Michael Crabtree

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Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree

Chief Manager, Crabtree Ventures, LLC

Education

  • B.S. 1973, Electrical Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • M.S. 1975, Electrical Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Executive MBA 1987, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Michael Crabtree began his career as an engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center via the co-op program. He was a member of the Apollo 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17 launch teams and assisted with the design, testing, and operation of a closed circuit television system. From 1973 to 1975, he worked at plant computerization projects at DuPont’s Cape Fear Textile Fibers Plant and Polymer Intermediates Department as a programmer. In 1976, after completing his graduate thesis on an EG&G ORTEC Life Science Division product, Crabtree was hired as a development engineer by EG&G ORTEC. Most of his activities included developing the first commercial Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner distributor, the ECAT® Scanner. Between 1976 and 1983, he held positions as development engineer, senior development engineer, ECAT Project Engineer, ECAT Marketing Manager, and ECAT Program Manager.

In 1983, he co-founded CTI, Inc., and purchased the market leading ECAT® Scanner product line from EG&G ORTEC. In 2002, CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc., became a public company (NASDAQ: CTIM) and was purchased by Siemens three years later. Crabtree served CTI as vice president of Marketing and Sales, Systems Engineering, and New Business Development. Beginning in 1994, Crabtree served as CEO, COO, and chairman of United States Internet, Inc. In 1999, after a merger and public offering, he served as director and COO of OneMain.com (NASDAQ: ONEM) before it was purchased by EarthLink in 2000. Between 2000 and 2008, he served as Chairman and CEO of IdleAire Technologies.

IdleAire received the 2004 EPA Clean Air Excellence Awards in California and Texas and the 2002 R&D 100 Award for most significant R&D invention. Crabtree’s honors include the 1998 EXCEL Top 50 Fastest Growing Company Award while with U.S. Internet and the 1987 Coopers & Lybrand Entrepreneurial Company of the Year while with CTI. Crabtree serves on the Engineering Campaign Executive Committee at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.