When a solar installer shuts down mid-project, homeowners are often left with incomplete systems, unanswered questions, and ongoing loan payments for equipment that doesn’t work. GreenLancer’s Solar Operations & Maintenance (O&M) team specializes in stepping into these challenging situations — resolving technical issues, navigating permitting roadblocks, and getting systems across the finish line.
At the heart of this work are people like Heather Prosper, Field Services Coordinator, and Lauren Durbin, Installation Team Leader. Neither started in solar: Lauren transitioned from nursing to telecom project management before discovering her interest in renewables. Heather came from a background in HR and finance, looking for a more customer-facing role. Today, both are key players in coordinating complex O&M and Permission to Operate Remediation (PTOR) projects for solar financiers and homeowners alike.
Meet Heather & Lauren: Getting Solar Projects Back on Track
Both women understand that by the time GreenLancer gets involved, homeowners are often at the end of their rope. Many have been waiting years for a resolution. These projects require more than technical know-how — they call for clear communication, efficient coordination, and a steady hand. The solar financiers get involved because they can’t expect loan payments if the solar installation was never completed.
It’s not easy work, but it’s meaningful. Each completed project restores a system and often a homeowner’s peace of mind. For GreenLancer’s O&M team, that’s a win worth working for.
From HR to Solar Remediation Work
Heather’s path to solar project management wasn’t typical. She came from a background in human resources and finance but wanted a role where she could connect more directly with people — and make a real impact. That led her to GreenLancer, where she now helps coordinate solar O&M and Permission to Operate Remediation projects for homeowners left behind by solar companies that shut down.
What motivates Heather is simple: doing right by people who’ve been left in a difficult situation.
“If it were my mom, I’d want someone to help her. That’s how I approach this,” she says.
She brings that mindset to every conversation and every project, working to restore trust and help people finally get the solar energy systems they were promised.
Lauren’s Steady Hand in the Chaos
As GreenLancer’s Installation Field Services Leader, Lauren helps steer the team through the day-to-day challenges that come with managing complex solar repair projects. She works alongside Heather and the coordinators, oversees communications with financiers, and helps match each job to the right field service partners that often complete the final steps of the installation.
Her previous work in the telecommunications industry taught her how to manage logistics under pressure. But it’s the team dynamic at GreenLancer — collaborative, all-hands-on-deck — that makes it work.
When things get intense, it’s the support from leadership that stands out.
“In my first few weeks, I wasn’t sure I was cut out for the work. I leaned on Lauren for support and guidance,” Heather says, “And I stayed because I felt supported. It’s never ‘that’s not my job’—it’s ‘how can I help?’”
That team-first culture keeps the wheels turning, even when projects are complicated and daunting.
Coordinating Chaos with Structure
Heather and Lauren don’t sit down to tidy project timelines and step-by-step instructions. Their day usually starts with dozens of tabs open — calls with homeowners, follow-ups with field service partners, questions from financiers, and internal discussions with engineers. It’s a juggling act across time zones, technologies, and temperaments.
They use a combination of GreenLancer’s custom project tracker and other internal tools to make sense of it all. Some projects land in their lap already in crisis, like a roof leak that must be addressed immediately.
Lauren describes it as navigating a fast-moving current. “Everything’s coming at you at once, and you’re trying to keep your balance while moving projects forward,” she says. “It’s unpredictable — but it works because of the systems we’ve built and the trust we’ve earned.”
Prioritizing with Purpose
When every homeowner is frustrated and every financier needs to see progress, the ability to prioritize becomes crucial. That’s where Heather and Lauren shine. They assess every incoming issue not just by when it came in, but by what’s at stake. Is the roof leaking? Is there a safety risk? Is the system completely offline or just underperforming?
The most common problems they tackle include inverters not reporting, panels wired incorrectly, or microinverters completely down. These are often paired with poor installation practices — missing labels, bad racking, or systems that were never commissioned at all.
To bring order to the chaos, they rely heavily on tracking systems built in-house at GreenLancer, as well as shared documents that organize cases by region and financier. “It’s about knowing what needs your attention right now — not just what came in first,” Lauren says. “That focus helps the team move stalled projects forward, one homeowner at a time.”
Fixing What Was Left Behind: Navigating Solar Company Closures
For many homeowners, the experience of working with a solar company that goes out of business mid-project is nothing short of frustrating. After months or even years of waiting, they’re left with broken promises, unfinished installations, and inoperable systems.
When they come to GreenLancer — often after being “ghosted” by their original installer — Heather and Lauren are ready to step in and finish what was started, or pick up pieces that were been left behind.
“The hardest part is the waiting,” Heather says. “Some homeowners have been waiting since 2021 to get their system up and running, and when they find us, it’s been a long, stressful journey.”
A big part of what makes GreenLancer’s team successful in these situations is transparency. Whether the news is good or bad, the team believes in keeping homeowners in the loop. “Even if the news isn’t good, the update helps them trust us,” Lauren explains. “Knowing where they stand is a huge part of rebuilding that trust.”
At the end of the day, GreenLancer’s goal is to take the frustration out of solar repairs and help homeowners finally get the functioning systems they were promised, while ensuring all parties are on the same page.
Inside GreenLancer Culture: Why People Stick Around
There’s a reason Heather has stayed at GreenLancer despite the challenges. There was a moment in the beginning when she didn’t know if she would make it — the emotional strain of helping homeowners abandoned by previous installers took its toll. But when she looked around, Heather saw a team that was supportive, open, and always willing to back her up.
“What kept me here was the GreenLancer culture,” she says. “People here really care about each other. They go the extra mile to help, and that makes all the difference when you’re working with emotionally charged situations.”
At GreenLancer, the culture of ownership and collaboration is built into every project. “If you're successful, I'm successful,” Heather says, highlighting the team-first mentality. “It's this collaborative approach that drives everyone to put in the work, even when it’s tough.
The emotional labor of helping homeowners who’ve been dealing with stalled projects or broken promises can weigh heavily, but the support of the team makes it bearable. It’s not just about fixing systems; it’s about fixing the customer’s experience, too.”
Thinking About a Career in Solar Project Management?
Working in solar project management requires technical knowledge and interpersonal skills. The top skills Heather and Lauren point to are communication, transparency, and empathy for customers and colleagues. Managing the logistics of O&M projects is complex, but when things get tough, the ability to be clear, open, and understanding makes a lasting impact.
“Knowing how to communicate is everything,” Lauren shares. “You can’t fake it in this space. Every day is about learning, growing, and staying on top of new technologies and best practices.”
For project managers in solar, professionalism and judgment are key. Lauren emphasizes that you’ll often have to prioritize — whether it’s balancing multiple project timelines or managing the trade-offs between speed and quality. The ability to assess a situation, make decisions, and communicate those decisions effectively sets you apart.
Purpose in Every Project
Every time a homeowner gets their solar system up and running, it’s not just another project completed — it’s someone’s roof, someone’s power, and someone’s peace of mind that’s been restored. Plus, each resolved repair represents a step toward a more sustainable future.
“What keeps me going?” Lauren reflects. “It’s knowing that we’ve made a difference. That we’ve helped someone who was let down, and now they’re finally getting what they were promised.”
Join the GreenLancer Team
GreenLancer’s project management team plays a key role in solving complex solar issues and keeping projects on track. They’re looking for organized, solution-oriented people who are ready to work in a fast-moving, collaborative environment. Sound like you?
