Watt's Up SolAero Technologies

UPDATE: In 2022, Rocket Lab acquired leading satellite solar power producer SolAero Technologies. The group claims to create world-class innovative solutions that are powering the space industry. Was happy to see Dr. Brad Clevenger now serves as Vice President of Rocket Lab Space Systems. In his role, Brad provides strategic leadership to the company's satellite manufacturing operations. Respected and liked Brad when I served SolAero. Unfortunately, there was so much chaos and change that Brad lost control of the executive management team.

UPDATE 4.19.21: As an employee of SolAero Technologies Corp. (SolAero), which is a leading provider of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and composite structural products for satellite and aerospace applications, I assisted the team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs (JPL) on the successful maiden flight of the Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity.

Working at SolAero, our team of engineers and IT professionals crafted the solar panel that enabled the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Unfortunately, the company fired me for standing up for my distressed coworker, Rosario Gonzalez. Males didn't treat my female coworker with respect or dignity. Imagine being the only women in a large group of men. She was afraid to speak up fearful of losing her job. I became concerned she might kill herself as the abusive pressure became so intense. This is why women don't pursue careers in tech.

UPDATE 8.16.20: SolAero sold approximately half of its 100,000-square-foot plant to California-based Pontus Capital. This raised $11 million in needed cash from a sale-leaseback deal that sold about half the company's 100,000-square-feet of space at the Sandia Science and Technology Park to an affiliate of Pontus Capital.

UPDATE 3.30.20: OneWeb — which for years chased a multibillion-dollar dream of beaming cheap, high-speed Internet from space — filed for bankruptcy on Friday. SolAero built a massive new manufacturing space, hired many engineers and staff to provide solar panels for OneWeb project. Bankrupt! Who will SolAero lay off now?

Received call from a recruiter last week. Agent told me SolAero "desperately needed" a DBA. I was their highly-trained DBA until they fired me for seeking help for my coworker. Rosario served as my supervisor. Corporate executives beat the shit out of her — constant pressure and demands, but no formal authority. She was in tears most of the time I served the poorly-managed company.

Let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.

One bright spot in the executive team was Jerry Winton. He was our general manager. About mid-March 2017, SolAero fired Jerry, along with Phyllis Sulivan. Jerry was broken when I ran into him. He had put his heart & soul into the company. He tried to maintain his composure, but his pain was obvious to all.

Happened to speak with Phyllis after the unexpected termination — was crying uncontrollably. She had performed such excellent work. In fact, when CEO Brad Clevenger and CFO Jeff Lassiter were unable to make an executive decision about our IT mission, Phyllis stepped up. She was bold, professional and competent. Brad and Jeff fired this woman for being a strong leader, it appeared.

Reached out to Brad and Jerry after the recruiter's call. Asked if we all could put our differences behind us and work together for the good of the company and nation. Mistakes were made at the company. I was willing to forgive and move forward. Jerry had promised to me, "let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you." Some things at SolAero don't change. Many people are afraid to work for the company due to the poor-quality and confused management.

Open Letter to Honorable Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham and Mayor of Albuquerque Tim Keller:

Cc:
SolAero CEO Brad Clevenger
SolAero HR Director Silvia Gentile
Emily Peck, Senior Reporter, HuffingtonPost

SolarTechnologies is poorly-managed. Revolving door of senior directors, middle managers and staff who are paid BIG salaries and then fired. HR is highly incompetent and the director lied to an official government investigation. Anyone who brings up concerns is pushed to the exit.

SolAero HR rep, Rose Ann Casale, now Vice President of Human Resources & Corporate Operations with Perikin Enterprises, LLC, assisted SolAero Technologies emotionally beat-up my female supervisor, Rosario Gonzalez (below), and played a part pushing me from the company for trying to end the abusive and hostile work environment.

Rose Ann Casale describes herself as a "dynamic leader with strong communication skills in developing and implementing successful business practices. Demonstrated success in achieving company goals and increasing revenues in the Staffing Industry. Excel in the motivation of the working environment with positive results in team performance."

