Our People
Officers
Anthony Smith, PhD
CEO & Founder
Anthony brings over 40 years’ experience in energy efficiency, solar energy, and community economic development in Vermont, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. He founded Secure Solar Futures in 2004 and leads the company’s innovation development and strategic partnerships. He serves as a founding board member of the Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance (VA-REA). He served as co-director and associate professor of the Eastern Mennonite University MBA program from 2008 to 2015. He earned his Masters in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from the Wharton School of Management, University of Pennsylvania.
Maggie Davison
Chief Operating Officer
Maggie has spent most of her career in the management and organizational development of small business with a focus on the telecommunication industry. Through her position at Secure Solar Futures, she combines her skill set and passion for a cleaner future to bring positive change to fruition.
Nick Blanton
Chief Technology Officer
Nick leads solar and battery systems design, preliminary engineering, research and development, and project finance. He brings 15 years’ experience in small business formation and management to Secure Solar Futures, as well as a master’s degree in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems from Penn State University.
Staff
Doug Arnold
Solar Ambassador
Doug recently retired, after serving 46 years in construction estimating, project management, and facilities management. His most recent position was Project Specialist for Orange County Public Schools. During his tenure there, OCPS partnered with Secure Solar Futures for roof restoration on three buildings and to install rooftop solar equipment on seven buildings. Doug’s focus in facilities management has always included an interest in cost effective measures to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, supporting climate change mitigation while using the cost savings to enhance tight operating budgets.
Josh Arroyo
Business Office Manager
Josh Arroyo handles day-to-day business office operations and accounting functions. Josh brings more than 20 years of customer service experience in banking and insurance industries. He has spent his last five years working in accounting and business operations for a local real estate company in Staunton, VA.
Erik Curren
Director of Marketing & Education
Erik has spent more than a decade in marketing for residential and commercial solar companies. He has published three books on solar power and advocacy for clean energy, including The Solar Patriot: Helping America Win Clean Energy Independence in 2017. Erik enjoys helping America fight climate change and creating a 21st-century energy economy using the power of business and innovation.
Lisa Farwell
Associate Director of Asset Management
Lisa has spent over 20 years in banking, branch, and operations management with 10 years of project management experience in the financial industry. She enjoys being a part of bringing greener energy alternatives to Secure Solar Futures’ clients and educational opportunities and career development to communities in the region. She values being involved in a growing industry within the purpose-driven framework of B Corp standards.
Matthew McFadden
Director, Business Development
Matthew has over 15 years in project and training management, over 20 years of sales experience, and is well versed in all forms of solar, storage, and energy. He enjoys making history with the first solar projects in Southwest Virginia’s coal country, meeting new people, saving clients money and developing new career opportunities in regions where they may have not existed before.
Greg Mullins
Solar Ambassador
Greg recently retired from public education, having served 39 years in the profession. He was Superintendent of Wise County Public Schools for the past seven years and during his tenure the schools partnered with Secure Solar Futures to install solar arrays on multiple building sites. Plans have been developed for the installation of arrays on the remaining school sites in the near future. Greg has spent his life in a region dependent upon fossil fuel and feels it is important to be part of the transition to green energy, to play a role in the diversification of the economy, and to promote educational growth for local students.
Loren Swartzendruber
Solar Ambassador
Loren served as a college president for 23 years, most recently at Eastern Mennonite University. He is a proponent of Secure Solar Futures’ educational offerings, workforce development projects and support for electric school buses, and firmly believes in renewable energy as the means to address the climate change crisis.
Strategic Partners
Secure Solar Futures brings well-rounded expertise for project development and deployment through proud association with the following firms.





