Broadwind Energy Announces Management Changes CICE

CICERO, Ill., Oct. 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadwind Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWEN ) today announced that it is making management changes to better align the business for growth.

With the Company's continued focus on aligning the business with long-term growth opportunities, Broadwind will eliminate the chief operating officer position. As a result, Jesse E. Collins, Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer, and interim president of the Company's Services business, will be leaving Broadwind. Collins will continue leading the Services business until the end of the year. The Company has initiated a search for a vice president and general manager to lead the Services business, focusing on growing its wind turbine gearbox repair business and expanding its in-field services offering into adjacent industrial markets.

The Company has also named Mark T. Skeen, currently vice president of Abilene tower operations, to the newly created role of vice president and general manager of the Company's industrial weldments business. He brings extensive experience and knowledge in steel fabrications and has successfully driven operational excellence in two of Broadwind's businesses—Services and Towers. Skeen will report to Paul Smith, president of Broadwind Towers, Inc.

"As we look at the current needs of the business and our future plans for growth, Jess and I agree that Broadwind no longer needs a chief operating officer. Jess and I will collaborate fully during the transition. We thank Jess for his many significant contributions to each of Broadwind Energy's businesses and wish him all the best in his future endeavors," said Broadwind Energy President and CEO Peter C. Duprey. "At the same time, we are focused on fully leveraging our core capability in industrial weldments to play a bigger part in the domestic energy renaissance underway in the U.S. To that end, we look forward to benefiting from Mark Skeen's expanded leadership in our industrial weldments business as we extend our capability into the steel, oil and gas, and mining markets."

About Broadwind Energy

Broadwind Energy (Nasdaq: BWEN ) applies decades of deep industrial expertise to innovate integrated solutions for customers in the energy and infrastructure markets. From gears and gearing systems for wind, oil and gas and mining applications, to wind towers, to comprehensive remanufacturing of gearboxes and blades, to operations and maintenance services and industrial weldments, we have solutions for the energy needs of the future. With facilities throughout the U.S., Broadwind Energy's talented team of 800 employees is committed to helping customers maximize performance of their investments—quicker, easier and smarter. Find out more at www.bwen.com .

MEDIA CONTACT: John Segvich, 708.780.4825 john.segvich@bwen.com