My FEMALE supervisor, Rosario Gonzalez, was being abused and "beat up" emotionally from the CEO down to our IT manager and by many of my coworkers. She was dealing with a messy divorse and difficult personal life. Rose Ann, Silvia Gentile and CEO Brad Clevenger ignored her plight. My coworker spent day-after-day threatening to quit and escape the abusive treatment, but as a "single-mother" simply could not afford to walk away from her paycheck. Rosario was "too afraid" to speak up for herself.

On my birthday, she wished me well and wrote, "You have a good heart." Yes, I was standing up for her and supporting her when her work and home families were not. Repeatly she begged and pleaded with me to help her, "You do it! You do it! You are courageous." Yeah, sure, thanks! For standing up for you, Brad, Silvia and Rose Ann booted me from SolAero Technologies. "Thanks a lot, Rosario!"

Rosario spent many days crying at her workstation, after new IT manager, Tom Hensley, forced her to return to the All-Male work enviroment from a location she purposely selected, because she felt safe and appreciated around other women, such as Rose Ann and Silvia. I notified Rosario Sunday, October 1st, I was requesting a meeting with HR for 10am on Tuesday. Met with HR Sylvia Gentile. Gentile clams did not report the abusive behavior.

Neither HR rep gave a shit about her professionan comfort or happiness. When I brought the matter to the attention of both Silvia Gentile and Rose Ann Casale, they removed me from the company two weeks later.

My SolAero Supervisor, Rosario Gonzalez, Pressured Me to Leave My Wife If I Wanted To Continue Working With Her

Was hired by SolAero Technologies (SolAero) in November 2016. Company fired me October 2017. They called the dismissal a Reduction in Workforce (RIF). I consider their action retaliation for a complaint I made to HR director Gentile on October 3, 2017.

Appealled numerous times to CEO Clevenger and Gentile. They did not respond and ignored me. Filed a formal complaint with the EECO.

SolAero contracted local attorney, Mary T. Torres, who provided a distorted response to my complaint. HR director stated falsely to the EEOC investigator. This was an intentional and malicious deception. This constitutes the legal definition of a lie. I am here today to correct the record and alert you to their insidoius behavior.

Emily Peck, senior reporter, Huffington Post, recently wrote [5.17.19] about the dynamic culture in American workplaces due relations between men and women. She claims "Me Too Backlash Is Getting Worse," and discussed a new study suggesting 60 percent of male managers are uncomfortable working closely with women.

Due my experience with female HR director Gentile and my supervisor, Rosario Gonzalez, I am surprised any men want to work around women at all. My action now hopes to inform male counterparts of the dangers women pose in our workplaces — as well as motivate women to better police their bad apples.

There have been many, too many cases, of bad apple men. I spent nearly a decade as a union steward serving my female coworkers. Together, we successfully increased their compensation fairly, reduced bullying and intimidation in the workplace by both male and female managers, and restored dignity to women employees as they deserved.

Female spokespeople, such as Ms. Peck, demand men do a better job helping rid workplaces of such undesirable men and this behavior — I did. This also requires female leaders to act similarly with abusive women, if we hope to further safe and productive work spaces going forward for all employees.

SolAero is considered by many to be a darling, innovative company. Unfortunately, management has been in disarray for close to a decade because of downsizing, restructuring, company rebranding and product retooling. Their confusion also furthers much deception.

The ebb and flow of the company led to many RIFs — here and in California. They are also a manufacturing company, rare in our economy. This makes finding and recruiting talent difficult. Past character of a company informs prospective candidates about their culture. To calm concerns over employment instability, SolAero included the following clause in the employment posting for my and other positions.

I now know My Job Was Not Safe. HR director claims the company released me for a RIF — not lack of skills or poor performance. In fact my positive contribution was documented. SolAero made a conscious management choice to violate their obligations to me.

