Advisory Fellows
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The Center for Next Generation Photovoltaics has assembled a group of dedicated advisory fellows to contribute towards the long term growth and strategic development of the Center. Fellows serve on a volunteer basis and are committed to the center as a whole.
Ron Van Dell
With more than 30 years of experience, Ron Van Dell has an exceptional track record of success and proven leadership skills in early-stage, turn-around and established businesses. His background covers a broad range of industries in semiconductors and electronics – power, communications, computing, industrial control, electrical distribution and clean tech. As President and CEO of SolarBridge Technologies, Van Dell led the development and launch of a ground-breaking microinverter solution for AC Solar Modules, reaching eight digits in sales, while raising four rounds of funding. Before SolarBridge, Van Dell served as President and CEO at Primarion (sold to Infineon), President and CEO at Legerity, General Manager for Dell Computer’s Dimension Line of Business ($6B in sales), and VP-GM of the Communication Products Business at Harris Semiconductor (now Intersil Corporation). He also held previous international management positions in the U.S. and in Europe at Groupe Schneider, Square D Company and General Electric.
Van Dell graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, with honors, from Michigan Technological University and was a member of Eta Kappa Nu. He received Key Technologist and Management Awards at General Electric, served on the Board of Directors - NC State University Engineering Foundation, on the Europe Committee of the Confederation of British Industry, was
Cited as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum and Co-chaired Session on High Performance Teams at the World Economic Forum, served as Chairman’s Delegate to the US-ASEAN Business Council, received the first-ever Technology Achievement Award by B’nai B’rith International, was inducted into ECE Academy - Michigan Technological University and has served on both public and private company Boards of Directors.
More recently, Van Dell continues to serve on the Industrial Advisory Board for the College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University, served as Chairman of the Clean Energy Council for the Austin Chamber of Commerce in 2012, was appointed by Austin City Council to Local Solar Advisory Committee in 2012, serves on the Oversight Committee for the M-TRAC commercialization program of the Michigan EDC and as an Advisory Fellow, NSF Center for Next Gen PV, University of Texas.
John King
John King is the Director of Clean Energy and Power Technology at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. John leads collaborative efforts with the City of Austin, Austin Energy, UT Austin's Clean Energy Incubator, The Pecan Street Research Institute, CleanTX, The State of Texas, and other Austin clean energy industry stakeholders in building Austin’s clean energy economy. The Austin Chamber has the largest membership of any other Chamber in the country and provides leadership in the creation of a prosperous regional economy and effective advocacy for its members. Prior to the Chamber, John was Executive Director of CleanTX, the energy and clean technology industry group for Central Texas. As Executive Director, John led the reorganization of CleanTX, transitioning the organization from local event production to an internationally recognized cluster development group focused on strategic partnerships, community development, thought leadership, education, and information dissemination.
A native Austinite, John has been recognized for his contributions to the community by the Austin Business Journal's 2013 "Who's
Who in Energy" List, and by the Young Men's Business League and Young Woman's Alliance as the winner of the 2013 Austin Under 40 Award for Science and Technology. John serves as a Board Director for the Pecan Street Research Institute and CleanTX, as Vice Chair on the Board of the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC), as an Advisory Board Member for SXSW Eco's Startup Showcase, and is a Truman National Security Project Political Partner and a Next Generation Project Texas Fellow. John holds a BA in Religious Studies from Rhodes College and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree of Energy and Earth Resources at the University of Texas' Jackson School of Geosciences.