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Team

The VeraSol team holds a rich technical and programmatic background in quality assurance coupled with a commitment to provide neutral, high-quality service to the sector.

Operational Leadership

VeraSol is managed by CLASP in collaboration with the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt (Schatz Center). CLASP and the Schatz Center began their partnership implementing the Lighting Global Quality Assurance program in 2016 and now continue that work under VeraSol.

CLASP

CLASP

CLASP improves the energy and environmental impacts of the appliances we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. We serve at the epicenter of ambitious and collaborative efforts to prevent catastrophic climate change and make the world sustainable for all. CLASP works hand-in-hand with policymakers, governments, technical experts, industry, donor organizations, and consumer groups to develop and lead markets towards the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive products. CLASP envisions a world in which appliances and other products are life-changing, low-impact, and environmentally responsible.

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Schatz Energy Research Center

Schatz Energy Research Center

Schatz Energy Research Center’s mission is to promote the use of clean and renewable energy. The center accomplishes this by: designing, demonstrating, and deploying clean and renewable energy technologies; implementing collaborative programs that support the deployment of clean energy systems; performing lab and field research; engaging in scientific and policy analysis; providing graduate fellowships and work opportunities for student engineers and scientists; and educating the public about clean and renewable energy. The Center was established in 1989, thanks to generous funding from Dr. Louis W. Schatz. It is affiliated with Cal Poly Humboldt’s Environmental Resources Engineering program.

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Team Members

Dr. Arne Jacobson

Director, Schatz Center

Arne brings 30 years of international experience in the off-grid solar sector to the team, and he serves as the technical lead for off-grid quality assurance for VeraSol.

Elisa Lai

Senior Manager, CLASP

Elisa is an expert in off-grid appliances. She pioneered VeraSol’s product database and manages test methods and quality standard development for off-grid appliances and productive use technologies. As manager of VeraSol, Elisa advises on VeraSol program design, operation, and strategic engagements and partnerships.

Abigail Kuria

Program Associate, CLASP

Abby is a program associate on the VeraSol team and supports several initiatives, including market scoping for appliances, interfacing with development programs and humanitarian aid agencies in the off-grid solar sector on business development opportunities and facilitating VeraSol's relationship with members of the Global Distributors Collective (GDC).

Agnes Oloo

Administrative Associate, CLASP

Agnes assists with VeraSol's daily operations, including team coordination, product sampling, testing, and certification processes.

Alejandro Cervantes

Research Engineer, Schatz Center

With a background in mechanical engineering and renewable energy, Alejandro assists the team in coordinating the VeraSol verification process, testing products, and reviewing test reports.

Ana Luisa (Luli) Sosa

Senior Associate, CLASP

Luli provides project management support for VeraSol, including product testing and quality verification services.

Anna Wright

Associate, CLASP

Anna assists with VeraSol's daily operations, including team coordination, database and information management, and product sampling, testing, and reporting processes.

Charles Muchunku

Policy Consultant

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Charles works with VeraSol to support the adoption and implementation of quality standards for pico-PV and solar home system kits in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Christopher Carlsen

Technical & Policy Consultant

Drawing on over 15 years of relevant policy and technical expertise, Christopher leads VeraSol's activities supporting the adoption and implementation of harmonized off-grid solar standards.

Claire F. Ingvoldsen

Engineering Technician, Schatz Center

Claire engages with customers, develops test plans, reviews test reports, and provides general technical support for the VeraSol Program.

Jack Lucas

Research Assistant, Schatz Center

At the Schatz Center, Jack supports operations of the VeraSol Quality Assurance program, including customer communication, test report review, and management of round-robin testing for labs.

Kaileigh Vincent-Welling

Research Engineer, Schatz Center

Kaileigh helps with moving products through the VeraSol verification process by developing product test plans, testing products and reviewing test reports.

Kevin Gauna

Technical Consultant

As a lighting and solar expert, Kevin provides technical support for VeraSol and contributes to technical notes.

Kimberly Thorpe

Senior Energy Analyst, Schatz Center

Drawing on her experience as a project manager and electrician, Kim oversees the communication and test coordination with manufacturers and labs, reviews and interprets test reports, and provides day-to-day support of VeraSol.

Leigha Roeder

Research Engineer, Schatz Center

Leigha supports the VeraSol Project by creating test plans, reviewing test reports, customer communication, and other tasks throughout the VeraSol certification process

Lisa Kahuthu

Communications Associate, CLASP

Lisa leads all communication efforts under VeraSol, ensuring that key insights gleaned from the program are communicated effectively.

Meg Harper

Senior Research Engineer, Schatz Center

With over 11 years of experience in off-grid energy, Meg manages revisions to standards and test methods for off-grid products and assists with day-to-day activities related to quality verification.

Mei Wan

Communications Consultant

Based in Shanghai, China, Mei is a communications consultant working on VeraSol’s engagement in China. She works with the VeraSol Communications team to effectively engage Chinese stakeholders and build growing recognition of the VeraSol brand in China.

Olakunle Owoeye

Policy Consultant

Olakunle is a sustainable energy expert, and supports Verasol in the development and implementation of quality standards for Solar PV systems in the ECOWAS region of Sub-Sahara Africa.

Tom Quetchenbach

Research Engineer, Schatz Center

A research engineer at the Schatz Center since 2011, Tom assists with development and validation of test methods, apparatus, and data analysis tools and provides technical support to test laboratories.