NEXT formally announced the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of three executives with decades of industry experience. The appointments come as the company moves to accelerate its plans to commercialize its novel photovoltaic coating for commercial windows.
Experienced Engineering Leader, Brenton Taylor, Joins NEXT to Accelerate Commercialization Plans
Taylor was a co-founder and the EVP of engineering at Inogen, a Santa Barbara-based global leader in portable oxygen concentrators. He helped grow Inogen from a three-person startup to an organization with more than 1,000 employees and manufacturing and commercial offices across the US and Europe. At Inogen, Taylor successfully designed and brought to market six distinct product lines resulting in more than a million devices now being used by consumers. He helped guide the company from startup through IPO and public company operations.
“Brenton brings an exceptionally rare combination of a proven track record of bringing new hardware technology to market and over 20 years of experience leading a company and its engineering operations through all major phases of growth,” said Daniel Emmett, CEO of NEXT.
Taylor has joined NEXT to help lead its effort to commercialize the technology and develop its manufacturing capabilities. He will also serve on NEXT’s executive team to grow the company and develop its product strategy. Along with NEXT’s CTO, Corey Hoven, PhD, Taylor will be jointly leading the overall co-development and execution on the technical strategy at NEXT. As EVP of engineering, Taylor will help oversee the planning and execution of all phases of the company’s engineering.
Solar Industry Veteran, Terry Jester, Joins Board of Directors
Terry Jester brings more than 40 years of engineering and leadership experience to NEXT’s board in both the renewable energy and solar power markets. With her exceptional operational leadership and solar manufacturing experience, Jester will provide valuable strategic direction and counsel for NEXT as the company collaborates with its supply chain partners to advance the commercialization and manufacturing phases of its operations.
“Terry has a proven record of managing and launching some of the most important solar and renewable energy products on the market today. She adds unmatched operational discipline and the technical and business acumen to bring new and innovative products to market. We’re grateful to have her on our board as we enter this new chapter for NEXT.” Daniel Emmett, CEO
Jester previously served as the CEO of BIA Controls, Inc., a supplier of demand management and building automation systems that manage electric utility expenses. She also served as CEO of Silicor Materials, and the VP of Operations of SolarWorld, Siemens Solar, and Shell Solar. In addition to her executive roles, Jester has served on multiple boards in the energy and semiconductor sectors including the Energy Policy Institute, AmberWave and QESST.
Commercial Building Executive, Kelly Schuller, Joins Board of Directors
Kelly Schuller has more than 30 years of executive experience and a combination of general management, strategy, and finance expertise. He is currently the chief operating officer for SitelogIQ, a private-equity-owned facility and energy services company helping clients make their commercial buildings more energy-efficient, sustainable, and productive with lower cost to operate.
From 2011 to 2021, Schuller served as president of the Architectural Glass Segment for publicly-traded Apogee Enterprises. The Glass Segment included Viracon, the largest manufacturer of customized architectural glass for commercial buildings in North America, with annual revenues of approximately $400 million. Prior to Viracon, Schuller was an associate principal with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company and a CPA and audit manager for Ernst & Young. Schuller also holds an MBA from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.
“Kelly is a stand-out executive in the commercial building industry and has deep roots in the world where our customers and partners do business. His knowledge, network and leadership experience in the sector will prove invaluable as NEXT matures and works to bring our product to market.” Daniel Emmett, CEO
Schuller and Jester join NEXT’s board of directors with Andy Cohen, co-CEO of Gensler, David Smukowski, founder and CEO of Sensors in Motion and former VP of Boeing Ventures, John Sullivan, former director of MMI International and president of Intri-Plex Technologies.
Read the full press release here.