LOUISVILLE, Colo., March 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 34-year veteran national solar powerhouse, Real Goods Solar (Nasdaq:RSOL), today announced that John Coletta has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer replacing Erik Zech effective late March 2012. Coletta started his career at Arthur Anderson in their audit group where he was a fast riser in the organization. During his nine-year tenure at Arthur Anderson, he worked with clients from both the engineering and construction sector, among other industries. After leaving Arthur Anderson, John spent 14 years as a CFO, including 10 years as the CFO for the Rock Bottom Restaurant chain, a company with more than 8,000 employees across 30 states and $400+ million in sales.
"With the pace of growth we are experiencing at Real Goods Solar, continuing to develop and institutionalize internal accounting and finance functions is critical to supporting our rapidly changing business," commented Bill Yearsley, company CEO. "John brings a depth of experience that will be critical to meeting these demands."
Real Goods Solar previously announced the 25,000 square foot expansion of its corporate center in Louisville, Colorado to accommodate continued growth and centralization of engineering design, inside sales and other key functions. John Coletta will be based at the Louisville, CO corporate center where he will be responsible for finance, treasury, accounting, and IT. John will also be actively involved with supporting the company's M & A efforts, project finance progression and investor relations. "John has significant experience managing capital structures which will be important at Real Goods Solar as the company continues to expand its national footprint," stated Yearsley.
With the centralization of all finance and accounting functions to the company's corporate center in Louisville, Colorado, former CFO Erik Zech has elected not to relocate from California to Colorado. During Erik's tenure the business successfully grew from less than $20 million to over $109 million in revenues. Erik Zech will leave the company on March 31, 2012.
About Real Goods Solar
Real Goods Solar, Inc. is a leading residential and commercial solar energy EPC provider, having installed over 13,000 solar systems. Real Goods Solar offers turnkey solar energy services and has 34 years of experience in solar energy, beginning with the sale in 1978 of the first solar photovoltaic, or PV, panels in the United States. With 15 offices in California, Colorado and the Northeast, Real Goods Solar is one of the largest residential and commercial solar providers in the country. For more information about Real Goods Solar, please visit www.realgoodssolar.com, or call (888) 507-2561.
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