Management

Akermin’s management team has extensive experience in fuel cells and biocatalysis with a solid leadership track record in Fortune 500 corporations and early-stage ventures.

Barry Blackwell

President and CEO

Barry is a founding member of the St. Louis Arch Angel Network and has more than 25 years of experience in acquisitions, corporate finance and commercial banking with two regional banks and an international financial services company. He is also a member of Akermin’s Board of Directors and managing partner of Integral Capital LLC, a private equity investment company in St. Louis specializing in middle-market company acquisitions.

Paul Gifford, Ph.D.

Vice President, R&D

Paul has over 25 years experience in developing and commercializing advanced batteries, from concept design through commercial production, at such companies as Gates Energy Products, Duracell, and Energy Conversion Devices.  He has played a leadership role in various battery development programs including advanced NiMH batteries for GM’s EV1 electric vehicle program and most recently NiMH batteries for several commercial hybrid electric vehicle platforms.  Dr. Gifford holds several patents in the area of advanced batteries and has authored or co-authored numerous papers in the area of electrochemistry.

Rich Zvosec

Vice President, Business Development

Rich brings his deep industry experience in technology development and commercialization to create corporate development relationships and contribute to strategy development for Akermin.  Most recently he led the business development program at NanoProducts Corp., a producer of multi-metal oxide nanoparticles, and prior to that launched a biotech program to make chemical intermediates from renewable carbon sources at Cargill.  Rich also held several positions in sales, marketing, and business development in the Polymer Chemicals Division at Air Products and Chemicals.

Nick Akers

Director, Business Development

Nick is co-inventor of the stabilized enzyme biocatalyst system and is a co-founder of Akermin.  His current responsibilities center on business development and management of funded research contracts with government agencies and corporations that incorporate Akermin’s fuel cell technology into products used in energy, defense, and homeland security.