As a business owner, Solar States CEO Micah Gold-Markel is looking to create a profitable business. After founding software and web design firm avEIGHT in 1998, he set out to design applications and strategies for Philadelphia’s sustainable business community. Now entering its 12th year, avEIGHT is still going strong.

A lifelong Philadelphian, homeowner and landlord, Micah has a personal stake in seeing the city of Philadelphia flourish. As a board member of the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association, he approved the new greening and zoning plans for Northern Liberties.

As the son of an education researcher, Micah has had a passion for education all his life. He has experience as a web design teacher at Germantown High here in Philadelphia. Currently, he sits on the NLNA education committee, working to increase community involvement in the Philadelphia public school system.

But how could these seemingly disparate interests; education, urban planning and sustainability be focused into one unified venture? Like a shaft of light onto a PV panel, Solar States was born.

After seeing a presentation by the author of The Green Collar Economy, Van Jones, Micah saw that his passions could be connected through a sustainable business venture that was at once educational, profitable and beneficial to the community. After speaking with teachers, researchers, scientists, state representatives, and business leaders to help focus the goal of Solar States, his company is now ready to be a leader in the Green Collar Economy both here at home and across the country.

 

 

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