Haliburton Solar and Wind (HSW) founder, Brian Nash, has sold the business to two long-time employees.
The company announced the news in a media release March 30.
The new owners are the husband-and-wife team of Joel Ideson and Carolina Barberi.
Ideson is a master electrician who specializes in creating off-grid solutions for residential and industrial applications. Barberi will be the day-to-day operations manager.
Nash is remaining with the company in a consultant role for system design and sales.
“The Haliburton Solar and Wind brand is very strong,” Nash said. “The opportunities are significant. The new owners have all the capabilities to take the business to the next level.”
He added his business focus is also changing.
“Working with community colleges, private enterprise and professional associations, I will be providing training and education in renewable energies.”
Nash has worked with Barberi for more than 20 years. He said she’s been a senior elite project manager for complex projects globally for one of his other businesses. He said she moved over to HSW in 2016 and knows the business extremely well.
Ideson has been a controls electrician in challenging industrial environments for many years, Nash said.
“He is a master electrician that brings a wealth of knowledge and capability to Haliburton Solar and Wind.”
Nash said HSW has experienced exponential growth the last several years.
The company was established in 2013 in Haliburton to provide innovative and reliable energy alternatives. HSW pioneered Canada’s first off-grid demonstration center, on the grounds of Abbey Gardens, and went on to become a North American award-winning alternative energy company, specializing in large complex off-grid power systems.
“As our projects became significantly larger and more complex, the business garnered an excellent reputation and word of mouth has spread quickly. For example, last year we completed a large off-grid estate on the southern coast of Nova Scotia,” Nash said.
Nash said he’s confident in the future of the company and looking forward to his own sea change.
“I am really, really excited about the future of Haliburton Solar and Wind. I am also really looking forward to my new opportunities in the training and education field.”
The 100 bear pledge
Barberi said HSW wanted to create a unique initiative to coincide with their announcement.
HSW is pledging to purchase 100 ‘Humphrey’ stuffed bears from the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation. They are then asking the community to nominate frontline health care workers to receive the bears.
“2020 was a rough year for many people in our community. In 2021, we want to spread thanks and kindness to our local frontline workers and HHHS (Haliburton Highlands Health Services) at the same time,” she said.
To submit a nomination, visit HSW’s social media sites and publicly share a story or anonymously submit a name via direct message.
“We want to make this as easy as possible,” Barberi said. “You tell us who deserves it, and we make sure 100 community members know just how appreciated they really are, by sending them a Humphrey the stuffed bear on your behalf. It’s that simple.”
Here’s where to nominate:
• Facebook: facebook.com/ HaliburtonSolarandWind Instagram: instagram.com/haliburton_ solar_and_wind/
• Twitter: twitter.com/YourCleanEnergy or Visit: haliburtonsolarandwind.com/ contact/
