About fifty current and new employees are involved in the shift and the company expects the number of jobs in Miami to increase significantly in the coming year.
With this move, the company is revamping its America's corporate home and culture, as well as unveiling a newly designed website (www.conergy.com) and mission statement created and envisioned by Conergy employees across fifteen countries: "We Harness the Sun to Preserve the Planet and Power the World." The mission and values process uncovered Conergy employees' unanimous passion to create more solar across the world.
"There is no team like Conergy and no place like Miami," said Conergy CEO Andrew de Pass. "Conergy's employees are passionate people from all walks of life and corners of the globe. Miami is a unique, embracing melting pot, making it a perfect home for us. Miami is also a convenient geographic hub to support both Conergy's growing U.S. presence and our emerging markets in Latin America. Furthermore, we have the privilege of being neighbors with our majority shareholder, Kawa Capital Management."
Phase one of the company's turnaround leveraged its seventeen years of experience, focusing on its downstream businesses. The company divested from all of its manufacturing and distribution businesses and built upon its strengths in downstream solar services: 1) development; 2) finance; 3) engineering, procurement, construction (EPC); and 4) long-term operations and maintenance (O&M). The company also expanded its rooftop business to align with its market leadership in ground mount, so Conergy now offers turnkey solar services to nearly all market segments globally.
Phase two of Conergy's turnaround is marked by Conergy's new three-hub organizational structure and internal technology to make the world feel small and enhance corporate culture. Conergy has established three main hubs for its business: Miami for the Americas; Hamburg, Germany, for Europe and Africa; and Singapore for Conergy's businesses in Asia, Australia, The Pacific and the Middle East. Through its three-hub structure, enhanced by centralized technology, new processes, and an internal social media platform, employees can easily share ideas and work collaboratively, improving communication and camaraderie across nations.
Conergy's move will also bring geographic diversification to the U.S. solar industry. The solar industry has experienced 85% job growth since 2010; the growth, however, has been disproportionately concentrated on the West Coast and in the Northeast. Conergy's move to Miami brings the solar industry to the Southeast corner of the U.S., which, according to the Solar Foundation, is home to less than 10% of the 180,000 nationwide solar jobs.
"We're pleased that Conergy's Miami move will also grow Florida's solar workforce as we relocate many employees to the state and look to hire and train more," added de Pass.
For more information, Conergy's newly designed website www.conergy.com includes general information on the company, project profiles, resources for media and solar enthusiasts, and a blog. In Q2, Conergy launched creative content campaigns on its blog and social media platforms, reaching over half a million Facebook users.
Phase three of Conergy's turnaround plan, expected to roll out in Q3 and Q4 of 2015, will be focused on acting out its mission to preserve the planet and power the world. Conergy will implement a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, a Policy Program to support global Climate Change and local solar-related policies, and campaigns to bring affordable solar power to the global citizens that most need it.
