SunPeak President Named Finalist for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Midwest Award

Chad’s selection reflects more than a decade of entrepreneurial leadership that has helped shape SunPeak from an emerging solar company into an established commercial energy provider. Along the way, the company has expanded its capabilities, strengthened its team and continued to grow in an industry defined by rapid change.

Building for Long-Term Growth

Chad’s role in SunPeak’s growth is rooted in a career that has consistently combined engineering and entrepreneurship. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and an MBA in entrepreneurship from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Chad founded and successfully managed two companies before turning his attention to commercial solar. His career reflects a longstanding interest in emerging technologies and their potential to solve practical business challenges.

When Chad co-founded SunPeak in 2014, solar was becoming increasingly cost-effective and businesses were showing greater interest in generating their own renewable energy. His combination of engineering and business experience helped shape SunPeak’s approach from the beginning: disciplined processes, high standards for quality, and a focus on delivering measurable long-term value for customers. Incentives could strengthen the economics, but the underlying project still needed to make business sense.

One of SunPeak’s earliest opportunities reflected that philosophy. Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program offered grant funding for solar projects, but the application process was complex and time-consuming for businesses to navigate. Chad saw an opportunity to make the process easier, and SunPeak began preparing grant applications for prospective customers at no cost and with no obligation. In 2015, prospective SunPeak customers secured more than half of the statewide grant funding, accelerating the company’s early growth and building trust with customers. That hands-on support remains part of SunPeak’s approach today, as SunPeak project developers research available incentives and complete applications on behalf of customers as an included service.

SunPeak’s growth has unfolded against a backdrop of significant industry change. Tariffs, supply chain disruptions, the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts in federal clean-energy policy have repeatedly affected project economics, equipment availability and customer decision-making. While many solar providers have struggled, consolidated or exited the market during periods of industry volatility, SunPeak has continued to grow.

Chad’s leadership through those changes has centered on building a team and business model capable of adapting. SunPeak steadily expanded its internal expertise and today self-performs construction with in-house engineering, installation, and operations and maintenance teams. That integrated structure gives the company greater control over quality, schedules, and long-term system performance while helping its team respond as market conditions and customer needs evolve.

More recently, federal policy has reshaped the commercial solar market once again. The Inflation Reduction Act created significant new opportunities for businesses investing in solar, while subsequent changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act altered the outlook and timelines for future projects. Through each shift, Chad and SunPeak’s leadership team have focused on helping customers understand what changing market conditions mean for their projects while keeping the company positioned for long-term success.

As SunPeak has grown, Chad’s role has evolved from being involved in all aspects of the business to building a leadership team capable of guiding the company forward in its next stage of growth. He has surrounded himself with people who share his emphasis on accountability, creative problem-solving, and following through on commitments. That mindset has helped shape a culture focused on thinking like an owner, creating a great experience for customers, and taking long-term responsibility for the work SunPeak delivers.

That foundation has helped SunPeak remain resilient through more than a decade of industry change while continuing to strengthen its capabilities and serve a growing customer base. As energy demand and costs rise, SunPeak is well positioned to help more businesses reduce expenses, improve energy resilience and invest in solar and battery storage solutions. The company’s continued success reflects both Chad’s entrepreneurial leadership and the strength of the team and culture he has helped build around a shared commitment to operational excellence, customer value and standing behind the work SunPeak delivers.

Selection Process

To be named a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, candidates must be nominated and progress through an extensive application, interview and evaluation process. The program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate vision, leadership, innovation and the ability to create meaningful, lasting impact through the organizations they lead.

Chad’s selection as a 2026 Midwest finalist is a significant recognition of the entrepreneurial leadership that has shaped SunPeak over more than a decade. It also reflects the strength of the company, team and culture that have grown alongside that vision. Being named among the region’s leading entrepreneurs is an important milestone for Chad and SunPeak, and a meaningful acknowledgment of the work that has positioned the company for its next chapter of growth.