Ascent Solar Hires New VPs

Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. a developer of state of the art flexible thin-film solar modules based in Thornton, Colo., has announced the hiring of two new vice presidents to its ranks. Zane Rakes has been named the company’s VP of manufacturing operations, while Robert Johns will serve as VP of Sales. Prior to joining Ascent Solar, Rakes was director of operations for Concentrated Solar Power and Photovoltaics at Schott Solar Inc. Prior to that he worked at Intel Corp. for over 15 years holding various manufacturing positions. Most recently, Rakes served as a plant manager for Intel’s Colorado Springs, Colo. operations. Johns comes to Ascent after 29 years with Dow Corning Corp. where he held numerous director level positions in the Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Technologies & Ventures Businesses. While serving as global director of New Business Programs there, Johns was involved in the global solar and semiconductor markets. Most recently he was located in Shanghai, China where he led Dow Corning’s Global Customer Service organization and served on the Global Commercial and Greater China Councils.