Olivia Swaim

California permitting professional with extensive residential solar and battery-storage experience across more than 350 cities and counties. Experienced managing the full permit lifecycle from plan-package review and application through revisions, approval, utility interconnection, inspection, and final closeout. Skilled in interpreting jurisdictional requirements, working directly with AHJs and utilities, resolving difficult permit issues, leading permit teams, and navigating numerous municipal e-permitting platforms.

Permit Department Manager at Apollo Home Power (2024-01 – 2026-12)

• Managed residential solar and battery-storage permitting across more than 350 California cities and counties, overseeing projects from permit preparation through final inspection.
• Communicated directly with building departments and AHJs to interpret permit and code requirements, resolve jurisdiction-specific issues, and move delayed or complex projects forward.
• Reviewed plans and permit packages before submission for completeness and jurisdictional requirements; coordinated corrections, revisions, and resubmittals as needed.
• Submitted and tracked permit applications, revisions, fees, approvals, inspections, business licenses, and utility interconnection requirements.
• Coordinated closely with engineering, installation, inspection, sales, utilities, contractors, homeowners, and municipal staff to keep project milestones aligned.
• Handled escalated permitting problems and developed solutions for projects affected by documentation, jurisdictional, inspection, or approval issues.
• Hired, trained, supervised, and managed remote permit technicians; assigned projects, tracked KPIs and workloads, conducted performance reviews, and led team meetings.
• Created permitting, revision, inspection, and training SOPs and workflows; improved turnaround processes and helped establish the final-inspections department.
• Worked across a broad range of municipal and permitting systems, including Accela, OpenGov, SolarAPP+, MyGovernmentOnline, ProjectDox, eTRAKiT, Civic Access, Camino, Airtable, Stacker, Symbium, and additional city/county portals.

Permit Department Manager at Exo Energy (2021-01 – 2024-12)

• Managed residential solar permitting from application through final inspection, coordinating multiple projects and jurisdictional deadlines simultaneously.
• Reviewed permit requirements and supporting documentation; submitted applications and revisions and tracked projects through approval.
• Worked with city officials, utilities, contractors, homeowners, engineering, and installation teams to resolve permit and project issues.
• Obtained utility interconnection approvals and required business licenses and coordinated permit fee payments.
• Trained employees, assigned project priorities, maintained permit trackers, handled escalations, and supported workflow improvements.

Personal Assistant at Brownstone Law Group (2015-01 – 2021-12)

• Managed detailed schedules, deadlines, correspondence, records, vendors, travel, and special projects in a professional office environment.
• Handled sensitive legal, personnel, client, business, and financial information with discretion.

Branch Manager at Amarillo Community Federal Credit Union (2003-01 – 2005-12)

Staff leadership, BSA/AML compliance, audits, transaction approval, and branch/vault operations.

Bilingual Personal Assistant at International Dental Academy (2014-01 – 2015-12)

Scheduling, bilingual communication, correspondence, and administrative support.

Bilingual Teacher Instructional Aid at Escondido School District (1999-01 – 2003-12)

Parent communication, translation, administrative support, and student services.