ments in solar power and Iwashige tries to educate government bought his first leaders on the economic rental propand environmental advanerty and began tages of solar energy. managing rentThe economic payals for some of his friends. back on a solar system Later he bought has several variables. The and renovated return on investment is best fixer-uppers for when both the state and rentals. In 2016 federal governments offer Mark Horst Iwashige got tax credits and the regional his realtor’s license and became a electric power company buys unreal estate agent at Coldwell Banker needed electricity generated by Americana. homeowners’ solar systems instead He added Rock Rentals in 2013 of charging fees to homeowners to and Rock Renovations in 2016 as connect to the utility grid. Payback micro industries to The Rock Group. also changes in relationship to the In April 2018, he added a cleaning cost of electrical power. Nevertheand janitorial service, Refresh by the less, an investment in solar energy Rock. Iwashige chose his business’s provides a “philosophical benefit” name because his Japanese surname and the cost of solar equipment is means “heavy rock.” going down even as its quality and Iwashige named himself “keeper efficiency improves. of the culture” for The Rock Group. King Solar’s annual growth averThe corporate culture stresses buildages 10 per cent year over year. ing 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 The Marketplace January February 2019
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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 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. ◆
