Akeena Solar Hires Gary R. Effren as Chief Financial Officer

Business Wire,  Sept 24, 2007  

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Former Knight Ridder VP and CFO Going Solar

LOS GATOS, Calif. -- Akeena Solar, Inc. (OTCBB:AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, announced it hired Gary R. Effren as chief financial officer. Based in the Los Gatos headquarters, Effren will report directly to Barry Cinnamon, CEO.

"Gary brings almost 30 years of Fortune 500 experience to Akeena," said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Akeena Solar. "Akeena is developing a top-level senior management team in order to properly position the company for continued growth. Gary will play a leadership role with the management team and investment community. His expertise in long-range budgeting and planning will assist the team in achieving our strategic and financial objectives."

Effren brings extensive public company finance experience to Akeena Solar. From 1980 to 2006, Effren held various executive financial positions at Knight Ridder, Inc., a Fortune 500 media company, including vice president of finance and chief financial officer. During his tenure at Knight Ridder, his overall responsibilities included corporate accounting and financial reporting, strategic business development, tax, treasury, risk management, and investor relations.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the exciting, dynamic solar power industry," said Gary Effren, the newly appointed CFO of Akeena Solar. "This is a transitional time in Akeena's business and I look forward to working with the talented management team to take the company to its next phase of growth."

Effren earned Masters in Business Administration from the University of Miami and a bachelor's degree in commerce from Rider College in New Jersey.

About Akeena Solar, Inc.

Founded in 2001, Akeena Solar's philosophy is simple: We believe producing clean electricity directly from the sun is the right thing to do for our environment and economy. Akeena Solar has grown to become one of the largest national installer of residential and small commercial solar power systems in the United States, serving customers directly in California, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. For more information, visit Akeena Solar's website at www.akeena.net.

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