West Palm Beach resident powers nearly four decades of service at FPL

West Palm Beach native Charlie Gauger retires from Florida Power & Light after 38 years. [Photo by FPL]

When Florida Power & Light celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, Charlie Gauger is marking a milestone of his own: 38 years with the company that has shaped both his career and his family’s legacy.

Gauger joined FPL in 1987, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. Gauger's grandfather spent more than three decades with the utility. Growing up in West Palm Beach, Gauger often accompanying his grandfather to the FPL office after school.

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“I was hired by FPL right out of high school,” Gauger says. “My grandfather worked for the company for just over 30 years.”

What began as a job delivering bills quickly evolved into a meaningful career. After moving into meter reading, Gauger spent more than a decade learning the fundamentals of utility operations before stepping into management roles to lead during FPL’s rapid technological growth.

Over the years, Gauger has helped guide some of the company’s most significant projects, including construction of the Carousel Energy Center in Colorado to early solar developments at Babcock Ranch. Those efforts have placed him at the center of FPL’s transition toward cleaner and more diverse energy sources.

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“The projects I have been honored to support are how we deliver on our promise to customers,” Gauger said.

Today, Gauger serves as a project director in engineering and construction, focusing on emerging technologies and the continued modernization of FPL’s energy portfolio. While the scope of his work spans large-scale infrastructure, he says some of his most meaningful professional moments come from helping younger employees grow into leadership roles.

“Some of my best career highlights were seeing people come in, like I did, and getting to help foster them into leadership,” he says.