CHRISTOPHER CASTILLO

CEO, CASTILLO ENGINEERING, MAITLAND

Founded in 1998 as a rooftop solar company, Castillo Engineering has evolved into a leading solar energy design and consulting firm that’s completed 10 gigawatts of solar and energy storage projects. Castillo joined the company as vice president in 2008 and became CEO in 2020 after his father, its founder, suffered sudden hearing loss. The company has more than 25 employees.

EDUCATION: Davidson College (BS)

FIRST JOB: My first job was at Planet Smoothie.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: If I weren’t in engineering, I’d be a boat captain.

NONPROFIT PASSION: I support Prospera, an economic development nonprofit that empowers Hispanic entrepreneurs. Prospera helped me incorporate Castillo Engineering years ago, and we’ve stayed connected ever since. From the very start, their work has supported and inspired me with values of mentorship, equitable opportunity and community investment.

INDUSTRY TREND
“The most notable trend is the explosive growth of utility-scale solar, and the shortage of engineering firms that can scale to meet it.”