About

Friends of the Future

Friends of the Future is the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that serves as fiscal sponsor for Solar Matters.

Carter C.C. Collins

Founder, Team Leader

Before leaving Brockton High School (Massachusetts) in 1964, student organizer and President of the Junior Chapter of the NAACP, Carter, led a cadre of chapter members to Washington, D.C. to witness the epic 1963 March on Washington that featured Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his prophetic “I Have a Dream” speech.

The incompatibility of a cruel foster life with the daily demands of high school proved too challenging as depression, poverty and fear stalked him through the Brockton and Boston ghettos. Nevertheless, Carter acquired his street acumen through copious reading, hustling pool, and nurturing his gift for drumming. Carter had the insight to pursue a number of good-luck opportunities that segued to a 28-year career as a percussionist. He recorded and/or performed with some of the most acclaimed and influential artists of our time. These included Lalo Schifrin, Stevie Wonder, Janis Ian, Tower of Power, and Harvey Mandel. Additionally, he toured the U.S. and internationally, with the late Richie Havens, Tim Buckley, Laura Nyro, Kenny Rankin, Hedge and Donna, and Leonard Cohen.

In 1980, Carter returned to Europe and there, quite naturally, pivoted from musician to events producer. In Berlin and Vienna, he mounted several world-class dance and music festivals. Upon becoming totally blind in 1985, Carter made his way back to the more secure and familiar setting of Northern California.

In California, Carter rekindled his passion for the sea by serving as a founding member of Call of the Sea, a water-borne sail-training classroom, featuring two large schooners; one, the 82-ft. Seaward, and the other, a recently launched 130-ft. community-built tall ship called Matthew Turner. From their berths at the Bay Model in Sausalito, these vessels have introduced more than 5,000 people per year, ages young through golden, to an ocean wilderness experience.

Carter’s career with activist musicians, his tours of historic Europe and his experience, since childhood, on the water, combine to inspire his current role, environmental advocate. Today, Carter lives and works in Hawaii, where he has introduced the concept of an innovative community-owned transportation corridor and electrical grid in North Kohala on Hawaii’s Big Island. By applying drive-on solar PV panels to the construction of a 63-mile pedestrian bikeway, Carter holds the vision that this bikeway could become an economic engine able to serve the community with water, new homes, gardens, and, above all, carbon-free transportation, and sustainable electricity. In Hawaiian, this thoroughfare will be called Ke Ala Lā, the Path of the Sun.

Presently, Carter continues to serve COTS as Founding Member Emeritus.

Heather Niemic

Executive Assistant

Prior to joining Solar Matters, Heather directed a state-wide environmental education program designed to heighten awareness of Louisiana’s land loss crisis and inspire environmentally literate youth to become ambassadors for coastal protection and restoration. She has over 20 years of experience working in the youth development field as a Camp Director, Outdoor Educator, Classroom Teacher, to Non-profit Manager.

A south Louisiana native, Heather was appointed to the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission in 2015 where she later served as Chair. She has been a frequent speaker at education conferences and holds a B.S. in Sports Management and Recreation and a M.S. in Education from Troy University.

Heather’s background in environmental advocacy and education compliment her work with Solar Matters where her communications skills are used to promote stewardship and sustainability. She currently resides on the Big Island of Hawaii where she enjoys exploring local hiking trails and swimming down the coast.

Bob Losey

Consultant

Bob is a retired Professional Engineer now living in Hawi on the island of Hawaii with his wife, Elaine. During his career he managed design and construction projects for the U.S. government in Korea for over 20 years and at Pearl Harbor for several years. He joined Solar Matters to promote community development with a rail to trail project in Kohala, and to bring more renewable energy to Hawaii as a way to reduce both CO2 emissions and the cost to import fossil fuels for power production. He installed 27 solar panels on a shed he built from one Norfolk Pine tree milled on his property, thus demonstrating his concern for sustainability and the use of renewable energy He holds academic degrees in Mineral Engineering, Civil Engineering and Water Resource Management.

On both Oahu and Hawaii Islands he continues to support grassroot programs for the moral education of children and youth with community development programs based upon spiritual principles. He and his wife work together to harvest and process Macadamia nuts, and grow various fruits and vegetables on their two-acre farm. They enjoy hiking along beach and mountain trails, as well as snorkeling at Mahukona. Their art of 30 years is in creating colorful and inspiring stained-glass panels. They are now learning Hula with the senior Halau, Na Kapuna O Kohala.

Corbin Doak

Webmaster

Corbin Doak is a freelance graphic and website designer and the owner and operator of a number of websites. Through CTD Imaging, his design company, Corbin has been helping small to medium-sized businesses for over 15 years. He offers Graphic design, Website design, Marketing Videos, 3D Avatar greeters, and Chatbots.

Art became a part of his life when he was first introduced to photography at the age of 8 when his parents bought him a 126 point and shoot film camera. Later when he moved to Hawaii with his family he became more interested in photography. At the age of 15, he purchased his first SLR camera and started learning how to manipulate the image. When in 2004 he switched from film to digital imaging, he became passionate about design. He now holds a BFA in Visual Communications with a concentration in Digital Design. Graphic Design has opened more doors for him to express his creativity and he is happy to be able to share his creations

Corbin’s experience does not end in the design area. He has also been a teacher, where he taught English as a second language in Asia for 11 years. He has also had a career in retail management.