RENTON, WA, November 29, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Brian Thomas has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are taken into account during the selection process.
Throughout his life, Mr. Thomas strived to quietly make a positive and substantial impact. From his childhood in Tacoma, WA to his retirement in Renton, WA he has left a trail of incremental improvement in government, technology and community.
As a youth he worked in a wide range of jobs from foundry worker, meter reader, and ground keeper ultimately graduating from college with an engineering degree, attending law school and, later received an MBA.
He joined the U.S. Coast Guard shortly after graduation from Oregon State University and served as a Civil Engineer and Operation Officer on a CG Cutter. Joining the CG Reserves he retired with the rank of Captain. He was instrumental in restructuring the CG Reserve to make it more responsive to national emergencies. After his service with the CG he was Deputy Director Designate of the Department of Transportation in Region 10 for the National Defense Executive Reserve in the Pacific NW.
Employed at Puget Sound Power and Light Co., now Puget Sound Energy, he ascended from Senior Sales Engineer to head the research department. He had an integral part in bringing wind energy and fuel cells to the notice of industry as Chair of the Renewable Energy Committee of the Electric Power Research Institute and Chair of the Edison Electric Institute Research Management Committee. He was also on the Advisory Board of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. CO and the Electrical Engineering Advisory Committee at Oregon State University.
Elected in 1998 to his local school board he served 4 years until he was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives where he served for 8 years. Representative Thomas championed charter schools, open government and tax reform. He served as Chair of the Finance Committee for 6 years and was prime sponsor of many successful tax reform bills, as well as the Chair of the School Construction Task Force and a member of the State Forecast Council.
Retiring from military service, political office and industry, he continues his active participation in Rotary and Freemasonry. As a 33˚ Scottish Rite Mason he continues on the Washington State Board of Early Life Speech and Language, dedicated to helping children with speech challenges.
He is also very active in Friendship Force International having been President of the Seattle-Tacoma organization and has traveled on behalf of FFI to over 20 countries promoting peace and understanding.
The local community recognizes Mr. Thomas as having been a Trustee of the King County Municipal League, a Director of the Preston Arboretum, a Cub and Boy Scout leader and an active participant in community affairs.
Mr. Thomas now focuses his business attention on his winery and vineyard in Manson, WA and investing in growth businesses in the Pacific NW.
Mr. Thomas has been featured in 19 editions of Who's Who in the West, 10 editions of Who's Who in America, seven editions of Who's Who in American Politics and one edition of Who's Who in the World.
About Marquis Who's Who :
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America , Marquis Who's Who has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America , Who's Who in the World , Who's Who in American Law , Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare , Who's Who in Science and Engineering , and Who's Who in Asia . Marquis publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #