Company: GAF Energy
Company Description: GAF Energy is transforming the solar and roofing industries to generate energy from every roof. A Standard Industries company, GAF Energy works with North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, GAF, to offer homeowners elegant, roof-integrated solar options through a national network of roofer partners. The company’s leading product is the Timberline Solar™ roof system.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Most Innovative Woman of the Year - Technology
 Nomination Title: Dr. Gabriela Bunea, Chief Solar Innovation Officer
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2021 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 193 words used.
Dr. Gabriela Bunea is an immigrant, mother, scientist, inventor. Her story includes teaching herself English during the 1990s Romanian Revolution era in order to attend graduate school in the U.S. Her leadership and vision pushed her current R&D team to develop a solar roof unlike anything the world had seen—a roof that generates clean energy, offers economic affordability, and is installed just like a regular roof: Timberline Solar, launched in 2022.
Dr. Bunea brings 20 years of extensive technical experience and leadership in the solar and microelectronics industries to GAF Energy, most recently as VP of Research, Development and Deployment at SunPower Corporation. Prior to that, she held multiple roles managing Module Research, Development, Deployment and Product Design at SunPower, and on the Microelectronics Technical Staff at Lucent Technology. She holds more than 60 patents and has authored numerous publications on solar cell materials and technologies.
As GAF Energy’s Chief Solar Innovation Officer, Dr. Bunea is collaborative and level-headed and strives for well-informed, thoughtful, and strong decision-making. Along with her core technical prowess, these qualities make her a successful people manager and inspire trust and excellence on the high-performing teams she’s built.
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 241 words used.
Dr. Gabriela Bunea came to GAF Energy with one goal in mind: to develop a solar roof that is functional, affordable, aesthetic, and easy to install—and, unlike most rack-mounted solar, doesn’t drill holes through a roof or sacrifice curb appeal. And that’s just what she did.
Dr. Bunea and her team of engineers, researchers, designers, roofers, and scientists worked together to develop the world’s first nailable solar shingle—that looks great, is cost effective, and has the durable, protective qualities of a roof. The result of their efforts, Timberline Solar, was launched by GAF Energy in 2022.
On the heels of the Timberline Solar launch, Dr. Bunea was promoted from Senior Vice President of Solar Research and Development to Chief Solar Innovation Officer at GAF Energy. The reception of Timberline Solar was overwhelmingly positive, proving to GAF Energy that the individual they chose to lead the charge was the best person for the job.
In 2023, Dr. Bunea was invited to give the keynote address at the 50th anniversary of the Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) hosted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In her address, titled “Beyond the Panel: What’s Next in Solar Innovation?” Dr. Bunea claimed that to increase residential solar adoption, we need to think beyond the design of the solar panel.
Most recently, she was chosen as a finalist for Innovative Leader of the Year in Fast Company’s list of Best Workplaces for Innovators 2023.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 242 words used.
IEEE PVSC keynote presentation: In her keynote address, titled “Beyond the Panel: What’s Next in Solar Innovation?” Dr. Bunea argued that we must innovate outside the “rectangle” box to create consumer-friendly products, open up new use cases, and complement other construction-related industries. During her address, Dr. Bunea told an audience of many of the world’s experts on PV technology about what is needed to turbocharge solar innovation. Her solution: design a product that fits into existing business models and really meets consumers’ needs. That’s what Dr. Bunea and her team did when designing Timberline Solar for the roofing industry and for homeowners.
Fast Company: Innovative Leader of the Year finalist on the list of Best Workplaces for Innovators 2023: Dr. Bunea was chosen as a finalist on this list based on her impact at GAF Energy and beyond. She works to give her team the environment they need to innovate—on the product, in the larger industry, and within themselves. At the GAF Energy headquarters, her R&D team is situated adjacent to the manufacturing floor—specifically designed to eliminate the downtime typical to development while also encouraging hands-on learning, collaboration, and knowledge sharing from staff early and more advanced in their careers. Dr. Bunea encourages her team to submit innovative ideas to the patent committee. Just in the course of developing Timberline Solar, the team has secured 13 granted patents and 51 pending patent applications, lifting up the solar energy and roofing industries.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 242 words used.
Developing Timberline Solar, the first true solar roof: Designed by Dr. Bunea’s team with roofers in mind, Timberline Solar is the only roofing system to directly integrate solar technology into traditional roofing processes and materials. It incorporates the world’s first nailable solar shingle, which installs like a traditional roofing shingle—only a nail gun is required. As a result, Dr. Bunea’s solar roof clocks in with the fastest residential rooftop solar install time of any in-market option.
Growth into Chief Solar Innovation Officer: GAF Energy promoted Dr. Bunea after witnessing what she could accomplish with Timberline Solar, achieving what was described as mission impossible. “I joined the company with no team, no office or laboratory, no task other than the high-level direction to figure out a solar roof that’s appealing to roofers—the roof of the future.”
Thought leadership: To address the 50th anniversary of the IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, Dr. Bunea was invited by the conference’s General Chair Mariana Bertoni, PhD and Fulton Energy & Materials Professor at ASU. In her invitation letter, Bertoni called Dr. Bunea “the perfect person for the job,”, writing, “I’ve been chasing you to give a talk at PVSC for a while.” As a finalist for Innovative Leader of the Year from Fast Company, Dr. Bunea was identified for “exemplary work in expanding the culture of innovation across her organization.” External recognitions like these solidify the importance of Dr. Bunea’s achievements in our space.
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