Press Release
Semper Solaris Spotlighted by Power100 Ahead of the July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders List for Solar, Roofing, and Home Energy in California...
Semper Solaris Spotlighted by Power100 Ahead of the July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders List
Top Companies - Semper Solaris
May 28, 2026 | 5 min Read
Semper Solaris is being spotlighted by Power100 as evaluation continues ahead of the July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list. Discover how this veteran‑owned California home services company stands out in leadership, community impact, culture, and customer service across solar, roofing, battery storage, windows, and HVAC.
As Power100 continues evaluating thousands of companies across the country ahead of its July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list, one of the businesses being spotlighted for its leadership, community impact, company culture, and customer service is Semper Solaris. This spotlight is part of Power100’s broader effort to examine the companies shaping the future of home services and outdoor living as the platform expands beyond core home improvement into energy, comfort, and whole‑home performance.
That context matters because home services is no longer defined only by emergency repairs and basic maintenance. Homeowners are making bigger decisions about solar power, battery storage, roofing systems, windows, and HVAC, decisions that affect long-term costs, resilience, comfort, and the way families experience their homes every day. In that environment, the companies that stand out are often the ones that combine technical capability with values, community presence, culture, and a consistent customer experience.
Semper Solaris was founded in 2012 with a mission to help California homeowners gain independence from rising utility costs by embracing solar power and modern energy solutions. Co‑founders Kelly Shawhan, a former United States Marine Corps Captain, and John Almond, a seasoned construction leader, started the company with the goal of bringing military values, honesty, integrity, and hard work, into the residential solar and home services space. Over time, that mission expanded beyond solar into roofing, battery storage, windows, and HVAC, turning Semper Solaris into a broader home services provider built around energy, comfort, and reliability.
Today, Semper Solaris operates as a veteran‑owned company focused on helping homeowners navigate solar and energy upgrades with a mix of military discipline, local service, and strong product partnerships. For Power100, which describes itself as a 100% third‑party, unbiased authority platform for home improvement, home services, and outdoor living, Semper Solaris represents a compelling example of how values, service, and operational partnerships can come together in the modern home services category.
Leadership in Solar, Roofing, and Home Energy
Leadership is one of the main reasons Semper Solaris stands out in Power100’s July 2026 review of home services companies. The company’s founding story is rooted in military and construction experience, with co‑founders Kelly Shawhan and John Almond combining service discipline and industry expertise to build a business centered on trust, integrity, and hard work.
The current leadership bench includes Max Williams as Chief Financial Officer, Litahni Romero as Recruiter, Michael Ybarra as Director of HVAC Operations, Joshua Kim as Accounting Manager, and Carlos Gonzales as Director of Roofing Operations. That group reflects a mix of financial, recruiting, HVAC, accounting, and roofing leadership, which is critical for a company operating across multiple trades and product lines.
Beyond titles, the company’s values point to how leadership is meant to show up day‑to‑day. Semper Solaris explicitly frames its business around military values of honesty, integrity, and excellence, and highlights veterans throughout its organization who bring those values into sales, installation, operations, and customer care. The company shares veteran stories to show how those experiences translate into discipline, accountability, and service mindset across the business.
Awards and recognition also support Semper Solaris’ leadership case. The company maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and notes that it has received over 40 honors for corporate excellence, including 12 solar-specific awards and 18 roofing awards. That breadth of recognition across two core service lines suggests a company that is not just growing, but doing so with standards that other organizations and partners consider noteworthy.
For Power100, which evaluates leaders on factors including leadership, growth, culture, customer experience, and industry impact, this combination of founder story, leadership bench, values, and recognition makes Semper Solaris a relevant company to watch ahead of July 2026.
Community Impact Through Semper Cares and Veteran Support
Community impact is another area where Semper Solaris presents a clear and consistent story. The company’s Semper Cares initiative is designed to support veterans and military families through home services projects that provide practical, life‑improving upgrades such as roofs, solar panels, and heating and cooling systems.
