As managing partner, I do my best to guide our organization to be a leader in important industries and to adhere to the highest standards of ethics and excellence. I try to spend at least one hour per day strategizing on the big picture for Barron Partners. Probably the single most important thing I do is focus on our relationships with the executives leading our portfolio companies, setting an example of the standards of quality and excellence needed to live up to our stated values of integrity, ethical investing and environmental consciousness.

I don't know why, but I've had a fascination with business ever since I was a little kid. I used to go to the park with my brother and pick up the empty beverage cans because you could get a nickel for each one at the store when you returned them. I guess I was in the recycling business from a very young age!

I started investing in the stock market when I was about 14. My Dad taught me about price-to-earnings ratios as a measure of the value of stocks and showed me how to look up the stock prices in the newspaper. I figured if I bought the shares of companies with low price-to-earnings ratios that seemed like their businesses would grow, I would make some money. I was right, and I did well.

During and after my years at Harvard, I ran several investment and trading businesses. These were in venture capital, buyouts and value investing. I also founded several companies and acted as interim CEO for a turnaround situation. I gained enormous experience by trying so many different investing strategies and taking on these varied operating roles.

On September 11, 2001, the telecom venture I was heavily backing was destroyed. In the wake of this loss, I evaluated my past career. I decided to return to the one consistent winning formula that I have always had, which is to invest in good growth companies at low valuations.

In October 2001, equipped with 20 years of experience in founding, managing, planning, analyzing and investing with public and private companies, I started investing for my own account as well as managing a few outside accounts. These accounts were merged into one partnership on November 22, 2002, launching the successful journey of Barron Partners LP.

I've seen a team grow up around me that embodies the values I stand for in ethical business practices, open-mindedness, work ethic and visionary thinking.

We had an incredible run in U.S. stocks through 2004, since there were an abundance of investments for us to make at great values. After 2004, our search for value took us to China. As we made large profits in our Chinese investments in great growth companies, I visited China repeatedly to meet companies and to build our local team. Being a daily runner, I experienced firsthand the effects of the pollution in China on my morning runs, and it upset me. I became more and more passionate about the pollution issue and wanted to do something to alleviate it.

In 2005, we were able to make our first cleantech investment, and have followed with many more. Now, the majority of our fund is in cleantech investments, which are mostly in China. It is very gratifying to be part of something that goes beyond just making high returns on capital. After all, it is such a logical step for humankind to move away from burning carbon-based fuel (so 10,000 BC!) to more intelligent ways of making energy.

Building a cleaner world and making high returns on capital can go hand in hand. This is my vision, for only with high returns on capital can the cleantech industry truly scale in size. We need to make sure our investments are in companies that have superior cash generation from their assets, so that these companies can add new facilities to build even more cleantech systems.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. There is nothing like our huge family gathered together in Massachusetts, watching all the kids open presents with roaring fires in the fireplaces and snow outside. It makes me smile just to think about it.

Barron Charitable Foundation, Founder and Chairman since 2003
Especially after September 11th and other personal realizations, I decided that I needed to give more back to society. I founded Barron Charitable Foundation and am the sole grantor to the foundation, which has allowed it, in turn, to make many grants each year to different charitable causes.

Solectria Renewables, Board of Advisors since 2007
Solectria Renewables is a leading solar inverter company owned primarily by my brother, James Worden, and his wife, Anita. James has never wavered from his vision of solar energy since he built his first solar car in high school, which propelled him through MIT, where he received first prize in engineering design in his sophomore and senior years, graduating in 1989. I am honored to be able to provide insight on capital markets, business development and any other areas where I can be of service as Solectria builds its industry-leading inverter company.

Life Project Africa, Sponsor and Host 2008
Life Project Africa is an excellent charity that provides water, healthcare and education to impoverished communities of Africa's Sub-Saharan region, giving them a chance to have a better life. I felt that this was a good cause run by a good man whose heart was in the right place. I was happy to host an event early in the organization's successful journey to bring help to many in need.

Email: abw@barronpartners.com
Phone: (212) 359-0201