Western says goodbye, good luck to retiring employees
Many an old blues song will tell you that you don't know a good thing until it's gone, and it often seems that way when a talented and dedicated employee retires.
Take, for example, the retirements of Energy Services managers Bob Parkins, of Western's Sierra Nevada region, and Stephen Szarka of the Desert Southwest office. On Sept. 30, Western said goodbye to a total of 68 years of expertise in renewable energy, energy efficiency and customer service. As Energy Services Manager Ron Horstman noted, "Western and Western's customers have recognized and come to depend on Bob's and Steve's professionalism and expertise in addressing energy matters. In a time when some are questioning the value of energy services, both of these men continued to champion its benefits and the need for innovative approaches and solutions to a host of energy issues," he added.
Civil engineer discovers passion for solar energy
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| Sierra Nevada Regional Energy Services Manager Bob Parkins takes measurements on a 1-kW beta test site of advanced technology thin-film PV modules. |
Parkins, who worked 30 years for the Federal government, earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering at Stanford University. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer and was assigned to a research institute as a computer programmer.
Resigning his commission after three years, Parkins became a civilian employee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and got his first taste of public works planning, facility design and construction management. Projects took him to Germany, Turkey and throughout the United States, where he headed up a design and project management team responsible for energy projects on 15 Air Force bases in the Western. "It was during this time that I became interested in renewable energy, particularly the limitless possibilities of solar," Parkins remembered.
In 1990, Western offered Parkins the opportunity to build on his early photovoltaics experience. He joined the Sierra Nevada Regional Office as the area engineering and construction manager. In that position and as Energy Services manager, Parkins evaluated, designed, installed, and consulted on more than 2,500 kW of passive and active PV projects.
"When your career is also your passion, phenomenal things happen. Bob has solved many engineering problems for me and has been a great teammate," observed Rocky Mountain Regional Energy Services Manager Peggy Plate. "I hope Western looks for that kind of passion when replacing him."
Parkins's greatest pride is a 50-kW PV technology demonstration project at the Western regional office in Folsom, Calif. The system comprises six different PV arrays highlighting four different PV cell technologies. The technologies include crystalline silicon, thin film amorphous silicon, copper-indium-gallium-diselenide and cadmium telluride. Parkins devised the project with its three beta test sites to field test new PV module and inverter technology, to develop improved PV mounting systems and to demonstrate PV technology to the public.
Commitment to renewable energy to carry on
A registered professional engineer in the state of California and a certified energy manager, Parkins enjoys sharing his years of solar energy experience and enthusiasm for the technology with others. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Solar Electric Power Association, Solar Cookers International and the Association of Efficient Environmental Energy Systems. He also volunteers for electric utility organizations and boards and several organizations that promote solar energy.
The word "retirement" doesn't accurately describe Parkins' post-Western plans. After a vacation during which he will fulfill his life-long dream of climbing Mt. Kilamanjaro, Parkins will continue to spread the renewable energy gospel as a photovoltaics consultant and look for new dreams to fulfill.
Utility and operations experience leads to Energy Services program
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| Szarka retired from Western Sept. 30, ending 38 years of service to the Federal government in military and civilian positions. |
Another Air Force veteran, Stephen Szarka chose to go straight from high school into military service, beginning 38 years of employment with the Federal government. He was assigned to Air Force civil engineering squadrons, where he worked as a steamfitter and in building maintenance and operations. His tours of duty included Germany and Libya during the revolution that brought Colonel Kadaffi to power.
Following seven years in the Air Force, Szarka moved into civil service, continuing to build on his utility and energy management experience. He held civilian operations positions at Beale and McClellan Air Force bases and Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, all in California. During that time, he also completed an associate's degree in business management at Yuba College in Marysville, Calif.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs' San Carlos Indian Irrigation and Electric Power project employed Szarka as a public utilities specialist from 1990 to '93. He then returned to Camp Pendleton to be the base energy manager. Under his leadership, the base received three Federal Energy Management Program awards for energy efficiency and awareness and the Secretary of the Navy's Energy Efficiency Award. The latter award came with a discretionary fund of $100,000 that the base could use to fund other energy efficiency projects or on-base morale, welfare and recreation functions.
Szarka became the Energy Services manager for Western's Desert Southwest region in 1998. His accomplishments at DSW included coordinating funding for a 4-kW photovoltaic electric vehicle charger station installed at DSW's visitor parking area.
Szarka's efforts to promote and reward energy
efficiency at U.S. military installations continued at Western.
His support was instrumental in nominating the U.S.
Marine Corps Air Station at Yuma, Ariz., for Western's Administrator's
Award for outstanding energy conservation programs.
Retirement for Szarka will be a time of rest and recreation, initially at least. He is considering turning his interest in Native American art and jewelry into his own small business, once he has the time.
Energy Services managers praise Western coworkers
Looking back on their years with Western, both Parkins and Szarka mentioned people—coworkers and customers—as the thing they would miss most in retirement. "I've been privileged to work with highly motivated folks who are dedicated and competent," said Parkins. "It made working a pleasure."
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Steve Szarka (left) and Bob Parkins relax after a Western conference in May 2002.
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"There are people with whom you work well, ones who taught me a lot and who were always willing to help," Szarka concurred. "That's what I enjoyed most about working at Western. That, and helping customers who really needed the Energy Services program. At times like that, you know you've made a positive difference."
Bob Parkins and Stephen Szarka made many positive contributions at Western and throughout their careers. "Their years of dedication and hard work helped to raise the bar to a new level with regard to energy services," Horstman declared.
The Western Energy Services staff knew perfectly well what it lost September 30—two valued and valuable employees. We wish them good luck and all the best for the future.