Ms. Alicia Valdes, President & CEO of Bright Solar Systems was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 1980 from Romanian mother and Colombian father. At the young age of 5 Ms. Valdes relocated with her mother to Colombia to re-unite with her father. Ms. Valdes was raised in Bogota, Colombia where she attended North Gym High School. Subsequently after her High School graduation, she attended Sergio Arboleda University and studied Finance and International Business for a period of 1 year.

 

At the age of 18 Ms. Valdes and her parents relocated to Tampa, FL U.S.A in 1999. Once in the country Ms. Valdes became an International Student at Florida Metropolitan University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. While attending school Ms. Valdes had her own business from the age of 20 to 25 importing clothing from Colombia.

 

At the age of 25 she worked as a Customer Service Representative at Hype Park Insurance, where she was later promoted to Personal and Commercial Lines Insurance Agent and last Compliance Director. In her position as Compliance Director, she made sure that each Company’s Underwriting Guideline was properly followed in order to successfully bind coverage for the Named Insured. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following and pursuing Ms. Valdes long envisioned dream protecting the environment as well as implementing high-end technologies through Renewable Energy, she started a 5 year research in the Solar Industry. She also envisioned a bright future for many students in the solar industry through a long term career path that provides not only for job security to all involved, but an every-day fulfillment of pursuing the biggest dreams and ambition any human could have through his/her work. She believed that billions of individuals worldwide could one day be employed doing what they truly enjoy doing in life and giving their heart and soul to every hour spent at work through a process called “working towards your true passion in life”

 

As President & CEO Alicia Valdes has positioned Bright Solar Systems as primary driving force behind the acquisition of State, National and Worldwide awareness of the importance that Solar Technology has in order to achieve a more sustainable socio-economical and environmentally friendly culture for Residential, Commercial and Governmental customers. Ms. Valdes is a master in overcoming complex business challenges and makes high stakes decisions using experience-backed judgment, strong work ethic and irreproachable integrity.  Ms. Valdes is respected as a proponent of empowerment and accountability.

 

After conducting an extensive local, state and worldwide research, Florida was found losing considerable market share. Therefore, Ms. Valdes adopted a pro-active approach and reengineered the business process, redesigned the commercialization plan, and instilled urgency for financial discipline with the State of Florida. Ms. Valdes has been characterized as a Visionary, Strategist and Tactician.

 

 

 

What is Bright Solar Systems Local

Experience and Involvement?

 

Bright Solar Systems Completed the Encore Solar Park on time and budget for the client on March 14, 2012. Encore is a 30+ Million Dollar project in the heart of Tampa Bay, half owned by Bank of America and half owned by the Tampa Housing Authority.

 

 

Bright Solar Systems Awarded Solar Source as the Top Selective Solar Technology Provider of the Year 2012 on July 19th, 2013 along with client Tampa Housing Authority in Tampa, Fl.

 

Bright Solar Systems was Nominated for the prestigious CREW Tampa Bay "Excellence Award", in the categories of Crew Member Networking Deal Maker of the Year Excellence Award and Sustainable Exterior Excellence Award on December 5th, 2013 in Tampa, Fl

 

Bright Solar Systems worked with the ISES: P.O.W.E.R. at the University of South Florida, a student organization that promotes the knowledge and education of sustainable energy.  Assisted ISES with the mission to inspire an era of solar energy innovation and speed up the transition to a sustainable energy economy.

 

Ms. Valdes was Invited as Guest Lecturer for USF Students in different fields and topics related to advancing education, research, and policy in the Solar Industry in July, 2014.

 

Bright Solar Systems currently employs 9 USF Interns Students that hold the internal positions of:

 

- Marketing and Project Management Executive

- Global Solar Integrator Specialist

- Solar and Environmental Client Relations Executive

- Solar Medical Projects Manager

- Aesthetic Solar Research Specialist

- Aesthetic Solar Cell Specialist

- Aesthetic Solar Specialist

- Solar Commercial Projects Specialist

- Solar Residential Projects Specialist

 

 

 

What is Bright Solar Systems Statewide

Experience and Involvement?