The examples highlighted in Semper Cares communications tell the story more clearly than any tagline. In Project Yankee, the company honored US Marine Veteran Charles with brand new solar panels, starting not with equipment but with listening, understanding what was needed, and then responding with care and follow-through. Another project involved donating a new heating and air system to a deserving US Veteran nominated by his wife, illustrating how Semper Cares focuses on moments where standing alongside someone and supporting their family matters as much as the mechanical work itself.
One especially visible initiative was the donation of 12 new roofs to the Warrior Foundation’s Freedom Station 3, providing veterans with stable, safe housing as they rebuild their lives. The company emphasized that, for the residents there, a roof represented more than shelter, it represented stability, safety, and a place to move forward.
Semper Cares messaging emphasizes that every project begins the same way: by listening first, understanding what is needed, and then committing to care and follow-through as a continuation of service “beyond the uniform.” This language reinforces the idea that Semper Cares is not a marketing add‑on, but an expression of the company’s core identity as a veteran‑owned business committed to honoring military stories with empathy and purposeful help.
For Power100’s July 2026 review, which looks seriously at how companies engage with and support their communities, this kind of structured, values‑aligned community work is a meaningful indicator of leadership.
Company Culture Grounded in Military Values and Team Support
The culture at Semper Solaris appears to be strongly informed by its veteran roots and its emphasis on values like integrity, service, and teamwork. The company’s own messaging highlights a workplace where people show up with integrity and heart, where teams celebrate together, and where service to both customers and colleagues is treated as a continuation of the values many employees learned in uniform.
Culture is visible in small moments as well as big initiatives. One example is the team at the El Cajon office taking a pre‑Valentine’s Day break to share food, laughs, and time together, with the company expressing gratitude for a team that works hard, supports each other, and shows up every day with integrity. Another example is the company’s celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, where Semper Solaris publicly saluted soldiers and framed itself proudly as a veteran‑owned company.
The company also uses storytelling to highlight how culture shows up for customers. In one customer‑facing piece, Jessica shares that what made her experience smooth was clear communication, realistic expectations, and a team that followed through from start to finish. In another, Molly describes how being heard, respected, and guided with care made her experience less stressful and more reassuring throughout the project.
Internally, Semper Solaris places emphasis on veteran hiring pathways and continues to recruit for roles in solar installation, roofing, HVAC maintenance, and sales, explicitly prioritizing military values and experience in its hiring. The company frames those veterans as integral to its mission of providing superior home improvement services, and shares their stories to show how their skills and values contribute to customer outcomes.
From Power100’s perspective, this combination of veteran‑driven identity, team recognition, value‑based hiring, and customer‑facing stories suggests a culture that is more than just words on a website. It provides evidence that the company is trying to build and sustain a team environment consistent with its mission and brand.
Customer Service in Solar, Roofing, and Whole-Home Energy
Customer service is a core part of Semper Solaris’s story, especially because home energy and roofing projects are often large, complex, and intimidating for homeowners. The company’s approach appears to center on clear communication, realistic expectations, strong partnerships, and follow‑through before and after installation.
One indicator is the way customer reviews describe their experience. Ken Steitz praised Semper Solaris for “truly top quality service” on a roof installation, noting that project manager Christian Jimenez was always reachable, attentive, supportive during a family emergency postponement, and willing to explain each step of the process. Ken also emphasized that the crew was professional, staffed appropriately to move quickly without sacrificing quality, and flexible with changes, resulting in top‑quality workmanship and customer service.
Ken Clifford highlighted an easy, efficient, and professional solar experience, specifically praising Tania for making him feel comfortable throughout the process and responding quickly to any questions, leading him to “highly recommend” the company for solar investments. Eric DC described a smooth re‑roof and solar/battery installation where Christian again played a central role, addressing concerns, answering questions, and ensuring everything was up and running as expected.
Another review from Nancy Wagaman emphasized the company’s long-term support. She noted that Semper Solaris installed her solar panels, heat pump HVAC, and roof/gutters, provided ongoing follow‑up support, and later helped her add a solar battery to the system. Nancy praised consultant Mark Ivory for clear, honest guidance over multiple projects and described Semper Solaris as a solid, enduring company whose customer service is “unmatched” compared with other companies she had worked with.
