About the Couillard Solar Foundation
The Couillard Solar Foundation promotes the expansion of solar energy in Wisconsin through partnerships with renewable energy focused, Wisconsin-based organizations. Our mutual goal is to help Wisconsin nonprofits, including schools, churches, conservation organization, foodbanks and shelters, as well as other community organizations, join the renewable energy revolution.
Through grants and education, CSF helps to raise awareness of the importance of solar as a way to foster our mutual economic and environmental benefit.
Founded by the Couillard family, CSF is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. The foundation is run by a volunteer board and has three paid staff members and two sub-contractors.
Couillard Solar Foundation Legal Documents
The Couillard Solar Foundation is a 501c3 private foundation. Donations are tax deductible and go to our mission of helping nonprofits in Wisconsin get solar.
Here are links to our legal documents and supporting information for those planning to donate to CSF.
EIN: 82-4111491
The Couillard Solar Foundation is proud to display our Gold Candid Seal of Transparency.
The Couillard Solar Foundation Board and Staff
Cal Couillard – Founder
Cal Couillard, has always been interested in harnessing the power of the sun. As a student majoring in construction administration at UW-Madison in the 1970’s, he built a model of an earth-sheltered passive solar house for a class, later designing and building a passive solar house for his own residence. He enjoyed attending the annual Alternative Energy Festival in town to learn about new innovative ideas and was always thinking about the upcoming energy movement.
In 2017 Cal decided to make his manufacturing company’s building in Edgerton (Componex,Inc.) more energy efficient by insulating with urethane foam and having photovoltaic solar modules installed on the roof. Componex’s array powered the whole factory, charged electric cars, and still produced enough energy to sell electricity back to the power grid.
After the sale of Componex in 2018, Cal was inspired to create the Couillard Solar Foundation, with the mission to help fund solar projects for nonprofit organizations. In turn, the Couillard Solar Foundation became the financial basis for Renew Wisconsin’s Solar for Good program and Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s Solar on Schools program.
Cal is a driven entrepreneur with constantly flowing ideas, who currently co-owns Speed Solar, a business that exemplifies his sustainable values. His vision is to fight climate change by installing roof-top solar, thus improving our planet’s future health, one solar project at a time.
Laurie Couillard – President
Laurie Couillard is the president of the Couillard Solar Foundation, and a retired educator and volunteer who shares her husband’s enthusiasm for protecting our planet. She found inspiration in lessons taught by her parents, her civic involvement as a Girl Scout, and as a G.S. leader to use resources wisely and “leave a place better than you found it”.
In college at UW-Eau Claire, Laurie took a course on environmental science and wrote a short paper on solar energy. She is encouraged by the scientific and technical progress made in renewable energy in recent years. As an avid gardener, Laurie likes to be outdoors and enjoys growing vegetables and teaching children about gardening. Her vision is to share knowledge about how to live as a good steward of the earth.
Claire Lindstrom – Secretary
Claire joined the Couillard Solar Foundation because her dad, Cal Couillard, asked her to be a part of the organization. What may have started as a family obligation, turned into a passion for renewable energy. Claire is excited to be a part of this Foundation and the work it is doing so she can help combat the climate crisis we are facing. She wants to help make this world a better place for her two children, Genevieve and Teddy.
“It is so inspiring to see our projects take off and watch people champion solar projects in their local communities. We truly are changing Wisconsin one solar project at a time!” – Claire Lindstrom
Elise Couillard – Treasurer
Elise is a consultant focusing on renewable energy, agrivoltaics and sustainability. She consults with the Legacy Solar Coop and other green energy clients. Elise has her Master’s in Biology and has always been interested in the wildlife and environmental science fields. She fulfills those passions by communicating about science and watching wildlife.
When Elise isn’t promoting solar, reducing food waste and pulling recyclable items out of the trash, you may find her working on her tiny house on wheels. Ultimately, she centers much of what she does around making a positive impact on earth and reducing her carbon footprint.
Sarah French – Director
Sarah French lives in Eau Claire. Sarah’s passion for CSF blossomed from the Solar On Eau Claire Schools project, where she facilitated the fundraising to install solar arrays on the city’s High Schools, with CSF contributing the solar panels for the project. An experienced fundraiser, Sarah is passionate about nature and the environment, education and literacy.
Mary Holmes – Director
Wendy Kamerling – Director
Wendy Kamerling has owned and operated her own executive coaching and consulting practice, Bridges Consulting, LLC, for over fifteen years. An experienced and accomplished public speaker, Wendy also enjoys conducting workshops, facilitating discussions, and delivering keynote addresses.
As adjunct faculty for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Lubar College of Business Executive Programs group, Wendy has the privilege of working with employees of premier companies across southeastern Wisconsin as they hone their leadership skills.
Prior to starting her own company, Wendy worked for twenty years for global manufacturer Johnson Controls. During her last six years with Johnson Controls she served as Vice President, Human Resources for their global battery business.
Montre Moore – Director
Montrè J. Moore is aresident of Milwaukee, WI, and a devoted father to two wonderful children. Mr. Moore has been an unwavering advocate for urban environmentalism and a catalyst for positive change within his community.
He holds influential positions that allow him to champion environmental and climate justice as the Chairman of the Wisconsin NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee and the 1st Vice President of the Waukesha NAACP. Additionally, Mr. Moore is an esteemed member of the Wisconsin Climate Table, a dedicated Board member of the Fondy Food Center, and a respected Steering Committee Member and Spokesperson of The Environmental Justice and Infrastructure Initiative. He is also an active participant in the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition.
In his professional capacity, Mr. Moore contributes to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission as a valued member of their Public Involvement and Outreach department. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he is fervently focused on creating green job opportunities specifically designed to empower black and brown communities.
Through his multifaceted roles and tireless dedication, Montrè J. Moore epitomizes the embodiment of environmental advocacy, community engagement, and equitable development.
Dana Larson – Director
Dana Larson considers himself a nomad based in Eau Claire, WI. He is passionate about sustainable building practices, and joined the Couillard Solar Foundation’s Board in late 2023, bringing these insights with him.
Ashley Senk – Director
Ashley Senk is a passionate marketing strategist with a deep commitment to social impact and a holistic view of marketing. Ashley believes in purpose-driven marketing that drives business growth while making a positive difference. Her expertise in strategic event planning, onboarding systems, and captivating storytelling enables her to develop comprehensive strategies aligned with organizational values. She leverages storytelling to build authentic connections between brands and audiences.
Ashley envisions a future where marketing inspires purposeful growth and social responsibility. Beyond her role, she actively advocates for social justice and environmental sustainability, contributing to causes that align with her values. Ashley is a true changemaker, dedicated to creating a better world through her actions.
Jackie Harrison-Jewell – Executive Director
Jackie started working as CSF’s Executive Director on Oct 1, 2021 but she has over 20 years of marketing, design and administrative management experience. In that time she’s worked for several nonprofits with various missions as well as organizations focused on the renewable energy and solar markets.
Jackie grew up in a family that loves and appreciates nature and the environment. “I’m so happy that I can come to work each day and feel like I’m doing my part to help Wisconsin deal with the serious climate issues we face today.”
Amer Arafat
Amer studied aeronautical engineering in the United Kingdom before returning to the Middle East to work with the Kuwaiti air force. Amer began working with imaging technologies and machine design when he arrived in Madison, and he met Cal while looking inside a laminating machine in 1995.
Together, the two of them have founded a pair of companies, and they collaborate closely on engineering design, such as the Foundation’s solar pergola.
Amy Brice – Sales Consultant
Amy Brice has a 30-year track record in Sales Development and Marketing, primarily in insurance, focusing on construction, agribusiness and trucking. Amy is excited to speak with sustainability-focused developers, contractors, and commercial builders about adding our innovative canopy structure to their marketing campaigns. She knows that for many, the canopies’ energy production and philanthropic benefits represent additional incentives.
Mark Kovelan – Sales Consultant
Mark Kovelan joined the Couillard Solar Foundation as a sales consultant in 2019. Prior to that, Mark trained as a chemist and provided technical sales support to Varian Assoc., IBM and General Electric NMR. Mark served in the Ohio National Guard for six years and holds black belts in Tae Kwan Do and Okinawan Kobudo. He has honed his woodworking and amateur radio skills for 50 years and is the proud owner of a Couillard Solar Canopy.
Matthew Ploeger – Program Manager
Matthew Ploeger has been dabbling in renewable energy business for nearly a decade. He began volunteering with the Climate Action Mapping Project (CAMP) after running an electric vehicle rental company. This past fall, he joined the Couillard Solar Foundation to develop its new Vernon County farmer-solar program.
Zoe Sullivan – Communications Specialist
Zoe, a Madison native, joined the CSF team in September. Prior to that, she was working as an independent journalist and audio producer. Zoe has produced two audio documentaries for the BBC World Service and is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
Coalition Memberships
The Couillard Solar Foundation is proud to belong to several coalitions focused on the renewable energy transition and climate change mitigation and resilience.