Finding His Ener Self

Martha Brannigan | 6/1/2005

>
CEO Spotlight:
Finding His Ener Self KEVIN FITZGERALD, 48
CEO / Ener1, Fort Lauderdale
The Business: Develops high-energy lithium batteries and fuel cells for heavy users such as military communications, power tools, UPS systems. Production begins this year. Last year: $35.8 million in losses.
Bio: Bachelor's, electrical engineering. Master's, finance. Built equipment renter Neff and took it public.
Life on the OTC.BB after the NYSE: "It's hard. Investors in microcap tend to be short term, day traders and hedge funds. A company like ours -- it's a long-term strategy."
Career Dollars Raised: "It's in the billions now. If you fulfill obligations, people want to give you more."
B-ball: Played as a Carnegie Mellon student. Still regularly plays street ball.
On Surviving B-ball Against Teens: "Slough off on defense once in a while."
2004 Big Deal: A joint venture with Delphi to combine lithium battery operations.
Future Potential: Developing renewable fuel cell to power a highway rest stop using methanol from theme park waste and orange peels.
Prediction: "In Florida you have a lot of technology companies out there, and none of them gets anywhere. You're going to see ours get there."

Tags: Southeast