Press Release



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2011

CONTACT
Ellen Carey
202-249-7357
ECarey@awea.org



AWEA mourns passing of industry icon Britt Theismann


 

AWEA CEO Denise Bode today released the following statement concerning the death from cancer yesterday of AWEA COO and Senior Vice President Britt Theismann, 48, of Washington, D.C.:

"We at AWEA are deeply saddened by the untimely, tragic passing of Britt Theismann. He served this organization and the industry it represents with the highest standards of professionalism and an intense dedication far beyond the requirements of his position.

 

"Britt joined AWEA as Membership Director in 2005 and, with wind power experiencing exponential growth, led the recruitment of hundreds of supply chain companies into the U.S. industry and AWEA membership. During the next five years, AWEA's membership grew from some 400 companies to well over 2000, and as a result,domestic production of wind turbines and their component parts grew more than tenfold. As COO, he led the effort to reorganize AWEA and develop its human resources to make it the strong vital organization it has become.

 

"Britt's passion for his work and for building a strong domestic wind power industry were an inspiration to all who worked with him and knew him. He was personally committed to building a future powered by clean, renewable energy, and put that commitment into practice in his own life, powering his home and electric car with solar and wind energy. He was our colleague and our dear friend, and will be sorely missed."

 

Theismann was born in Odessa, Texas, in 1963. He graduated from Katy High School in Houston in 1981, and received his undergraduate and Master's of Business Administration degree from Oral Roberts University. Before joining AWEA, he served as Director of Statistical Information for the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers. He became Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of AWEA in 2009.

 

Theismann is survived by his spouse,Chris Miller; his parents, Jan and Dalan Theismann, of Houston; his sister Lisa and her daughters, of Houston; and his brother Scott and his wife and daughter, of Austin. Plans are being made for a memorial service in September, on a date to be announced.

 

In recognition of Britt's pride in leading the creation of the Wind Energy Foundation, Britt's spouse has requested that memorial donations be made to the Foundation and other charities that he supported:

http://windenergyfoundation.org/

http://www.brightbeginningsinc.org/

http://www.glad.org/

http://www.livestrong.org/

http://ww5.komen.org/




AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind industry, with 1,200 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world's largest wind power trade show, the WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition, which takes place next in Chicago, May 5-8, 2013. AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger America. Look up information on wind energy at the AWEA website. Find insight on industry issues at AWEA's blog Into the Wind. Join AWEA on Facebook. Follow AWEA on Twitter.