About

Our story

With 40 years of R&D and a comprehensive patent portfolio behind it, Ascent Solar is the leading provider of CIGS solar technology. Ascent’s unique patented monolithic integration process enables the highest level of flexibility, efficiency, durability & weight savings, revolutionizing the way solar power can be used in everyday life. Ascent Solar’s Research and Development and its 5 MW nameplate production facility is in Thornton, Colorado.

Ascent has cemented itself as the leader in the manufacturing of innovative, high performance, flexible thin-film solar panels for both existing and emerging agrivoltaic, space, and aerospace applications.

Jeffrey Max

President & CEO

Jeffrey Max boasts over 30 years of experience as a hi-tech CEO, investor and entrepreneur known for his ability to drive scale at fledgling and developing companies.

Jeff has founded, built, incubated, and successfully guided several companies to operations at a global scale, achieving multiple exits in industries such as financial services, mobile commerce, AdTech and aerospace.

Jeff’s key competencies include product positioning and strategy, brand development, acquisition-driven growth, business development and turn-arounds.

From 2019 to 2022, Jeff was Chairman and CEO of Agile Space Industries, an in-space propulsion solutions provider, specializing in additively manufactured hypergolic chemical systems. During Jeff’s tenure, Agile was able to quickly expand into design and manufacturing, securing contracts to supply thrusters for multiple NASA lunar lander missions. Under his leadership, Agile grew from a team of 6 to over 60, and acquired Tronix3D, a contract based additive manufacturer specializing in 3D printing of exotic metal alloys.

Dr. Joseph Armstrong

Chief Technical Officer

Dr. Armstrong is a renowned engineer and recognized inventor in the areas of shape memory alloys, thin-film PV technology and electronic circuit assembly.

Before joining the original team of Ascent in October 2005, Dr. Armstrong managed ITN’s Advanced Photovoltaic Division for 10 years. While in this role, Dr. Armstrong led the advancement of thin-film CIGS flexible Photovoltaic products.

Prior to ITN, Dr. Armstrong held various roles at Martin Marietta Corporation (now Lockheed Martin), with a primary focus on Photovoltaic research.

Dr. Armstrong holds a B.S. degree in Physics from Lewis University in Illinois and a M.S. degree and Ph.D. in Solid State Physics from the University of Denver.

Paul Warley

Chief Financial Officer

Prior to Ascent, Warley was president of Warley & Company LLC, a strategic advisory firm from 2015 to 2022 – providing executive management services, capital advisory, and M&A to middle-market companies in the service, construction, technology, oil & gas, clean energy, food, retail and green-building sectors.

While at Warley & Company from 2018 to 2019, he was engaged as chief executive officer and CFO of 360Imaging, a provider of products and services for implant surgery and digital dentistry.

From 2011 to 2015, Warley served clients in the alternative energy industry as a managing director and chief compliance officer with Deloitte Corporate Finance.

From 1997 to 2011, Warley was managing director and region manager for GE Capital.

From 1984 to 1997, Warley served as senior vice president with Bank of America and Bankers Trust.

Brandon Mendoza

SVP, Business Transformation

Brandon Mendoza brings a 15 year track record of leadership and product development at companies with common imperatives to execute successful strategies to navigate industry and lifecycle change.

His outcome focus, and background launching and operating new businesses will be critical attributes as he focuses on addressing necessary organizational gaps and/or impediments to successfully evolve and scale Ascent Solar.

Before joining Ascent, Brandon cultivated his skillset in a variety of leadership and product management roles at Hertz (VP, Strategic Initiatives), Allstate (Head of Product, Arity), Gogo (Director of Product), Microsoft (Bing Maps) and BMW AG (MINI).

Brandon holds a B.A degree in International Business from Fort Lewis College, a MBA from Boston University and a M.S. in Information Systems from Boston University.

About us