When Rick Zomnir played football for Penn Hills Senior High in the 1960s, his position was, not surprisingly, quarterback. As a quarterback leads a receiver with a pass, successful entrepreneurs realize that they need to aim not where the market is today, but where they expect the opportunity to be in the future.
As a young lawyer and later as an entrepreneur, Zomnir and his partners gained a quick understanding of the energy industry and how regulatory change would offer opportunities well before utility deregulation came along. That understanding led to the formation in the mid-1990s of Strategic Energy Limited, one of the first companies to get into the competitive energy market.
Zomnir cashed out his share of Strategic Energy and has officially ended his tenure there. He says he’s not yet sure what the future holds for him, preferring for the present to take life easy, spend a lot of time with his family and “smell the roses.”
Says Zomnir: “I’m honestly not sure if I will ever work full time again, at least in a normal routine. After 30-plus years of endless travel, long hours and focusing on multiple issues at a time, I’m finding it very nice to wake up and read or go for a run.”
In the business community, there are likely those watching to see if he takes a look downfield.
How to reach: Strategic Energy, www.sel.com