SolAero misled employees, failed to provide competent management, and frankly, wagered nobody cares about workers such as me. They are arrogant and not concerned about being a responsible corporate citizen in New Mexico.

This insidious behavior is a matter of public interest to you and the public, as the company is a recipient of New Mexico Economic Development grants of approximately $200,000.

The People of New Mexico have a right to know, as well as be updated as to the returns of their investment.

In my complaint to the EEOC, I claimed SolAero retaliated against me for reporting a hostile work environment created by my female supervisor, Rosario Gonzalez, and male manager, Tom Hensley.

HR director Syliva Gentile's statement before the EEOC is false. I provided a detailed explanation in my attempt to resolve this matter amicably June 2019. SolAero did not respond.

SolAero hired me as a junior Data Warehouse analyst. Then-IT manager, Stephen Bradley, and senior Data Warehouse analyst, Rosario Gonzalez, interviewed me and made the decision. Two weeks later, Bradley resigned. He told me he was fed up with management and tired of working 80-hour weeks. He had found a stable position with a financial company that allowed him to spend more with his wife and four young daughters.

CEO Clevenger and HR director Gentile provided no support during this transition. Our IT director, Eric Kuechener, worked in California. We had a staff meeting once every two weeks, which Kuechener attended by phone. He was the voice from the box in Charlie's Angels. Wouldn't meet him in person for months.

Bradley claimed he was putting in 80-hours per week. I believed him. With his departure, this additional work fell to Rosario. Bradley had also assigned her the task to supervise me and bring me up to speed. Bradley told me this would take about two years, due the complexities of SolAero manufacturing and ERP software.

My new supervisor, Rosario, was overwhelmed. She had threatened to quit numeorous times when Bradley directed our small group. She cried before me frequently in frustration and continued threats to quit. I know she was looking for alternatives.

CEO Clevenger, HR director Gentile and IT director Kuechener provided no support — emotional or operational. We were simply unimportant to them.

At the same time, Rosario was going through a family crisis. She was divorcing her husband of over 20 years. Her three boys were upset. Her family had estranged her, as they blamed her for destroying the marriage and disrupting their family.

As a result, Rosario needed many hours each week of emotional support from me. She would close the door — something new-IT manager Tom Hensley objected to intensely — and share details of her personal and family challenges. She was my supervisor. I didn't consider this to be appropriate, but also recognized if she fell apart, the consequences to the company would be immeasurable. She was the only competent leader we had. There had simply been too much turnover. Institutional knowledge was extremely low.

In this pressurized work, as well as home, environment where someone is greatly alienated and isolated from traditional family and friends, we became close — but it was clear to me Rosario was depending on me far more than would be considered professional.

Her female work friends called me her "work husband" and Rosario my "work wife." Rosario told me her then-five year old son referred to me as her "boyfriend." Rosario dropped hints frequently she would like it if we became closer.

Cisco and BreAnne (Briggs) Trujillo

In July 2017, our situation changed dramatically. New-IT manager Hensley moved her from her preferred location in a private office to a cubicle in a crowded area surrounded completely by men. This infuriated her. Rosario's job required her to meet with many people per day; demanded much quiet time for concentration; and most importantly, Hensley stationed her next to a male Muslim coworker she told me treated her inappropriately.

She was intensely unhappy with the decision. Manager Hensley told her I had something to do with it. This was deceptive. Wasn't up to me. HelpDesk supervisor Cisco Trujillo informed me Hensley had been joking when he said it. Both thought it was a clever gag — quite a joke. He later showed me a staff map the two had constructed. Wasn't funny to either Rosario or me. Hurt our relations badly.

Rosario rebelled over the decision. She refused to sit in the cubicle and moved to an empty space near HR director Gentile and other women. She was happy there. Hensley directed her to return a month later.

