James Poss, inventor of the BigBelly and founder of BigBelly Solar, has served as President and CEO since the company’s incorporation in April 2003. He recently moved to the Seattle area to build the business in the Northwest and West coast and also teaches at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute. In 2007, James was honored as one of 47 Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum.

James Poss earned a BA in Environmental Science / Policy and Geology from Duke University, and an MBA from Babson College. He currently teaches an MBA course on entrepreneurship at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, a socially-focused business school in Puget Sound. James is also teaching a new Environmental Entrepreneurship course at Babson College.

James Poss has significant experience in alternative energy, technology development and manufacturing. In 1994, he developed his first clean energy concept, a 1/2 KW ocean-wave powered generator, funded by the Pew Foundation and tested at the Beaufort Marine Lab at Duke University. He continued his pursuit of clean energy technology at Solectria Corporation (now Azure Dynamics), providing drive systems for electric, hybrid-electric, solar-electric and fuel cell vehicles. Subsequently, at Spire Corporation, a 30-year publicly traded solar energy company, James Poss worked with top management to develop business plans and performance reports for Spire Solar Chicago and the overall Spire Solar division.