// Leadership Team

About

	John G. Sperling, PhD Chairman Dr. John G. Sperling is the founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Apollo Group, Inc. Apollo Group, through its subsidiaries, including the University of Phoenix, is a leading provider of higher education programs for working adults. The combination of John’s passion to consistently challenge the status quo and focus upon pragmatic solutions led to the founding of Southwest Solar Technologies in 2008. John has dedicated his post-academic career to developing market-based solutions that drive meaningful positive social and environmental impact.

John G. Sperling, PhD

Chairman

Dr. John G. Sperling is the founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Apollo Group, Inc. Apollo Group, through its subsidiaries, including the University of Phoenix, is a leading provider of higher education programs for working adults. The combination of John’s passion to consistently challenge the status quo and focus upon pragmatic solutions led to the founding of Southwest Solar Technologies in 2008. John has dedicated his post-academic career to developing market-based solutions that drive meaningful positive social and environmental impact.

	Brad Forst Chief Executive Officer Brad Forst, Chief Executive Officer, joined SST in December 2010. He has over 25 years experience as an executive and CEO with an extensive background in technology commercialization, R&D, manufacturing, energy, law and finance. He was formerly the president and CEO of Simula, Inc., a publicly traded AMEX company based in Phoenix, and president and CEO of Gradient Analytics Inc, Scottsdale, Arizona. He began his career with Shell Oil Company. As CEO he led Simula through a successful corporate turn-around and sale. At Gradient he led the company through a growth period and its first entry into international markets. He has served on four corporate Boards of Directors, including as Audit Committee Chairman of a NASDAQ company. He teaches as an adjunct professor at both the W.P. Carey School of Business and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, at Arizona State University.

Brad Forst

Chief Executive Officer

Brad Forst, Chief Executive Officer, joined SST in December 2010. He has over 25 years experience as an executive and CEO with an extensive background in technology commercialization, R&D, manufacturing, energy, law and finance. He was formerly the president and CEO of Simula, Inc., a publicly traded AMEX company based in Phoenix, and president and CEO of Gradient Analytics Inc, Scottsdale, Arizona. He began his career with Shell Oil Company. As CEO he led Simula through a successful corporate turn-around and sale. At Gradient he led the company through a growth period and its first entry into international markets. He has served on four corporate Boards of Directors, including as Audit Committee Chairman of a NASDAQ company. He teaches as an adjunct professor at both the W.P. Carey School of Business and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, at Arizona State University.

	Josh Rosen Vice Chairman & Acting Chief Financial Officer Josh Rosen, Vice Chairman & Acting Chief Financial Officer, was formerly a Director-level research analyst at Credit Suisse in the Equity Research Department, lending his rigorous analytic and decision making background and capital markets experience to the Southwest Solar executive team.

	Herb Hayden, PE Chief Technical Officer Herb Hayden, Chief Technical Officer with SST, is a recognized expert and advocate of solar energy. He spent more than 15 years directing the solar research and development program for Arizona Public Service (APS), the largest electric utility in Arizona. Herb managed the APS Solar Test and Research (STAR) center, a unique research facility devoted to real-world demonstration of solar technologies and innovation. During Herb’s tenure at the STAR facility, he began to explore the potential to combine a solar concentrating dish with a purpose-built gas turbine (Brayton cycle) engine.

Herb Hayden, PE

Chief Technical Officer

Herb Hayden, Chief Technical Officer with SST, is a recognized expert and advocate of solar energy. He spent more than 15 years directing the solar research and development program for Arizona Public Service (APS), the largest electric utility in Arizona. Herb managed the APS Solar Test and Research (STAR) center, a unique research facility devoted to real-world demonstration of solar technologies and innovation. During Herb’s tenure at the STAR facility, he began to explore the potential to combine a solar concentrating dish with a purpose-built gas turbine (Brayton cycle) engine.

	Wesley Smith Director of Business Development Wesley Smith, Director of Business Development, fosters industry relationships, identifies potential market segments and establishes corporate strategy to develop deployment opportunities for the TurboSolar Power System technology. With over twenty years of development experience, Wesley has had direct involvement in the engineering and construction of over $1 billion in infrastructure throughout the United States.

Wesley Smith

Director of Business Development

Wesley Smith, Director of Business Development, fosters industry relationships, identifies potential market segments and establishes corporate strategy to develop deployment opportunities for the TurboSolar Power System technology. With over twenty years of development experience, Wesley has had direct involvement in the engineering and construction of over $1 billion in infrastructure throughout the United States.

	Brad Gray Director of Program Management Brad Gray, Senior Program Manager, is responsible for the overall program management of the TurboSolar Power System development into production. Brad has over 34 years of program management, product and business development, and engineering experience in aerospace defense and space products. His prior positions at Honeywell were a series of progressive responsibilities including engineering, engineering management, product management, sales, and strategic planning in the development and production of both closed and open Brayton turbine engines and state-of-the-art missile and marine defense products.

Brad Gray

Director of Program Management

Brad Gray, Senior Program Manager, is responsible for the overall program management of the TurboSolar Power System development into production. Brad has over 34 years of program management, product and business development, and engineering experience in aerospace defense and space products. His prior positions at Honeywell were a series of progressive responsibilities including engineering, engineering management, product management, sales, and strategic planning in the development and production of both closed and open Brayton turbine engines and state-of-the-art missile and marine defense products.

	Jim Kesseli President, Brayton Energy Jim Kesseli, President of Brayton Energy, an engineering firm focused on the application of gas turbines and heat exchangers within the renewable energy industry, brings an extensive resume of power conversion system development to the power conversion unit (PCU) design. Jim was able to bring forward the vision of a highly efficient, small gas turbine purpose-built for a solar application. Brayton Energy is a talented engineering team specializing in rotating machinery and high-temperature heat transfer equipment.

Jim Kesseli

President, Brayton Energy

Jim Kesseli, President of Brayton Energy, an engineering firm focused on the application of gas turbines and heat exchangers within the renewable energy industry, brings an extensive resume of power conversion system development to the power conversion unit (PCU) design. Jim was able to bring forward the vision of a highly efficient, small gas turbine purpose-built for a solar application. Brayton Energy is a talented engineering team specializing in rotating machinery and high-temperature heat transfer equipment.

Southwest Solar Technologies Inc.