PERRYSBURG – As she donned safety glasses and walked along the production line, U.S. Secretary of Labor
Hilda Solis fired off questions. How are the solar panels used? How quickly can they come through the
line? Where was the production line machinery made?
"This was made right here in Ohio," Willard & Kelsey Solar Group CEO Mike Cicak said as
he pointed at the machinery. "Woodville, Ohio – just right down the street."
Where do the finished solar panels end up?
As far away as Taiwan and India, Cicak responded.
"I’m always enthusiastic to see what is going on," Solis said, on her tour Tuesday following a
visit to the Jeep plant in Toledo.
And Cicak was more than happy to tell the labor official about the Perrysburg solar plant.
"This gives us an opportunity to talk about what we can do in Northwest Ohio," Cicak said. And
that is build solar panels for the lowest production costs, he said. "There isn’t anybody in the
world that has this. We don’t have to go to China. We don’t have to go to Asia."
At the end of the production line, Cicak showed Solis the finished product.
"We can guarantee that for 25 years," he said. "We know it will last for 50, 60, 70."

Solis was not only impressed with the plant’s production technology, but also with the green energy it
promoted. The plant, located off Ohio 25, produces highly efficient frameless panels that ensure cost
effective production and installation. The goal is to make solar power more accessible and affordable.

"This is going to help out a lot," she said.
Willard & Kelsey is an example of American innovation President Barack Obama spoke of in his
recent State of the Union address, Solis said.
"This talk about us not being able to compete in green energy is a myth," she said.
The plant currently employs 82 people, but once three more production lines are added, the site could
employee many more. Several of the workers Solis spoke with Tuesday were former auto manufacturing
workers, who retrained for the solar industry. After touring the plant, Solis shook hands with a line of
solar employees, then posed for a photograph with them.
"This is another demonstration of our commitment," to put Americans back to work, she said.
She noted the $700,981 in federal funding recently awarded to help Owens Community College train
employees for Willard & Kelsey.
"I think people here in Ohio are ready to take that step," Solis said of the effort to train
workers for innovation technologies.
And being a "green" industry, made it an even bigger success story.
"We think this is the future," Solis said of the solar industry. "The green way is the
good way to go."
"I just hope she knows we’re the world’s best," Cicak said.