 

 

Ms. Valdes volunteered as Solar Energy Advisor to the State of Florida on July 2011 in order to achieve greater Economic Empowerment for the Solar Industry in the Sunshine State. Ms. Mary Bane (Energy Director) for Governor Rick Scott acknowledged receipt of Ms. Valdes proposal dated July 26, 2011 via e-mail. Ms. Bane’s response and feedback to Ms. Valdes proposal stated the following: The proposal covered a wide variety of general topics tied to a thriving solar industry creating jobs in Florida. The State is trying to identify ways to encourage solar energy and other renewable energy.

 

Bright Solar Systems directed financial and legal negotiations and accomplished the rejection of Investor Owned Utility companies to be established as a monopoly in the State of Florida. Instilled respect as well as leverage for human capital – motivated, mentored and led talented professionals. Lived the culture and led by example. Directed Cross-functional teams using interactive and motivational leadership that spur individuals, clients and organizations to be willingly give 110% effort and loyalty.

 

This success led to the business survival of small to mid-scale Solar Contractors in the entire State as well as protected the rate payers-customers interests by implementing a decentralized market share. Bright Solar Systems has a consistent record of delivering results in growth, revenue, operational performance, and profitability.

 

 

 

What is Bright Solar Systems Federal

Experience and Involvement?

 

 

President Barack Obama issued an extensive letter to Ms. Valdes dated August 27, 2012 in which he kindly expressed his gratitude to Ms. Valdes for writing to him and his Administration. President Obama responded to Ms. Valdes concerns with pro-active solutions that entailed the proposal to double budgets at three key science agencies - the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Laboratories.  

 

The President also stated in his response that “in order to reaffirm our role as the engine that drives science and technology around the world, we must empower our Nation's youth with a competitive education and the tools to make tomorrow's breakthrough discoveries”. Therefore, he proposed programs to help the US meet ambitious goals of training 100,000 new K-12 teachers in STEM subjects and preparing 1 million more American graduates in STEM fields over the next 10 years. Furthermore, the President also encouraged groups typically underrepresented in these fields - including young women - to pursue careers in STEM disciplines. 

 

Ms. Valdes was an honored Guest at the 7th Environmental and Clean Energy Inaugural Ball on January, 2013 hosted in Washington, DC.

 

Bright Solar Systems has 9 additional team members Nationwide and Worldwide that hold the following positions internally:

 

- Director of Franchise Development and Operations in USA

- Solar Event Executive Director in USA

- Content Marketing Specialist in USA

- Commercial Solar Integrator in UK

- Promotional Product and Event Ap Specialist in USA

- Accountant in USA

- Printing and Marketing Specialist USA

- Event Client Acquisition Specialist USA

- Solar Sculptures Specialist in US

 

 

What is Bright Solar Systems Worldwide

Experience and Involvement?

 

 

Bright Solar Systems worked with the Colombian Government and the Chamber of Commerce in May, 2012 in reference to possible solar panel installations in rural areas and various municipal schools that lack electricity.

 

Ms. Valdes was Appointed Colombian Ambassador by the International Green Energy Council on May 2, 2013 located in Washington, DC.   

 

Provided multimillion/billion-dollar sales and installation agreements to Valpak, Cox Media, Pepsi, Grand Central, Mercury Advisors, Grand Central at Kennedy, ZMG Construction, St. Anthony’s Hospital, Howard Johnson Hotels, Bank of America, the City of Tampa, FL U.S.A, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Delhi, India and Nakatsu City, Japan.

 

Developed productive sourcing relationships through North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, South Africa and the Middle East within less than a year of being in business.

 

Within the first 3 years in business, Bright Solar Systems identified and acquired new business and managed all aspects of the project lifecycle-from scope of work through provisions of deliverables, follow-up, and relationship management-for large-scale, long term Projects with an average amount of $1Million to over $100 Billion. Bright Solar Systems consistently delivered mission-critical results driven by visceral “hard-wired” need to strategize, to innovate, and to disprove words “it can’t be done!”. Bright Solar Systems is gifted with the vision, determination, and skills needed for high-level strategies and tactics.