In 2016, Neighborhood Sun began as 3 people with a dream in a Maryland-based startup incubator. Today, we have grown to a community of more than 30 employees helping thousands of subscribers across 8 states access clean energy while saving money. We’re proud to highlight a few of the incredibly talented and dedicated leaders on our team who have helped turn Neighborhood Sun into the thriving solar community it is today. 

Meet Cara, our Chief Revenue Officer

As our C.R.O., Cara Humphrey develops and oversees our solar project acquisition, new markets, channel partnerships, and the customer support team. Cara is a results-driven, mission-minded business development executive with a genuine passion for renewable energy and community engagement. With 15 years of experience catapulting start-ups to success, Cara leverages her expertise, leadership skills, and expansive network to continually grow market share and drive revenue. As a strategic planner and collaborative community organizer, Cara excels at developing cross-sector partnerships, crafting impactful outreach and education campaigns, and mobilizing municipalities, environmental advocates, and visionary volunteers to increase the adoption of renewable energy solutions like community solar. 

Cara’s ability to pivot amid policy changes and her track record of achieving ambitious targets make her a valuable asset in the clean energy space. Her career is defined by her passion and dedication to climate work, which extends beyond her role at Neighborhood Sun to a variety of volunteering positions that maximize her positive social and environmental impact on the local community. We are grateful that Cara is a part of our team, not only for her sharp mind and creative business acumen but also for her commitment to our shared values and her dedication to the communities and causes she cares about.

Meet John, our Chief Technology Officer

John Wilson is an experienced technology executive with a robust background in software development, IT leadership, and operational management across various industries. Serving as Neighborhood Sun’s C.T.O for the past 4 years, John leads the development and implementation of the SunEngine^TM software platform, overseeing a team of senior IT and software developers. He plays a crucial role in transitioning large asset owners to this platform, significantly enhancing the company’s technological infrastructure. Before joining Neighborhood Sun, John was involved in several other impactful positions, serving as V.P. of Information Technology and Systems at Spark Power Corp., where he integrated enterprise software solutions and upgraded security systems. He also spent over a decade at Bullfrog Power Inc. as Vice President of Operations, where he managed IT operations, systems integration, and the expansion of the company’s green energy products across Canada. 

Earlier in his career, John held various leadership roles at Fidelity Information Services, where he contributed to the development of wealth management solutions and integration strategies for financial institutions. John’s educational background includes studies in engineering at the University of Toronto and certifications in product management, project management, and database administration. His career is marked by a blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership, driving innovation and growth in the companies he has worked with.  

Climate change is centered in his home as well as his work. In collaboration with his life partner, John built a sustainable home 25 years ago that employs passive heating and cooling methods, renewable energy generation from wind and solar, the use of natural materials like straw bales for insulation and structure, and a green roof. Together, they also built a 3,000-square-foot straw bale barn that utilizes a closed-loop system to incorporate aquaponics and more than 3 million red widdler worms to compost food waste from local restaurants at a commercial scale. 

Meet Gary, our Chief Executive Officer (& founder)

Gary Skulnik is a writer, entrepreneur, and longtime clean energy advocate who has been a leader in developing the clean energy market in Maryland and Washington, DC, through innovative partnerships, community building, grassroots marketing, business management, and legislative advocacy. Gary founded Neighborhood Sun as a Public Benefit Corporation in 2016 and continues to serve as its C.E.O. today. He has been advocating for clean energy since long before the conception of Neighborhood Sun, working as a lobbyist and leading the charge for Maryland’s first-ever Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) over two decades ago to ensure a portion of the state’s electricity come from renewable resources. On a mission to use business as a force for good in the clean energy sector, Gary initially founded another renewable energy company and Certified B Corporation called Clean Currents, a third-party energy retailer. After Clean Currents, he focused in on the intersection of climate change and energy equity, founding Neighborhood Sun as the first grassroots tech-enabled business to introduce community solar throughout Maryland and beyond.