News > Watch SUN rise: New leadership paves way for continued growth

Watch SUN rise: New leadership paves way for continued growth

• Solar United Neighbors

August 26, 2024

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) started with a small group of neighbors gathered in a living room, trying to figure out how to get solar panels installed on their homes. Today, SUN educates people across the country about solar energy, leads nine-figure efforts to help low-income families go solar, and gets invited to the White House to give guidance on how to make sure solar energy benefits everyone. 

We’ve come a long way. 

SUN is in a time of tremendous growth and opportunity. We’ve grown from a staff of 35 to more than 70 in the past four years. Now, with billions of dollars of federal investment into solar, the organization is scaling to meet the moment. It’s why we’re announcing two distinguished leaders have joined the organization. Viv Watts is now our Deputy Executive Director. Cindy del Rosario-Tapan is our new Vice President of Communications and Marketing. They bring more than 25 years of experience in change management and operations, as well as narrative change and audience persuasion to SUN.

“The work we do today will shape our energy system for generations to come,” said Solar United Neighbors Executive Director Anya Schoolman. “That’s why we’re bringing in executive leaders who have the experience and knowledge to make sure we meet the moment.”

Viv has helped organizations large and small manage growth and change at every stage of development. Before joining SUN, Viv partnered with nonprofit leaders as a consultant. She helped existing organizations develop and implement strategy and also supported new organizations build and scale. She has worked across a breadth of issue areas including democracy, equitable electrification, and tax law reform. 

“SUN is so compelling,” Viv said. “It developed a powerful model at the neighborhood level and grew to be a national organization. It did this one step at a time: helping groups of people go solar in communities, identifying barriers in the process, and bringing people together in the fight to make solar more accessible. I am so glad to join its excellent staff to deepen the work and scale up the organization to that next level of impact.”

Before launching her consulting business, Viv worked for many years at the Brennan Center for Justice, including as its Managing Director. There she oversaw all aspects of organizational management of a growing, national organization. Viv began her career as a campaigner and community organizer on environmental issues.

Cindy del Rosario-Tapan is an experienced storyteller. She has traveled across the globe, from Fiji to Zimbabwe, to develop and cultivate stories that drive audiences to act. Cindy led teams at Thousand Currents, International Women’s Health Coalition, and held multiple senior communication roles at Columbia University, including the Mailman School of Public Health. 

“Telling stories is joyful,” Cindy said. “The act of storytelling can do so much. It can create understanding. It can build relationships. And, it can drive us to action. I look forward to sharing SUN’s story of helping people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.”

Cindy began her career in media and magazines, including In Style, O, The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and National Geographic.

“With the Inflation Reduction Act in place, SUN is well positioned to help leverage this once-in-a-generation federal investment in clean energy,” Viv said. “We are ready to support a growing and diversifying solar movement – helping more consumers through our National Solar Help Desk, supporting policy fights in new states where we have growing membership, and ensuring communities have a voice in an equitable energy transition.”