Konarka Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Joins Board of Directors at Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

Konarka Technologies, Inc. announced that Howard Berke, executive chairman and co-founder of Konarka, will offer his wide range of experience in renewable energy as the newest member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Board of Directors. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the leading national trade association for the solar energy industry, working to expand markets, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers and improve education and outreach for solar energy professionals.

Mr. Berke completed his four-year term as director at the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to advancing renewable energy.

“It is important that I continue to work with organizations like SEIA that are striving toward the goal of making renewable energy widely available at a competitive cost,” said Mr. Berke, executive chairman and co-founder of Konarka. “I look forward to working with SEIA to promote clean, sustainable, renewable energy sources to be widely deployed in the U.S. and around the world.”

Mr. Berke has nearly 30 years of hands-on management experience launching, building and leading both public and private technology companies, including 20 years of general management with full P&L responsibility for eight start-up companies and nine years of business development and marketing focusing on emerging technologies. He has founded or co-founded 13 start-up companies and has initiated and completed numerous corporate acquisitions, mergers and R&D joint ventures in the U.S., Europe and Asia. He advises start-up companies and entrepreneurs in a wide range of fields including medical devices, biotech informatics, software, networking, telecom and energy technology. In addition to this work, Mr. Berke is actively involved in the advancement of federal policy making in support of the development, scaling and deployment of renewable energy product technologies.

“The Solar Energy Industries Association is pleased to welcome Howard Berke as a member of Board of Directors,” said SEIA president and CEO Rhone Resch. “Howard’s knowledge and experience in solar energy will complement an already excellent and diverse board. I look forward to working with Howard and all of SEIA’s Board of Directors in promoting federal policies that expand the solar industry and create green-collar jobs across the country.”

The primary activities of SEIA are to effectuate federal policy that reduces barriers and improves market conditions for the U.S. solar energy market. SEIA coordinates with several state and regional chapters and other groups including the American Solar Energy Society, Solar Alliance, Solar Electric Power Association, Solar Nation and Vote Solar along with numerous renewable energy, business and environmental groups.