Oceantic Reveals Finalists for 2025 Ventus Awards

Oceantic Network, the leading nonprofit working to advance the offshore renewable energy industry and its supply chain, announced finalists for the 2025 Ventus Awards in ten categories including Innovation of the Year, Supply Chain Advancement, and Next Wave Leadership. The Ventus Award finalists represent the breadth of the industry and its supply chain from ports and shipbuilders, manufacturers, and project developers to government initiatives and workforce development.

Now in its fourth year, the Ventus Awards are the industry’s highest level of professional recognition, celebrating the innovative people, companies, organizations, and work worldwide moving the global offshore renewable energy industry forward. Submissions were reviewed by a Selection Committee of individuals representing the breadth of the offshore energy industry, including Aaron Smith, CEO of Principle Power; Alessandra Tebaldi, executive vice president & general counsel at McAllister Towing; Andrew Lee, editor-in-chief of Recharge News; Lauren Burm, senior director of state and local government relations at Vestas North America; and others.

“Offshore energy continues to move forward. Projects are being built, vessels are being constructed and retrofitted, and companies continue to advance new solutions to technical challenges across the supply chain,” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of Oceantic Network. “All this progress is driven by the passion and talent of people and organizations. The Ventus Awards are our chance to honor them and the work they are doing to create quality jobs, drive economic development, and advance energy opportunities.”

Awards are presented in ten categories (below) designed to highlight the contributions and innovations of global professionals advancing the global offshore renewable energy industry. All finalists will be recognized and winners in each category will be announced at the Ventus Gala taking place April 29 in conjunction with Oceantic’s International Partnering Forum (IPF) in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The 2025 Ventus Award Finalists are:

Advancement in Project Siting and Development

Given to an individual, team, or company that has developed a technology, process, or demonstrated immense effort and collaboration to advance or improve offshore wind project development risk, cycle, or timeline.

Heerema Engineering Solutions – Delft, Netherlands
National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium (NOWRDC), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Joint Industry Project (JIP) Participants – Nationwide
OSI Renewables – The Heartlands, U.K.
TGS – Houston

Health, Safety, and Environment Program of the Year

Recognizes an organization’s successful implementation of policies and/or training programs.

Bardex Corporation – Goleta, California
Black & Veatch Construction (BVCI)– Overland Park, Kansas
HeliService USA – North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Sea Services North America – New London, Connecticut

Innovation of the Year

Singular innovation that will contribute to the acceleration of offshore wind.

Aikido Technologies – San Francisco, California
Barge Master – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Jaegar Maritime Solutions GmbH – Hanover, Germany
Ocergy – Oakland, California
Saildrone & RPS Tetra Tech – Alameda, California; Abingdon, England

Next Wave Leadership

Recognizes a professional who is 35 years old or younger and has been in the industry less than ten years.

Cameron Poole, GNO Inc.
Christen Wittman, Attentive Energy
Kyle Lang, PEAK Wind Renewables Services
Lexi Reynolds, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind
Sarah McElman, Avangrid Renewables

Offshore Wind Leadership

Given to a company or public entity that exhibits outstanding leadership, benefiting industry growth, development, and market maturation.

DEME Offshore US and Dominion Energy – Virginia
Fugro – Houston
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) – Albany, New York
Riggs Distler – Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Offshore Wind Trailblazer

The Offshore Wind Trailblazer award is given to an individual that exhibits outstanding leadership proven through their ability to instigate/bring about industry growth, development, and market maturation.

Andy Benedetto, United Brotherhood of Carpenters – North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters – Millwrights Local 1121
Deanne Hargrave, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind
Michael Tosi, HeliService USA
Rick Robins, RWE
Tershara Matthews, WSP

Supply Chain Advancement - Private Sector

Recognizes a company that is making a lasting contribution to the advancement of the offshore wind energy supply chain.

Barge Master – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Crowley – Jacksonville, Florida
LS GreenLink USA – Chesapeake, Virginia
Ørsted and Edison Chouest Offshore – Boston and Providence, Rhode Island; Houma, Louisiana
Sea Services North America – New London, Connecticut

Supply Chain Advancement - Public Sector

Recognizes a company that is making a lasting contribution to the advancement of the offshore wind energy supply chain.

Baltimore County Government – Baltimore
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) – Albany, New York
Port of Albany – Albany, New York
Virginia Economic Development Partnership – Richmond, Virginia

Talent Management Leadership

Recognizes individuals who nurture and develop a new generation of leaders.

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind – Atlantic City, New Jersey
DEME Offshore US and Local 56 Pile Drivers – Boston
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) – Trenton, New Jersey
Dr. Subrina D. Oliver, O-High Foundation – Plainview, New York

Viterna Award for Engineering Excellence

Recognizes excellence in engineering that advances the offshore wind energy industry.

Aikido Technologies – San Francisco, California
Linxon – Raleigh, North Carolina
Vaisala – Louisville, Colorado
Wave Power Engineering – Queensland, Australia

Ventus Gala | ventusgala.com

Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/