Originally posted 11/3/20
Updated Veterans Day, 11/11/24

As a Veteran-owned company, we’ll take any opportunity to show our appreciation for those who have served our country. Arch has always been proud to hire heroes, support, and employ veterans.

This year, we are celebrating the veterans on our team who are now serving their country by helping Wisconsinites adopt clean, renewable energy through solar with Arch.

Come learn more about our veterans! 

Edward Zinthefer

President and Owner of Arch Electric

Service Background

Ed served in the US Army Reserve for 23 years, spending most of his military career as a Drill Instructor and retiring as a First Sergeant.

Solar Career Pathway

Ed is the President and Owner of Arch Electric Inc, as well as a Member-Owner in Amicus, a national solar installers cooperative comprised of 48 solar contractors across the US. Ed is a Master Electrician and NABCEP certified solar installer, with over 30 years in electrical construction experience, 14 of them directly associated with the solar industry.

As an early leader in the field, Ed shared his knowledge developing curriculum and instructing solar courses for organizations such as Lakeshore Technical College, Waukesha Technical College & the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Program selected Ed as a Compliance Agent to ensure Electrical Code compliance in systems that firms entering the solar installation industry installed.

From 2003-2016, Arch installed over 1.8MW of cumulative small distributed solar generation. In 2017 alone, Arch had installed over 1.8MW of solar energy, providing a snapshot of the industry’s growth in SE Wisconsin. In 2020 Arch will have installed ~25MW of solar.

Terry Hamer

Executive Officer – Navy Reserve CNE CNA – N3 
General Manager – Arch Electric 

Service Background

I served on active duty in the US Navy for 11 years as a submariner. My first tour was on the USS PENNSYLVANIA (SSBN 735) with a second sea tour as the Navigator on the USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688). I left active duty in 2013 and continued service as a US Navy Reservist.

I have served 11 years in the reserves supporting CTF34 in Pearl Harbor HI and US SIXTH FLEET in Naples, IT. In 2020, the military recalled me to active duty to serve as the Chief of Regional Operations for Train, Advise, Assist Command – Capital (TAAC-C), a Turkish Army-led NATO unit headquartered at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Solar Career Pathway

I began my journey in solar photovoltaic (PV) construction in 2013, partnering with a fellow US Navy veteran who founded a solar PV construction company. My initial role was as a project manager, where I oversaw the installation of solar PV systems on Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals across the United States. In 2021, I earned my certification as a master electrician, further enhancing my expertise in the field.

Throughout my career, I have embraced various roles within small businesses, contributing to their growth and success. My experience includes serving as Site Superintendent, Project Manager, Director of Operations, and General Manager. Each position has allowed me to leverage my leadership skills to drive projects forward and foster team development.

Advice for Solar Veterans Entering the Workforce

There are numerous career opportunities well-suited for solar-ready vets, particularly in fields that align with the technical skills honed in military service. The expertise gained from US Army Engineer Brigades and US Navy Seabees translates seamlessly to civilian roles, equipping you for success in various industries.

Senior enlisted personnel and junior officers are exceptionally well-prepared for project management positions, where their leadership and organizational skills shine. This sector is experiencing rapid growth, offering abundant opportunities for those who seek meaningful work that echoes the noble causes that inspired their military service.

By finding the right organization that values your experience, you can embark on a rewarding civilian career that builds on your military foundation.

Kurt Schommer

US Navy – Aviation Electrician
Director of Operations – Arch Electric

Solar Career Pathway

I began working with a solar company in California called Solar City, which was later acquired by Tesla. I started working there as a solar installer while I was taking college courses to complete my bachelor’s in business management. I began working as an installer.

I became a roof lead, and later started to work in internal maintenance, like O&M. I studied for and passed my journeyman’s exam shortly after completing my degree.

I continued to work in solar, and I eventually became a Powerwall crew lead. During the last few years, I managed my crew and assisted in managing a few other crews.

I have been looking for an opportunity to return to Wisconsin, and after ten years I found Arch O&M. I began working here in August 2024, and I am really enjoying the work culture and all the experiences here.

Advice for Solar Veterans Entering the Workforce

If you begin to work in solar, the sky is the limit. This industry rewards hard work and perseverance well. No matter how you begin to work in solar, it is an exciting place to be. Technology is continuously improving, so you will always find something interesting to work on. 

Chadd Breit

Site Superintendent & Journeyman Electrician 

Military Background

Chadd joined the Army on August 25, 1994, after high school as an Infantryman, and retired on November 30, 2018. He is a proven leader with over 20 years of supervisory and leadership skills in challenging and hazardous work environments. Chadd has 5 combat deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn; in total Chadd spent 49 months in combat operations. 

Solar Career Pathway

Chadd joined Arch Electric in 2018 as a residential installer. He continued his new career with Arch as a commercial installer, electrical apprentice, project manager, journeyman electrician, and site superintendent. He enjoys the challenges of larger utility size projects along with the problem solving involved.

He takes pride in the quality of products and installation his team provides for customers. Chadd is passionate about being detail-oriented, sharing knowledge, and the chance to mentor those around him. Arch Electric is growing and opportunities for growth and development are plentiful for those who deserve and desire them. 

Advice for Solar Veterans Entering the Workforce

If you are interested in solar but feel you don’t have the experience, you are wrong! The military has trained and taught you skills that ALL employees desire: discipline, reliability, critical thinking, commitment, and ability to work as a team to name a few.

If you are a service member who wants to work in the solar field, you possess important skills; you can easily learn or acquire job-specific skills through classes, school, continued education, mentors, and peers. Take the chance; I did and I’m happy to call this a career. 

Josh Hooper

EHS Specialist
Retired Navy Chief

Service Background

I spent 20 years as a shipboard firefighter, structuring my entire career around addressing and removing hazards before they became issues. Safety has always been a priority in my line of work. Making the transition from the military into the safety field very smooth. 

Solar Career Pathway

My particular path was less about the solar and more about the opportunity to reinvent Arch’s safety culture, ensuring that our personnel go home in as good a shape or better than they did when they arrived on site. 

Advice for Solar Veterans Entering the Workforce

Don’t hesitate! Most of the people I served with enjoyed the fact that no two days were ever the same. Neither is working in the solar industry.

We’re constantly turning over new projects and getting new opportunities. Additionally, the people within the industry genuinely care about the bigger picture.  

Riley Strohmenger

Electrical Apprentice – Arch C&I

Service Background

Riley underwent Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Lee, VA from October 2014 through September 2015. He worked as an Allied Trades Specialist, performing welding and machining, and then retrained as an 88U Railway Adviser. As a US Army Reserve member, Riley still serves in the 757 Expeditionary Rail Center, the only rail unit in the entire US Army.

Solar Career Pathway

Riley decided to pursue a one-year Electrical Trade Program at Fox Valley Technical College, covering residential and commercial electric trade as well as solar and renewable energy. He had a blast learning about renewable energy, installing panels on a mock-up roof, and wiring and mounting an inverter. He liked the idea of helping to move the world in a “greener” direction, so he applied to be a solar installer at Arch Electric.

Advice for Solar Veterans Entering the Workforce

The military taught me to easily work with others and how to adapt, improvise, and overcome any adversity. This comes into play all the time at Arch. From having to work with new people to run into problems on-site, I consider myself lucky to have been well prepared by the Army to be able to work and problem-solve with others.

If you are willing and eager to learn, solar is right for you. To any veteran considering solar, or Arch for that matter, I highly recommend it. It is a growing industry that needs good workers, solid leaders, and people that can think outside of the box.