Mr. Heckeroth is a successful entrepreneur who has devoted more than 50 years of his career to finding alternatives to the use of fossil fuels.
SANTA ROSA, CA, December 02, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Stephen Heckeroth has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Heckeroth is a successful entrepreneur who has devoted more than 50 years of his career to finding alternatives to the use of fossil fuels. In 2012, he founded Solectrac LLC, an effort to begin designing and manufacturing electric tractors for farm and utility use. After garnering several grants from the U.S. Science and Technology Fund and the National Science Foundation and self-funding some of the work, Mr. Heckeroth reached an agreement with an additional company to begin building his electric tractors in 2018. One year later, Solectrac became incorporated as a California Benefit Corporation, labeling Mr. Heckeroth as the company's founder and chief executive officer.
Looking toward the future, Mr. Heckeroth aims to begin major expansion efforts with the goal of completely eliminating outdated, gas-powered tractors with solar energy tractors. In late 2020, Mr. Heckeroth acquired a substantial investor, Ideanomics, which acquired 15% of the California-based business to ramp up production, followed by an additional investment in November 2022, totaling a 24% stake in the business.
Apart from his commitments to the solar energy sector, Mr. Heckeroth is a talented and tenured craftsman who has been building furniture since 1972. An award-winning designer, Mr. Heckeroth has notably been featured in several national and international fine woodworking shows and publications and has twice been recognized with a Best in Show Design Award at the Mendocino Art Center in Mendocino, California.
During an earlier stage of his career, Mr. Heckeroth taught various sustainability and renewable energy courses at the College of the Redwoods between 1973 and 1979. During this time, he founded Homestead Enterprises in 1975, which he maintained for more than 25 years and specialized in solar design, renewable energy product sales and installation. He also founded MendoMotive in 1992 where he focused on designing and manufacturing electric vehicles. Furthermore, Mr. Heckeroth served as the director of building integrated photovoltaics for United Solar Ovonic, which was the largest thin-film solar manufacturer in the world and was known for designing PV roofing products, from 2000 to 2007.
Among his many professional accomplishments, Mr. Heckeroth was responsible for working with the city of Fort Bragg on the conversion of the Georgia Pacific mill site and for drafting an electric vehicle charging/parking and solar roofing ordinance for the city of Fort Bragg. He also secured six patents in his field while working for United Solar Ovonic. However, Mr. Heckeroth's most notable achievement was building the first zero-energy home that relies on solar energy and produces more energy than it uses. He notably built approximately 25 passive solar homes during the 1970s and 1980s.
Mr. Heckeroth has served as a founding board member of the Solar Living Institute and as a founding member of the Mendocino Energy Task Force. He has also been active as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and is a life member and fellow of the American Solar Energy Society. Moreover, Mr. Heckeroth has given presentations and demonstrations at events and conferences on sustainable living for over 50 years. He has recently donated and given demonstrations to organizations that help people with the high cost of land and equipment to start small farms in disadvantaged communities.
Prior to embarking upon his professional journey, Mr. Heckeroth received an Associate of Arts at Mt. San Antonio College in 1969, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in architecture at Arizona State University in 1973. Mr. Heckeroth also completed credentials in engineering and related technologies at the College of the Redwoods in 1974 and received a lifetime community college teaching credential for architectural education.
Among his professional memberships, Mr. Heckeroth is active with the Solar Energy Industries Association. Highlighting his achievements, he received an Excellence in Architecture award. Mr. Heckeroth attributes much of his success to his perseverance and desire to continually make improvements in his field.
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