About Us
We Aim to Build a Better World
Our Mission
Over the past decade, Blue Sky Solar Co has been instrumental in the advancement of the solar industry within the Midwest. We pride ourselves on being innovators in the industry and dedicate ourselves to education and training on the newest technology and incentives. We are grateful for the opportunity to support our communities with their solar initiatives. Our commitment to the larger solar community is displayed through our relationships and reputation in the industry.
Barney Grobstick, President
Barney has over 30 years in the electrical industry and over 9 years in the solar industry completing electrical work for several of the local reputable solar installers. After attending the University of Iowa, he started as a parts delivery person to a local electrical contractor and held every position all the way up to ownership and grew the business from 9 Journeymen to what is today one of the largest electrical contractors in the Midwest. As a local leader for all things electrical in the Midwest including solar, Barney brings his knowledge and experience to guide Blue Sky Solar Co to future success as President.
Raki Giannakouros, VP of Operations
Raki is the founder of Blue Sky Solar Co and is a NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional working in the Midwest. He has been active in the solar industry for over 13 years working on some of the most significant solar projects in the Midwest during this period.
Raki has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and specializes in financial modeling and design of commercial, residential, and utility scale solar and energy storage projects.
Tyler Billmeyer, VP of Service
Tyler is tasked with managing each of our clients’ needs to ensure they are receiving high quality customer service while protecting their investment in renewable energy. Tyler aids in developing short- and long-term maintenance plans to help clients meet investment goals by maximizing the rate of return on each solar array.
Tyler has over 16 years of sales and management experience. Before joining the Blue Sky Solar Co team, he was a leading sales rep for a local solar installer and has provided solar consultations to thousands of customers throughout his career.
Dave Ackley, Sales Manager
Dave has over 30 years of sales experience and has a passion for the solar industry and renewable energy. He prides himself on always having top tier customer service ratings and is always willing to go the extra mile for all the clients of Blue Sky Solar Co.
Tyler Kennedy, Head of Design & Engineering
Tyler is a licensed Master Electrician with an extensive background in commercial and industrial solar applications. He also holds the prestigious NABCEP certification. With over 15 years working as a union electrician Tyler gained experience in a wide range of electrical construction including electronic controls, commercial services, and medium voltage applications. Tyler has over 11 years of experience interconnecting and performing maintenance on solar systems across the Midwest. He specializes in design and integrated SCADA solutions.
Crystal Miller, Lead Service Technician
Crystal has been installing and troubleshooting arrays since 2016 and has experience with many different systems and accompanying components. Dedicated to continuing education, Crystal is currently attending Solar Energy International to acquire certificates in solar installation, commissioning, NEC code, and operating and maintenance inspections. She has completed her OSHA 30 training and is working toward her PV Commissioning and Maintenance Specialist certification, a prestigious qualification, from the highly respected North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). She has also been taking courses in Enphase IQ8 installation and SolarEdge backup interface installation.
Matt Shear, Service Technician
Matt has been in the solar industry since 2009. He has a passion for renewable energy and believes it is the only long-term solution for future energy needs. He has designed, built, and repaired thousands of solar arrays over the years and is highly experienced with all major solar equipment manufacturers. He has the knowledge and experience to diagnose complex issues and resolve them with long lasting and reliable repairs. Matt has a NABCEP certified PV Installation Professional (PVIP) certification which is the most respected certification in the solar industry. Matt earned a BA from Loras College in Dubuque and completed a technical certification from Universal Technical Institute of Orlando, FL.