Hi, my name is… Val Berechet. I am President and CEO at Sunsolar Solutions (sunsolarsolutions.com).
I’ve lived in the North Phoenix area for 30 years and I love it because… It’s home. I’ve always lived north of the 101 and west of 35th Avenue and know the area like back of my hand. I went to school at Park Meadows Elementary, Deer Valley Middle School, and Barry Goldwater High School. Friends and family live in the area and our businesses have always been based here as well. I love all the hiking trails and preserves we have here, too.
A typical day in my life is…Long! Sunsolar Solutions has exploded to over 100 employees and over 60 sales representatives and, with nearly 9,000 customers now, there is always something going on.
My family is…From Romania. We immigrated to the U.S. in 1988 to escape communism. We went to San Diego first and then moved to Phoenix in 1992. It was just my parents, sister, myself, and four suitcases.
One thing I cannot live without is…Traveling. I love visiting new places around the world, whether they are touristy places or off the beaten path.
My favorite movie I could never get tired of watching and why… “Braveheart.” I love the authenticity of the movie, the story, and the time period. A close second is “Gladiator.” I love historical movies.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…An astronaut. I’ve always loved science and the stars.
The song I would sing at Karaoke night is…“Gangsta’s Paradise.” For some strange reason, I still know the lyrics 27 years later.
The one person who motivates me is…My wife Lavi. She’s my biggest supporter and has always had faith in whatever I set out to do.
The perfect day…Starts with a good night’s sleep followed by a good workout at the gym. It gets me in the right mindset to tackle the day as I feel I’ve already accomplished something.
My favorite local nonprofit is…St. Mary’s Food Bank. We did a partnership with them and it was amazing being able to donate meals to local families in need.
My life is…Nothing like I would have ever imagined and more than I could have ever dreamed. Doing something that I’m extremely passionate about, being part of an amazing team that has made Sunsolar Solutions one of the top solar companies in the state by helping families go solar, has been an incredible journey.
The best gift I’ve ever received was…My dream car from my wife for our 10-year wedding anniversary.
My dream vacation would be…A trip around the world. My wife and I have dreamt of visiting 12 places in 12 months around the world, staying in each place for a full month. One day, we will make it happen.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received…Do not have a Plan B. Plan B means your mind is set up for potential failure. You must do whatever it takes to make sure Plan A succeeds.