Rosario spent days crying at her desk. She would say, "Nothing is wrong," but clearly she was desperately frustrated. Her husband wanted $50,000 cash settlement to agree to the divorce, which meant she was trapped in her depressing job. She demanded I lie to Hensley to force him to move me to her cubicle, which would allow her to move from the area where she was surrounded by 8-9 men — and the tormenting Muslim. Rosario was not comfortable speaking up for herself under the circumstances.

She continued to demand I do what she wanted — and furthered pressured me to leave my wife — if I hoped to continue working with my company-assigned supervisor. In a text exchange with Rosario in September 2018, she wrote, "Well the work wife is selfish and likes not sharing [with the home wife]."

In tears, I explained her behavior, mismanagement of our group by IT manager Hensley, and hostile work environment I suffered to HR director Silvia Gentile on October 3, 2018. The HR director fired me October 19, 2018.

SolAero attorney, Mary T. Torres denied the meeting occurred, trivialized my concerns, and egregiously dismissed SolAero's corporate responsibility, as well as HR director Gentile's professional obligation, to properly ensure employees are respected and feel safe in their workplace by writing to the EEOC:

"A workplace like SolAero is not a school playground where teachers can compel classmates to 'play nice' or risk writing on the chalkboard one hundred times 'I will not be mad at Scott. I will not be mad at Scott.'"

This is how powerful women treated their subordinate male employee at SolAero Technologies.

BRAD CLEVENGER, PHD

President & CEO
Dr. Brad Clevenger joined SolAero Technologies Corp. in June 2001 and held various leadership positions within Engineering, Operations and Business Development on his way to becoming President and CEO. Prior to joining SolAero, he was a Member of the Technical Staff at Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. Dr. Clevenger holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida. He has published over 50 journal articles and holds four U.S. patents.

SILVIA GENTILE

Director of Human Resources
Silvia Gentile joined SolAero Technologies Corp. in 1996 and currently serves as the Human Resources Manager. In this position, Ms. Gentile is responsible for all of the functions involving the organization’s employees, including, recruitment, hiring, salary & benefits, 401(K) administration, performance management and employee relations. Prior to joining SolAero, Silvia worked for the Miller Brewing Company as Regional Office Manager for the New York Market Area.

Additional Executive Team Members

NAVID FATEMI: Senior Vice President
Navid Fatemi joined SolAero Technologies Corp. in 1998. Mr. Fatemi oversees the Business Development, Sales & Marketing and Proposal Management functions at SolAero. He has 28 years of experience in the Aerospace and Photovoltaics industries. Prior to joining SolAero, he was a partner at Essential Research, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio and was also involved with Photovoltaic Research & Development activities for space applications at NASA's Glenn Research Center. He holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University, respectively.

RICK BYRENS: President & General Manager, Alliance Spacesystems
As President and General Manager of Alliance Spacesystems, Rick oversees all facets of the business with a clear focus on customer satisfaction and products of the highest quality. Prior to becoming President, Mr. Byrens was Business Development Manager for Alliance / MDA Space Structures from 2006 through 2011, and oversaw growth in the business unit from $4.5 Million per year to $28 Million in 2011. Mr. Byrens was Business Development Manager at ATK Corona / Programmed Composites, Inc. from 1999 through 2006, spent 3 years as General Manager at Intec Composites (Anaheim, CA), and was also General Manager of Hexcel's Satellite Products Business Unit (Gilbert, AZ) from 1997 through 1999. Mr. Byrens has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and has over 30 years experience in the composite materials and structures business.

PRAVIN PATEL: Senior Director of Product Development
Pravin Patel joined SolAero Technologies Corp. in 2006 and currently serves as Director of Engineering. In this position, Mr. Patel is responsible for Product Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering departments across the solar cell and solar panel product lines. His professional career began with SolAero Technologies as a Solar Cell Device & Materials Development Engineer and has progressed through various leadership roles as a Product Development Engineer, Engineering Manager of Solar Cell Product Development, and now Director of Engineering. Mr. Patel holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico, with a focus in Optoelectronic Materials and Devices.