Meet the Interns: Summer 2021

PowerFlex

It’s that time again! Each year, we at PowerFlex have the privilege of working with some of the brightest rising stars in the renewable energy industry. Let’s learn some more about this summer’s crop of talented interns. (Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.)

Anthony Gray, Engineering Intern

What are you currently studying/what was your major?

I graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics.  

What interests you about the renewable energy space?

Electricity-accelerated innovation, the creation of new forms of business, and improved quality of life. However, there are many barriers that we still have to overcome with generating and distributing electricity. The most concerning issue is climate change. Renewable energy is building a new infrastructure that will power the future while preserving the environment, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of that journey.  

What have you enjoyed so far about your internship?

I love working with Peter, Vivek, and the business analyst team to design rooftop, ground mount, and carport systems for future jobs. It’s fun drawing up the conceptual design of a future project and helping clients reduce their energy usage while decreasing their carbon footprint. The overall team at PowerFlex is rich with talent and creativity. I couldn’t have asked to work with a better team!  

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I’m a huge music geek. I love listening to subgenres of music and learning why they differ from other genres. My favorite subgenre is shoegaze, and one of my favorite bands is DIIV.

Yazid Mazahreh, Hardware Intern

What are you currently studying/what was your major?

Currently studying Electrical Engineering and working on finishing my master's degree.  

What interests you about the renewable energy space?

As the technology continues to evolve and grow, it just shows how more efficient we can be and how taking care of the environment will benefit us in the long run. My interests continue to grow and evolve as we face and fix ongoing problems that will impact our environment.  

What have you enjoyed so far about the internship?

I enjoyed meeting the faces behind PowerFlex and working alongside them. Working at PowerFlex gave me the feeling of what it's like to be an engineer, to solve problems, and to work with hardware.  

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I like playing basketball and bowling. I also collect $2 bills whenever I can.

Frances Palmer, Market Commercialization Intern

What are you currently studying/what was your major?

I am currently in the Atmosphere/Energy program at Stanford University pursuing my Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering. In May of 2020, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.  

What interests you about the renewable energy space?

After learning early on in my education about the fossil fuel industry’s catastrophic contribution toward global climate change and air pollution, I knew I wanted to pursue a career focusing on technological solutions to mitigate these problems. Through past internships in the energy world along with my current curriculum, I have learned just how exciting the renewable energy space is, as it changes every day to solve new problems and create innovative solutions. I am mostly interested in working on improving behind-the-meter battery storage projects for customers, as I believe battery storage provides the most value in our current electricity infrastructure.  

What have you enjoyed so far about the internship?

I have really enjoyed getting to know my fellow coworkers and learning from their experiences in the energy world. Everyone seems invested in the PowerFlex vision and truly passionate about the products and projects that the company is working on.  

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I lived in Hungary for 5 months and was able to travel all over Europe, including an impulsive hiking trip to the middle of Serbia and an unfortunate trip to a hospital in Italy where no one spoke a word of English.

Ally Schroder, Software Engineering Intern

What are you currently studying/what was your major?

I'm currently studying Computer Science at San Diego State University.

What interests you about the renewable energy space?

It's easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of work we need to do to combat climate change, so I love knowing that my time here is an investment in the future of our planet.

What have you enjoyed so far about the internship?

Learning from my team! I feel really lucky that I've been working with incredibly supportive, knowledgeable people who are willing to take the time to work with me through any problems that I'm having.  

What is a fun fact about yourself?

Unlike most people from New York, I got through this entire Q&A without telling you that I am from New York.

Kevin Shaholli, Engineering Intern

What are you currently studying/what was your major?

B.S. in Electrical Engineering, minor in Environmental Studies.

What interests you about the renewable energy space?

The future of solar for both commercial and residential use and how it will grow!

What have you enjoyed so far about the internship?

Viewing the entire process of a solar project through working with the development and design teams. I was always looking forward to meeting with new people every week and building my contribution to this exciting industry.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

Outside of solar, I love Nintendo!

Sasha Weber, Business Development Intern

What are you currently studying/what was your major?

I’m a rising senior at Barnard College, majoring in Urban Studies (concentrating in Sustainable Development) and minoring in Spanish and History.

What interests you about the renewable energy space?

Right now is a really interesting moment to be in the renewable energy space because the choices that policymakers, businesses, and individuals make about energy will shape the future of the energy grid for decades and determine how we can mitigate the environmental harms of carbon emissions.  

What have you enjoyed so far about the internship?

I’ve loved being part of the BDA team, and learning from and getting to know the team members. Everyone has made themselves so accessible to answer questions and helped me get the most out of every project I’ve worked on. This internship has also taught me so much about solar/renewables/energy distribution in general in such a short time, and has changed the way I think about these topics.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I lived on a slaughter-free dairy farm in central PA last fall. While there, I harvested from the garden, milked cows, and helped raise a litter of kittens!

Brandon Wilky, Business Development Intern

What are you currently studying/what was your major?

Majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Business and Social Entrepreneurship at NYU.

What interests you about the renewable energy space?

I’m interested in the untapped potential that the industry offers, and its ability to help positively impact our planet and society.  

What have you enjoyed so far about the internship?

I have enjoyed every aspect of the internship so far. The BDA team is awesome; everyone is so insightful and caring. PowerFlex has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and the necessary skills needed to be successful within this innovative sector.  

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I once won the July 4th Belly Flop Competition at my neighborhood pool.


We wish all of our summer interns the best of luck in their future endeavors! If you or someone you know is interested in an internship or other employment opportunities at PowerFlex, check out the open roles on our Careers Page.

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