50 Fastest Growing Companies of the Year 2022
The Silicon Review
In a new world, Solar Optimum is a forward-thinking solar panel company with old-world values. It is a multi-award-winning, manufacturer premium-certified industry leader in solar energy, battery storage, and roof installations for all of California and Nevada. As a vertically-integrated and technology-agnostic organization for the residential and commercial sectors, Solar Optimum leverages the best and most reliable solutions – providing the greatest value to its clients since 2008.
Arno Aghamalian, CEO and President of Solar Optimum, spoke exclusively to The Silicon Review on how he and his company are helping thousands of homeowners in California and Nevada build a better future.
Interview Highlights
Q. What strategies does Solar Optimum implement to materialize its vision of making California and Nevada 100% energy independent?
Our strategy is simple and straightforward. Collectively Solar Optimum’s staff live by our company vision: Energy Experts. Real Relationships. Honest Talk.
To help do our part to make California and Nevada energy independent, we need to be our customers’ strategic advisors when it comes to solar. We pride ourselves on being the energy experts and continually train every staff member in our organization to be specialists in their own right.
Our customers always come first. To earn their respect, we need to establish their trust and develop a personal relationship with each of them. After all, we are working on one of their most proud possessions, their home. It’s important we treat this privilege with respect. Creating genuine relationships with our customers is key.
Honest Talk. We understand there are many other solar providers out there. All of them are vying for customers’ attention and will do and say anything to win their trust and secure their business. At Solar Optimum, we will not make promises or claims we cannot keep.
Q. What groundbreaking and proactive methodology does Solar Optimum implement to exceed customer expectations?
Our partnerships with the world’s leading solar manufacturers go beyond the typical relationship in the energy business. Because of Solar Optimum’s 5-star reputation, our 15 years in the solar business, our unwavering philosophy, and our expertise in the industry, Solar Optimum works closely with our manufacturers like Panasonic, REC, Enphase, Unirac, Tesla, GAF and others in exploring, developing, testing and implementing new, groundbreaking methodologies. Not just with products but with services and processes that enhance customer value.
Like our manufacturers, Solar Optimum is in constant motion to improve our ways of doing business in the solar industry. The term “exceeding our customers’ expectations” means nothing unless organizations like us hold ourselves accountable for putting things in place to make it happen. We don’t take this for granted. We continually push our manufacturers and partners to improve their products, service offerings, warranties, customer service, and the like so we, in turn, can deliver what our customers want and deserve.
Q. What makes Solar Optimum unique, and where does it stand at the moment relative to other participants in the industry?
Nearly 15 years in the making, Solar Optimum has not only survived in this dog-eat-dog solar industry, but we’ve managed to improve every year. Our philosophy of being well-rounded and self-reliant makes Solar Optimum stand out compared to the others. We like to say; WE DELIVER MORE.
Q. No doubt Solar Optimum is charting new territories in this segment. Given how frequently circumstances change, what plans for transformation are you pursuing to remain relevant now and in the future?
Thinking and acting strategically at the executive leadership level is the most important. We remain hands-on in the industry by understanding its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Our executive team is trained to think years ahead, think outside the box, and challenge the norms of the solar industry. By doing so, we’ll continue to be a sharp and dominant leader in the solar industry and be able to pivot along with the industry — sometimes even creating those pivots ourselves as we work hand-in-hand with our manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and partners. As circumstances change, which they will, we try to put the company in the best position to handle the change.
Q. Will your company be expanding, bringing on any new solutions that we should be aware of?
Over the last year, we’ve expanded and improved our serving offerings and geographic territories. In addition to solar and battery storage for the residential and commercial markets, we now offer roofing. And in 2022, we’ve expanded our operations to Nevada. There’s no end in sight. We’ll continue to explore new energy solutions and venture into new territories.
Q. Where do you see Solar Optimum a couple of years from now?
In a couple of years, we see Solar Optimum even bigger and better. We’ll continue to expand our service offerings with more energy-related products, and we’ll undoubtedly explore new territories.
Best products. Best warranties. Best price. Best customer service. These four customer tenets will never change for us.
The Visionary Leader at the Helm of Solar Optimum
Arno Aghamalian is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Solar Optimum. He began his industry-changing business in 2008 and has transformed his vision into one of the nation’s premier residential and commercial solar installers. Today, his business is a dynamic, expert-driven enterprise with a knowledgeable workforce empowered to install solar, battery storage and roofing throughout California and Nevada. He has passionately given back to the community, including charitable work, and leads a forward-thinking company with old-world values — values that have translated into a superior work ethic as well as a dedication to the well-being of the community.