Executive Bios
Carl Smith
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Carl Smith is the founder of Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. and the inventor of the core solar technologies that were the original basis of the company. Smith orchestrated the conceptual validation of the company’s intellectual properties, and assembled a world-class team of engineers, scientists, renowned business leaders and influential governmental figures prior to the company’s 2nd anniversary. Continue Reading »
At Sunovia, Smith manages corporate relations, mergers & acquisitions, tactical partnerships, assessment and implementation of sales & marketing curriculums, supervision and planning of investor relations strategies, coordination of corporate advertising & promotion campaigns, supervising corporate reporting requirements, strategic planning and corporate governance and policy. After attending Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, Smith left during his junior year to pursue an opportunity within the venture capital markets. From 1992-2004, Smith’s company invested more than $50 million into development stage companies operating primarily within the telecommunications, biotech and information technology sectors. He is married with two children.
Bob Fugerer
President and Chief Technology Officer
Bob Fugerer is a co-founder of Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc., and the inventor of many of the core technologies that have triggered the company’s rapid expansion. Fugerer’s orchestration of the company’s solid-state lighting activities have placed it at the forefront of the LED industry, and have allowed the company to engage new customers and significant distribution channels that otherwise would have been lost to competing technologies. In addition, Fugerer plays a critical role in the evaluation, negotiation and execution of strategic partnerships, collaborations and acquisitions. Continue Reading »
With respect to day-to-day responsibilities, Fugerer directs the technology development and systems integration activities at Sunovia, and works closely with sales and marketing to identify strategic product opportunities. Fugerer also oversees all personnel management and operational activities. Fugerer served as a principal engineering specialist at the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) where he led the development of signal processing technologies. While at AEDC, he directed a multi-disciplined team of research engineers in the creation of innovative electro-optical instrumentation and control systems for various government organizations and commercial contractors. He is also the recipient of the Air Force technical achievement award for his work in signal processing.
Fugerer also served as a senior field applications engineer at Arrow Electronics, a NYSE company and a leading worldwide distributor of semiconductor and supply chain solutions. While at Arrow, he organized and directed national seminars and Web casts on Digital Signal Processing (DSP), authored numerous technical papers, designed software and hardware for key customers, and worked with sales and marketing teams to stimulate demand for a variety of medical, military, industrial, and consumer products. Fugerer achieved many technical certifications from leading semiconductor manufacturers such as Analog Devices, an “above and beyond” achievement award for DSP training and software development, and received the national award for demand creation from Texas Instruments in 2006.
Fugerer has published papers within the International Society of Optical Engineering journals, the EE Times Planet Analog, and other engineering symposiums and design magazines. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering science from Lipscomb University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He also holds a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Science degree in engineering management from the University of Alabama.
Matthew Veal
Chief Financial Officer and Controller
Matthew A. Veal, chief financial officer, is a certified public accountant and venture capitalist. As chief financial officer, he is responsible for financial management of Sunovia Energy Technologies. His duties include overseeing the company’s entire accounting function, producing annual reports, devising long-term financial plans and budgets, assisting in capital raising activities, preparing, analyzing and reviewing financial data, monitoring expenditures and costs, evaluates mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing treasury and risk management. Continue Reading »
He has been involved in venture capital with the company’s principals for several public entities including DNAPrint genomics, Global Water Technologies, Inc., the internet start-up Brandmakers, Inc. and Catalyst Communications, Inc. He has also been involved in capital raising and related functions at the seed and expansion stage for several other Florida-based ventures including Kosmas Group International, ComCentral Corporation, Global Resources Group, Inc., Diversified Resources Group, Inc., Interactive Motorsports and Entertainment Corporation and Neogenomics, Inc.
Veal served as an audit manager for Florida accounting firm James Moore & Company from 1982 to 1990. He then joined the Teltronics Group, a Sarasota, Fla.-based Telecom Equipment manufacturer and served in several positions including chief financial officer. In 1996 Veal joined Tampa Bay Financial, Inc., a venture capital firm, where he stayed until 2004. He has since maintained his own accounting practice specializing in startups and recapitalizations. He graduated from the Fisher School of Accounting at the University of Florida.