Title: Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Company: Mentis Corp.
Location: Vail, Arizona, United States
Christopher Trocola, founder and chief executive officer at Mentis Corp., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in solar energy.
Mr. Trocola is a seasoned strategist, entrepreneur, and startup aficionado, renowned for his zeal in forging new business paths and challenging conventional norms. With a career spanning nearly two decades, he has carved out a formidable reputation, particularly in the solar industry, for devising innovative business strategies, initiating and nurturing new ventures, and making significant operational impacts. His journey began shortly after earning his Diploma of Education from Desert Rose High School in 2004, where he completed college coursework ahead of schedule, ranked among Arizona’s top students, and was distinguished by Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Despite a diagnosis of dyslexia at 16, which posed challenges with written exams, an IQ test confirmed his genius-level intellect, laying a robust foundation for his future endeavors.
Mr. Trocola’s initial foray into direct sales began with Kirby vacuum cleaners, where he quickly rose to prominence as a top recruiter, earning the prestigious Five Diamond Dealer Power Specialist (DPS) award and training teams nationwide. This marked the start of a distinguished career that saw him excel in sales and emerge as a pivotal figure in shaping industry standards. Throughout his professional tenure, he has received numerous accolades, including the International Association of Top Professionals’ (IAOTP) Top Founder & CEO of the Year for 2024, recognition as a Top National Sales Professional, and leading top-producing sales organizations in the Southeast Region. His global ranking as the number one recruiter across multiple industries further underscores his impact.
In 2016, Mr. Trocola launched Olympus Solar as chief executive officer, achieving 57 personal sales in a single month despite starting with a broken arm, leg, and half-torn eyeball following a personal attack. Under his leadership, the company expanded to 27 territories within nine months, earning recognition from Inside Coupe magazine as the fastest-growing solar company in southern Arizona for 2017 and 2018. His commitment to consumer protection against deceptive practices, shaped by his own experiences, became a cornerstone of his mission. Following this tenure, he served as board advisor and interim vice president of sales for Sable Power Partners before co-founding Solar Power Pro in 2021.
In 2023, Mr. Trocola co-founded Mentis Technologies with Brian Johnston, taking on the role of chief executive officer. Mentis specializes in licensure, certification, and industry compliance, leveraging advanced proprietary AI technology to enhance ethical sales practices. His leadership has been featured in Time Magazine, where he emphasized the need for standardized training: “Finance companies and installers absolutely need this to happen because they keep fronting the bill for these kids who came in here and are now driving a Bentley because they lied to 13 people.” Beyond Mentis, Mr. Trocola has contributed pro bono research with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Department of Energy (DOE) over the past few years, publishing multiple studies that expose deceptive solar sales practices and refute misleading research from scrutinized providers, all driven by a commitment to transparency rather than financial gain.
Mr. Trocola’s influence extends to policy, having served as a federal and state lobbyist for two years (approximately 2017 to 2019), where he testified against SB 293, led legislative drafting, and shaped around 10 laws impacting energy and AI sectors. His efforts earned him citations in numerous articles alongside NREL and DOE, as well as recognition from Marquis Who’s Who as a 2023 to 2024 Honored Listee. He was also selected for the Top 40 Under 40 but declined, though he may reconsider, and turned down a feature request from the Wall Street Journal, retaining documentation of these honors.
Mr. Trocola’s personal journey is equally compelling. At age 12, he underwent surgery for valley fever, losing half his right lung, with a prognosis of one week to live without intervention—an experience that instilled resilience. In August 2024, at 37, he faced a cancer diagnosis, undergoing surgery to remove 11 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in October, yet continues to deadlift 695 pounds despite ongoing health challenges, with no treatment plan beyond potential further removal. These trials echo the biblical Job, whose internal struggles Mr. Trocola sees as a parallel to his own, reinforcing his faith in God’s timing and restoration. He credits mentors like Fred Nelson, Matthew Walker (whose death deeply impacted him), his wife Jennifer Trocola, who taught him empathy and strength, and Ernesto Sanchez, among others, for guiding him through decades of growth.
Mr. Trocola’s educational foundation—highlighted by his early completion of college coursework at Desert Rose High School—combined with practical experience, has fueled his innovative contributions, such as developing nationally accredited solar sales courses and the world’s first AI-proctored exam, now used in licensing programs and credited in Nevada’s real estate industry. Internationally, his coursework earned CPD Group accreditation (provider #781942) under Mentis Technologies, all pro bono, reflecting his dedication to ethical advancement.
Looking ahead, Mr. Trocola envisions himself in five years as one of the world’s most recognized philanthropic investors, building on a business structure rooted in biblical principles. His greatest career highlight remains standing atop the solar industry in mere months with nothing but hope—a testament to God’s grace elevating him in His time.
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