Spotlighting Local Entrepreneurship
Where were you born, your age, and where did you spend the majority of your formative years growing up?
Jeff: Fridley, MN, 29 years old, Oak Grove, MN on Lake George
Jack: I’m 23 years old, born in Fridley, MN, and grew up in Oak Grove, MN.
Describe your time and experience before getting into the solar business and if this is your first venture working together as brothers.
Jeff: Between all 5 of us (1 sister, 3 brothers) we were always working with Mom & Dad on projects whether it be firewood, boat work, painting or anything around the house, we were always actively involved. Nothing business related working together.
Jack: Before starting North Peak Solar, I worked as a full-stack software engineer at Anywhere Real Estate, a Fortune 500 company. I led engineering efforts focused on infrastructure, automation, and product development. That experience shaped the way I think about systems, efficiency, and customer experience. North Peak is our first official business together as brothers. We each bring different skill sets to the table. Jeff brings his field and technical expertise, Sam (our youngest brother) with project coordination and customer management, and me with operations and systems.
Are either of you married? Kids?
Jeff: I’m married to my beautiful wife Kalee, and have 2 beautiful kids – Joshua & Kylee. We are expecting one more child next year.
Jack: I’m married to my wife Alison, and we’re expecting our first child soon. It’s an exciting transition, and it’s added more perspective to what we’re building, not just for customers, but for our own families and future as well.
What do you do for fun as a hobby/passion project?
Jeff: Before we started North Peak Solar, I played Townball (Baseball) for 9 years after highschool. Now it’s enjoying time with family and being involved in our local church.
Jack: I enjoy working on the business not just as a job, but as a creative and technical challenge. Outside of that, I downhill ski in the winter, and my wife and I like walking at local parks in the summer. I also like coding in my free time.
Describe a typical day operating North Peak Solar and your role.
Jeff: My role is overseeing all field operations and material orders. Between myself, Jack, and Sam (Sam is our other brother and 3rd owner) we have conversations throughout the day to make sure we are all on the same page.
Jack: I manage our financials, handle accounting and tax planning, and manage our advertising and marketing. I also work on our website and set up software tools that automate backend and administrative tasks. I’ve been developing a customer-facing solar designer to help clients better understand their system layout and performance before installation.
Describe your background and what specifically led you into the solar business.
Jeff: After highschool, I wanted to pursue something that paid well and was a skill that I could have for working on my personal belongings. I started off at Anoka Technical College, went and worked as an apprentice doing all sorts of different work including: House wiring, remodels, commercial, industrial which really helped me shape the Electrician I am today by getting knowledgeable in those areas and then really concentrating my skills on solar. Over time I passed both my journeyman electrician test, and then my Master Electrician test. I got into solar because it is a well paying industry as well as the work itself is rewarding. By rewarding I mean, the different projects have a technical aspect as well as a cosmetic aspect. Both of which I like.
Jack: My background is in software engineering and business operations. I wanted to apply those skills in a more entrepreneurial and hands-on environment. As Jeff grew his experience in the solar and electrical trades, we saw an opportunity to combine our strengths. With Sam adding strong coordination and client service skills, the timing and fit made sense. That’s what led us to build North Peak Solar together.
What other services does North Peak currently provide beyond solar, and what services might you provide in the future?
Jeff: We provide EV charging services, generators, and other general electric services. We recently have become chargepoint certified. We are the only chargepoint EV certified installer in MN. So we maintain all EV chargers in MN that have anything to do with Chargepoint.
Jack: In addition to solar, we provide EV charger installations, backup generators, energy storage solutions, and general electrical services.
Could you share more about the solar tax credit, which ends this year?
Jeff: The 30% federal tax credit is going completely away at the end of 2025. With this going away, right now is the time to consider going Solar to ensure installment, as Electric Utility applications can take 3 months.
Jack: The 30% federal solar tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2025, but utility approvals and project timelines can take up to a couple months for some utility companies. If someone waits until late in the year, they may miss their window due to delays in permitting, interconnection, or scheduling.
Why will solar remain a viable option even after the tax credit expires?
Jeff: The 30% federal tax credit is a big incentive and should be acted on if considering Solar this year. However beyond this year the solar industry as a whole wants consistent work. With strides in solar technology and it being so readily available, manufactures and installers are working to absorb some of the cost.
Jack: The solar tax credit is valuable, but solar remains a strong investment even without it. Energy costs continue to rise, while solar equipment costs decline and efficiency improves. Solar provides homeowners long-term savings, energy independence, and increased control over utility expenses. At North Peak, we keep overhead low to offer competitive pricing. Beyond individual savings, solar also introduces healthy competition in an energy sector made up of many larger companies, benefiting everyone in the long run.
What is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
Jeff: Costa Rica, went on a missions trip to spread the love of Jesus. While doing so we built a summer camp for young kids and teens.
Jack: Honduras. The landscape was beautiful and diverse, but what stood out was the character and resilience of the people. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of business, but being in a place like that puts things into perspective.
Who is your role model and/or hero?
Jeff: I think everyone is there own individual, so I don’t necessarily have a hero from that perspective, but if you can learn or take something good from everyone, I believe that helps myself become a better individual.
Jack: My former boss, Michael Norgren. He demonstrated servant leadership and showed me the importance of investing in others. He believed in my potential and introduced me to software development, even though the learning curve was steep. His mentorship had a lasting impact on my career and mindset.
What’s the hardest and most rewarding part of your job?
Jeff: Hardest- Coordinating materials, and making sure everything arrives in a timely manner.
Most rewarding – Seeing a completed job.
Jack: The hardest part is balancing the wide range of responsibilities, from financials to technology to customer-facing systems, and keeping everything moving forward. There’s always more to do than time allows. The most rewarding part is looking back and seeing our progress despite the hurdles we’ve come across.
What do you believe your brother’s greatest strengths and weaknesses are, and how do they complement each other?
Jeff: Strengths – personable, staying on track with key topics, punctual, anything computer related, just overall great person.
Weakness- arm wrestling
Jack: Jeff’s strengths are in his technical expertise, his ability to connect with people, and his honesty. He’s fully invested in what he does, which brings a lot of passion and accountability. At times, that level of investment can make it difficult to step back from situations, but that drive is what keeps our business going.
How beneficial do you believe solar power is in mitigating climate change and helping the environment?
Jeff: The sun is an excellent source for generating electricity. Solar panels are fairly simple to install, and with strides in solar technology it is becoming the fastest growing source of electricity in the U.S. I believe with the tax credit going away is that the market will slow down but that doesn’t change that Solar is one of the cleanest ways to generate electricity.
Jack: Solar reduces long-term emissions by replacing fossil fuel energy with clean, renewable power. While panel manufacturing has an upfront environmental impact, the net benefit over time is substantial. By decentralizing energy production, solar also increases grid resilience, encourages market competition, and supports a shift toward more sustainable energy infrastructure.
