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Robert Blake
Robert Blake
01:10

Robert Blake

Solar Bear

Roseville, MN USA

"If we could get all kinds of different people involved in [solar energy] so they feel like they’re part of the solution too, then we’re going to have a better world."

Career Roadmap

Robert's work combines: Business, Entrepreneurship, and Upholding a Cause and Belief

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Day In The Life

Founder & CEO

I own a solar development company.

01:21

Day In The Life Of A Solar Company Owner

My Day to Day

My day-to-day work primarily consists of meetings and managing a company and nonprofit. I also sometimes attend board meetings too.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Associate's Degree

    Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Minneapolis College

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Business Administration and Management

    Metro State University

  • Graduate Degree

    Advocacy and Political Leadership

    Metro State University

  • Graduate Degree

    Business Administration and Management

    Carlson Executive Education, University of Minnesota

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    After college, I started my career in public safety.

  • 2.

    After a few years, I moved on to work for the USDA, protecting agriculture and natural resources, and providing resource management and policy coordination.

  • 3.

    A combination of things—Hurricane Katrina, Davis Guggenheim’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” and a climate change book I’d read—inspired me to want to make a difference in the climate change space.

  • 4.

    I started learning about solar energy by watching YouTube videos, reading magazines, and attending the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s solar training academy.

  • 5.

    I started my career in solar energy as a senior solar ambassador and solar organizer.

  • 6.

    When my tribe was looking to put a solar system on top of the government center, I saw it as a great opportunity to create Solar Bear, a solar development company.

  • 7.

    In addition to my work with Solar Bear, I’m also the executive director for Native Sun Community Power Development a native-led nonprofit that promotes renewable energy.

Defining Moments

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • Not only do bigger companies try to take advantage when you're small, but being a person of color contributes to me being treated differently. I'm just trying to create a pathway for the BIPOC community to see themselves doing this work.