with a third party, etc.). I’ll also coordinate with other departments like accounting or account management who may have operations related questions. Throughout the day, I take calls from the field teams to help guide their work and make higher level decisions.
Other day-to-day items may vary, from making estimates for new jobs, creating daily/weekly/monthly schedules and planning single-scope projects, to reaching out to vendors, ordering materials, seeking hard-to-find parts, and job-prepping for future projects. I may assist in the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), conduct internal policy meetings about how we’re operating or specific incidents, and speak with clients throughout the day to keep them informed on the status of their assets
A few times throughout the month I go out and do field visits at our sites. While there, I’ll work with the field crews and audit work quality, performance and answer any questions. I also ensure that all safety standards are being met.
Question: What’s something you have done at CSS that you are especially proud of?
I’ve really enjoyed all of the in-field corrective maintenance and commissioning work that I’ve done at CSS, especially when I was a Senior Technician. I loved traveling around the country, problem solving and troubleshooting to make sure that sites were running smoothly and that our clients stay happy. I also enjoyed directly training new technicians and getting them excited about solar operations.
I’m also proud of my handling of site fires. I’ve dealt with a lot of thermal events, and the process of how we respond correctly to ensure that assets and personnel are protected is very engaging. It’s a great feeling of accomplishment to properly coordinate with CSS field teams, fire departments, clients, and forest services and know that incidents are handled safely and efficiently.
Lastly, I’d say that I’m proud of the growth that I was a part of in Oregon. We started off small, but I eventually ended up with a huge portfolio of large sites and substations and helped that region double in size.
Question: Before we wrap up, would you like to share anything about your life outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy mountain biking, live music, and international travel. On my most recent trip I backpacked through Vietnam, traveling the country top to bottom. My brother, a college friend, and I stayed in hostels and did a self-guided motorbike tour across the northern mountain region. I overall just really enjoy new experiences of all kinds.
Thanks for chatting with us, Forrest!