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Paramount Solar - Executive Team

Paramount Solar's Owners and Executive Team members are passionate about providing simple, affordable energy solutions for our customers. Our mission to build a great business with people committed to going the extra mile to save their neighbors money has led Paramount Solar to where it is today.

As a team, Paramount Solar’s employees are dedicated to world class service and professionalism. Our goal is simple, to make a positive impact in the lives of our customers, our local communities, and our environment. Hayes Barnard – CEO
Hayes founded Paramount Equity with a passion to build great businesses with selfless people who are committed to saving their neighbors money. The first division of the company, Paramount Equity Mortgage, was founded in 2003 and quickly grew to over 300 employees serving customers in six states. To date, PEM has completed over $8 billion in loans making it one of the most successful mortgage banking and sales operations in the country. In 2006, Hayes launched Paramount Equity Insurance Services, providing families with cost-effective home, auto, and life insurance policies. Paramount Solar was created in 2009 to help customers immediately reduce their energy bills, protect them from rising electricity costs, and preserve the environment by adopting renewable energy technologies.

Along the way, Hayes and Paramount Equity have both received accolades from the communities they serve. This year, Hayes has been honored as one of Sacramento Business Journal's 40 under 40 and buildOn awarded Hayes the 2010 Global Impact Award. The company was also recognized as a New California 100 Innovative Business by Golden Capital Network and Hamilton Lane and was awarded first place for all large companies at the Sacramento Business Journal's "A+ Employers" awards. Hayes is a current active member of the Sacramento Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization and serves as the chair for the annual Sacramento Liquidity Event. He also serves on the board for the Positive Coaching Alliance.

Hayes graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA in Business Management and Marketing. He established his career in the Silicon Valley at Hitachi Data Systems before moving on to positions with Oracle Corporation. From 1995-2003, he worked in a variety of sales, management, and marketing capacities where he was responsible for Oracle's most strategic global accounts.

Follow Hayes Barnard: Facebook --Twitter -- Linkedin -- YouTube -- HayesBarnard.com -- Google + -- Hayes Barnard Scholarship

Matt Dawson - EVP of Sales
As one of the owners and founders of Paramount Equity, Matt has been responsible for launching many of the company's critical strategic initiatives. His gift for evaluating business opportunities and taking them from ideas to impementation has allowed the company to thrive and grow.

Matt's passion for the environment and talent for business has put him at the head of the energy division at Paramount Solar.

Matt graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA in Finance and is a mortgage banking industry veteran with over nine years of experience in this field. After graduating college, he managed several mortgage banking branches throughout the mid-west. Shortly thereafter, Matt and the other owners began designing plans to open a company aimed at helping homeowners save money. Matt is very proud of the company he and the team have built and looks forward to expanding into other complementary industries in the near future.

 

Michele Magee - Chief Marketing Officer
Michele joined the Paramount Equity team in 2005 as the company's VP of Marketing where she built an in-house advertising agency. In addition to buying radio advertising in as many as 17 cities with nearly 185 radio stations at a given time, she and her team have established the company as a very successful new media advertiser utilizing search, content and lead generation strategies. The team has also produced TV campaigns, automated marketing systems, and various branding packages for Paramount Equity's new entities. She was responsible for implementing database technologies and building Paramount Equity's in-house telemarketing department. She also handles all public relations initiatives and event management projects.

In 2006 and 2007, Michele added direct responsibility for the Human Resources, Asset Management, Business System/IT, Administrative Service, Recruitment, and Legal departments. In 2008, she launched the Home First sales divisions which serve the changing needs of the company's past customers.

Prior to joining the Paramount Equity team, Michele worked in radio sales and station management capacities for EZ Communications, American Radio Systems, and Infinity Broadcasting over a 15-year period. She's owned two companies, including a chain of five retail franchise locations and a magazine publishing company. Michele graduated from the University of the Pacific with a BS in Business Administration and Marketing.

Oliver Koch - Chief Operating Officer

Oliver Koch joined Paramount Equity as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Oliver moved his family from Australia to be a part of the Paramount Equity team as he shares his passion for excellence in customer service with this growing company. Oliver brings a wealth of business knowledge to Paramount and will drive the national expansion of their solar, mortgage and insurance divisions.

Oliver has an extensive background in international business operations and management. He started his career at Bertelsmann Group, a multinational outsourcing and media corporation where he spent almost 10 years in a number of strategic roles in different subsidiaries including, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, and CEO & President. Oliver was instrumental in improving processes throughout Bertelsmann, including, overall customer service satisfaction, call center improvements, implementation of large scale logistics projects, restructuring, productivity increase by leveraging state of the art technology and IT.

Oliver is a graduate of the University of Munster and alumni of Harvard Business School through the Advance Management Program. He is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Oliver, his wife, and their daughter currently live in Roseville, California.

 

Todd Lindstrom - Senior Vice President of Solar Operations

Todd Lindstrom joined Paramount Solar in February 2012 as the Senior Vice President of Sales. Todd has an extensive background in solar management, sales and design. 

Todd started his career in the solar industry as Vice President of Sales at Electric & Gas Industries Association.  Todd managed a national team that specialized in promoting energy-efficient behaviors with contractors and utilities. At the beginning of the solar boom in California, he served as Vice President of Sales at Sun Power & Geothermal Energy, Inc. There he developed and installed over 5 MW of commercial projects and managed and developed the sales and financing teams. In addition, Todd was a founding executive for Solar Power, Inc. and served as Senior Vice President of this commercial solar company.  He was als the President of their residential division, Yes! Solar Solutions.  Todd was a key contributor to the development and manufacturing of solar modules and racking systems for their commercial, residential and utility projects. This included sales to the Staples Center, Cox Communications, GenCorp/Aerojet Corporation, Raley’s, Fox News Corp, and numerous public agencies throughout the west coast.  Most recently, Todd served as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Sharp Electronics Corporation. Todd was responsible for the development, implementation and management of their new sales and marketing strategy.

Todd works out of the Paramount Solar corporate headquarters in Granite Bay, but lives in Auburn with his wife Peggy.  Todd enjoys working with economic development agencies that promote the greater Sacramento region including Sacramento Chamber, SACTO, Los Rios and more.

Paul Stephan - VP of Sales

Paul has more than 15 years of senior sales and management experience in both the solar and mortgage industries.   On the mortgage side, Paul held key roles at Providian Financial, Citigroup, and Countrywide Home Loans. Paul also worked in management and operations at Paramount Equity for four years in various leadership roles including, VP of Mortgage Operations and VP of Branch Sales Operations.  Paul’s success on the mortgage side of the business landed him a key role in launching Paramount Solar in 2009.  Paul served as Director of Solar Sales with this division until his family was relocated to the bay area in early 2011.  While in the bay area, he served as Vice President of Sales for One Block off the Grid.  Paul returned to Paramount Solar in early 2012 as Vice President of Sales and is now in charge of the sales leadership, development and training of Paramount Solar’s expanding sales team. 

Paul received his Bachelors of Science degree from California State University Sacramento where he graduated with honors.  Paul is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys mountain climbing, kayaking, and mountain biking.  He and his wife Diana live in Roseville with their two children.