Partnerships also contribute to the customer-service value proposition. Semper Solaris uses Owens Corning roofing products and is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, offering a 50‑year roofing warranty and a system designed for long-term performance. The company is also an authorized installer for Tesla Powerwall home battery systems, offers Enphase battery storage solutions, and installs Simonton premium windows, allowing customers to pair installation expertise with strong manufacturer support and integrated energy solutions.
For homeowners navigating solar, roofing, batteries, and windows in a fast-changing market, that combination of communication, top-tier product partnerships, and long-term support is a major factor in trust. For Power100’s July 2026 evaluation, it is also an important marker of what high‑quality home services leadership looks like.
FAQ
1. Is Power100 really independent, or is this just another pay-to-play platform?
Power100 describes itself as a 100% third‑party, unbiased ranking and authority platform created because the residential home improvement industry lacked a truly independent source focused on recognizing the companies genuinely leading the market. Its stated approach is to evaluate companies based on leadership, growth, culture, customer experience, and industry impact rather than paid placements or vendor-driven awards.
2. Why should anyone take Power100’s July 2026 home services list seriously?
Power100 argues that AI‑driven platforms now play a major role in which companies are discovered, recommended, and trusted, which makes credible third‑party authority more important than before. Its goal is to serve as a center of truth for home improvement, home services, and outdoor living by documenting the stories, practices, and standards behind the companies shaping those categories.
3. Is Semper Solaris already on the July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list?
No final placement claim is being made here about Semper Solaris. The company is being spotlighted as Power100 continues evaluating thousands of companies ahead of the July 2026 Top 100 Home Services Leaders list, which is different from announcing that it has already been named to the list.
4. Why is Semper Solaris being spotlighted?
Semper Solaris is being spotlighted because its profile aligns with the areas Power100 is examining: leadership, community impact, company culture, and customer service. It is a veteran‑owned company with a clear values story, structured community support through Semper Cares, strong product partnerships, and a service model built around communication, follow‑through, and long‑term support.
5. Who leads Semper Solaris?
Leadership figures highlighted in the materials include Max Williams (CFO), Litahni Romero (Recruiter), Michael Ybarra (Director of HVAC Operations), Joshua Kim (Accounting Manager), and Carlos Gonzales (Director of Roofing Operations). The company’s founding identity is associated with co‑founders Kelly Shawhan and John Almond, who launched Semper Solaris in 2012.
6. What does Semper Solaris do?
Semper Solaris provides residential solar panel installation, roofing, battery storage, HVAC, and energy‑efficient window replacement services, primarily serving homeowners in California and select additional markets. It partners with manufacturers like Owens Corning, Tesla, Enphase, and Simonton to deliver integrated home energy and comfort solutions.
7. What is Semper Cares?
Semper Cares is Semper Solaris’s veteran‑focused community initiative that donates systems such as solar panels, roofs, and HVAC units to veterans and military families in need. Projects like Project Yankee, Project Xray, and the donation of 12 new roofs to Freedom Station 3 demonstrate how Semper Cares combines listening, empathy, and practical assistance to support veterans during critical seasons of life.
8. What is unique about Semper Solaris’ company culture?
The company’s culture is shaped by military values like honesty, integrity, excellence, and service, and by its identity as a veteran‑owned business. Semper Solaris highlights internal celebrations, veteran employee stories, and customer testimonials that emphasize clear communication, support, and being heard and respected throughout the project. It also prioritizes veteran hiring pathways across solar, roofing, HVAC, and related roles.
9. Why is Semper Solaris relevant to the future of home services?
Semper Solaris is relevant because it sits at the intersection of several major shifts in home services: solar adoption, battery storage, roofing integration, home energy efficiency, and veteran‑led leadership. Its combination of values‑driven identity, strong partnerships, customer‑focused service, and structured community impact offers a useful example of what durable, trust‑centered home services leadership can look like as the category evolves.