Owner - Rick Vaske

Rick Vaske, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, began his career in radio in 1999 on the Marconi award winning rock station WEBN. After becoming a multi-market on-air personality and five-time Rock Music Director of The Year for Record & Radio (R&R), Vaske relocated to Southwest Florida to take the role of NTR Sales Manager for Beasley Broadcasting in 2006. In 2009, Rick advanced his broadcast career to general manager of five-station cluster in Southwest Florida. He later shifted his career in radio to begin his solar career with as Marketing Director of Advance Solar & Spa in 2011. After spending 8 months re-branding the company and analyzing operations, Vaske was appointed Director of Operations. 

Over the past several years Vaske has been working on developing solar education for students and the entire staff of Advance Solar, to help ensure safety and proper installation. His quest was to also be on the cutting end of industry-leading products as well as the sales staff to better educate customers. 

This effort has resulted in Vaske leading Advance Solar to become a NABCEP Certified Company, where Vaske became a NABCEP Certified Sales Executive, NABCEP Certified Solar Installer and NABCEP Certified Exam Practitioner. 

Taking solar education to a new level became Vaske’s goal as we rewrote the solar curriculum for The Department of Education. Vaske is the proud owner of the Solar Energy Institute where he teaches this curriculum at The Fort Myers Technical College for the Photovoltaic Design and Installation Course.

Vaske believes that solar is truly making an impact in the world and it is his goal to leave this planet a better place for his young daughter, Mia. That is why sits on the Board of Directors for The SWFL Future Forestry Foundation, where Vaske has made it the environmental policy of Advance Solar to plant a tree for every solar system installed.  

It’s hard to keep Vaske from talking about sustainability and his passion for solar, so he has combined it with his original passion of radio. Catch Rick's podcast on all Podcast platforms:  Watts Up Radio.

Vaske has led the Solar Industry the following awards: six-time winner of the: FlaSEIA: Off-Grid Home of The Year. Lee Building Industry  Association “Green Home of The Year” for Design & Installation, Parade of Homes “Best Upgrade” for Design & Installation of Multi-Solar System Install, two-time winner of Florida Weekly's “Best Solar Company” and Vaske has been featured four-times in Florida Weekly's “Market Pulse”.

With solar on the rise, many unqualified companies, sales associates and installers are joining the industry. This is putting homeowners and consumers at risk of being sold inferior products and receiving unsatisfactory installations. This along with copious amounts of misleading information on social media, and the Internet, Vaske felt it was important for homeowners and business owners who are interested in solar to get the TRUTH and the FACTS about solar, so they can make educated and cost-saving decisions.