About Us
Billy Kerstein
Founder & CEO
Billy Kerstein was a member and trader on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) from 1990 to 2020. During his career at the CME, he served as Floor Manager for International Futures & Options for five years, overseeing the daily operations of more than 300 employees.
In 1996, Billy founded Kerstein Trading, and by 1998 became one of the first traders to pioneer electronic trading platforms. Through this innovation, he executed and managed electronic orders in the open market for institutional clients such as JP Morgan, Shearson Lehman, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Paine Webber, Citi Bank, and ABN AMRO, among others.
In 2009, while actively managing his trading operations, Billy expanded into the energy sector, brokering and deregulating electricity for both commercial and residential customers. This led to the founding of Energy Illinois (EI) in 2018, where he began commissioning representatives to do the same across the state.
In 2019, Billy established National Solar Energy (NSE), personally reviewing and researching over 5,000 schools in Illinois for participation in the Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) government program. Under his leadership, NSE has consulted with more than 200 school districts across the state.
By 2020, Billy had successfully registered and certified NSE as a Distributed Generation (DG) Installer and Approved Vendor through the Illinois Commerce Commission, enabling NSE to participate in state-supported solar programs such as Illinois Shines, ILSFA (Illinois Solar for All) and the Adjustable Block Program (ABP).
From 2023 to the present, Billy has been a key consultant and developer of megawatt-scale solar installations.
Billy recently is recognized as the pioneer in educational solar initiatives, becoming the first to partner with a university—Texas Tech University—to develop and administer a college-accredited course and launch “Powering Minds,” a K–12 renewable energy curriculum designed to engage and educate students all across America.
Through Powering Minds, Billy continues to consult and assist school districts nationwide, helping them transition to renewable energy by installing indoor and outdoor mini solar laboratories that bring hands-on sustainability learning directly into the classroom.
Alex J. Gulotta
Partner & Director of Sales
Studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan and has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. In addition to his academic background, Alex has personally built several successful companies in a variety of industries, including plastic manufacturing, home improvement, and commodity trading. Alex brings his leadership and problem solving skills to NSE as the Director of Sales. As such, he is involved in teaching and training, strategic planning, organizational motivation and human resources, and most importantly; making sure the client experience is excellent from the beginning of any project to its successful completion.
Daniel L Seiler
Partner & Project Manager
Dan has an Associates Degree in Electromechanical, and is a Certified Master Electrician.
Having Dan join the NSE team is what sets us apart!! Dan brings an experienced skill set to National Solar Energy.
Dan has been involved in consulting, procuring, and managing multiple private and government contracts within the Solar and Electrical industry.
Jobs Awarded and Completed by our “Expertise”:
1). Hired to be the Technical Consultant to a Washington D.C. based Non-Governmental Organization exploring the potential for the installation of private and utility scale solar systems at the Aswan Dam on the Nile River in Egypt.
2). Awarded the contract to design & build with the National Park Service, Mount Rushmore National Monument.
3). Awarded the contract with The U. S. Air Force to install life safety equipment at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
4). Awarded the contract with the Department of Labor, Dayton Job Corps Center.
5). Awarded contract with The National Park Service, Indian Dunes National Lakeshore to install an all new solar off-grid solar system throughout the 24 square mile park.
6). Awarded contract with Menards Inc. to service/repair and install electrical and HVAC systems at 82 locations in 8 states.
7). Awarded to install all electrical and controlling systems for new aluminum electroplating lines for Apogee Enterprises in Wausau, WI.