Roadside stand

ments in solar power and tries to educate government leaders on the economic and environmental advantages of solar energy.

The economic payback on a solar system has several variables. The return on investment is best when both the state and federal governments offer tax credits and the regional electric power company buys unneeded electricity generated by homeowners’ solar systems instead of charging fees to homeowners to connect to the utility grid. Payback also changes in relationship to the cost of electrical power. Nevertheless, an investment in solar energy provides a “philosophical benefit” and the cost of solar equipment is going down even as its quality and efficiency improves.

King Solar’s annual growth averages 10 per cent year over year. Iwashige bought his first rental property and began managing rentals for some of his friends. Later he bought and renovated fixer-uppers for rentals. In 2016 Iwashige got his realtor’s license and became a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Americana.

He added Rock Rentals in 2013 and Rock Renovations in 2016 as micro industries to The Rock Group. In April 2018, he added a cleaning and janitorial service, Refresh by the Rock. Iwashige chose his business’s name because his Japanese surname means “heavy rock.”

Iwashige named himself “keeper of the culture” for The Rock Group. The corporate culture stresses building community by valuing people more than the bottom line and developing leaders to become everything they can be. Putting people first and working in partnership were key strategies in running Horst’s solar business as well. Asked about the challenges he faces, Horst cited difficulties with time management that have led him to try to work more intentionally. Iwashige confessed that keeping himself

on task is a work in progress. Horst’s leading life mentors are his pastor father, Kurt Horst, and businessman Tim Sweigart, a Kansas electrician who is a MEDA supporter. He also takes business advice from his father-in-law, Ken King. Iwashige learned from his grandfather, a pastor and farmer who advised him, “It’s important to let Mark Horst them have your way.” His grandfather was actually talking about cattle, Iwashige said, “but I’ve found that the same principle also applies to people in various roles.” Finding that the advice they gave to customers didn’t hold up was “most painful,” Iwashige said. Once he underestimated the costs of a property he advised an investor to buy. Horst remembers having to admit to a customer his misjudgment on how fast his solar investment would pay for itself. Both panelists were asked by moderator Mike Miller how they would advise prospective entrepreneurs. Iwashige urged people to have clarity about their enterprise before starting “I [started microbusinesses] because I could.” People considering starting a business should “formalize solutions and systemize processes so you don’t have to solve the same problem over again,” he said. Horst advised starting a business that will have adequate cash flow. Meeting the continuing and changing needs of established customers helps a business get through financial lows, he said. “Protect yourself, family, and customers. We want to make everybody happy, but sometimes we can’t. Horst and Iwashige practice their Christian faith as they run their businesses, teach in church, parent their young sons, make pottery, work in the public eye or behind the scenes. “We believe we do worthwhile work. God gave us gifts that we’re supposed to live out,” Iwashige concluded. ◆