Skip to main content
Headshot.jpg

Bluewater Thermal Solutions Appoints Patrick McKenna as Chief Executive Officer

1:17 Min read time
JULY 7, 2025
BACK TO ARTICLES

BWT LLC (“Bluewater Thermal Solutions” or “Bluewater”), a portfolio company of Aterian Investment Partners (“Aterian”), today announced the appointment of Patrick McKenna as Chief Executive Officer and Director, effective immediately.

McKenna brings more than 25 years of leadership and innovation experience in the metals thermal processing industry. He most recently served as President & CEO of Ipsen USA, a global provider of vacuum furnace technology to the thermal processing sector. In that role, he led all corporate operations, overseeing a team of more than 250 employees at Ipsen’s U.S.-based Vacuum Center of Excellence, while driving commercial success across international markets.

Prior to Ipsen, McKenna was most recently Co-Founder, Board Member, and Vice President of Nevada Heat Treating / California Brazing. There, he helped transform the business from a traditional commercial heat treating operation into a world-class Nadcap-accredited provider of turnkey manufacturing solutions serving major aerospace OEMs.

“I’m honored to join Bluewater Thermal Solutions at such a dynamic time for the industry,” said McKenna. “With a strong operational footprint, a dedicated team, and a reputation for technical excellence, Bluewater is well-positioned for growth. I’m eager to work alongside our employees, customers, and partners to build on the company’s momentum and drive our capabilities forward.”

Brandon Bethea, Co-Founder and Partner at Aterian, expressed strong confidence in the new leadership:

“Patrick has excelled in every role he’s taken on. His deep industry expertise and sharp eye for commercial growth make him the ideal leader to guide Bluewater into its next phase. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team.”

About Bluewater Thermal Solutions: Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Bluewater Thermal Solutions is one of North America’s largest providers of heat treating and brazing services. The company operates ten strategically located facilities across the U.S., offering a wide range of thermal processing capabilities, including annealing, carburizing, carbonitriding, hardening, nitriding, nitrocarburizing, vacuum heat treating, boronizing, and more.

About Aterian Investment Partners: Aterian Investment Partners is a private equity firm that invests in industry-leading, middle market businesses. In collaboration with management, Aterian holistically supports organizations with a focus on strategic positioning, people, processes, equipment, technology, and product innovation. With offices in New York and Florida, Aterian has raised cumulative equity commitments of more than $2 billion since its founding in 2009.

For more information, please visit http://www.aterianpartners.com

Tell us how we can help

Bluewater Thermal Solutions specializes in all types of heat treating processes including brazing, nitriding, boronizing, carbonitriding & carburizing, and more. We offer a wide array of heat treating and boronizing processes at 11 different locations. To find out how we can serve your induction hardening needs, call us today at 877.990.0050, or request a quote on our website for services.

Get a Quote
Have a question? Need a custom quote?
Close popup Have a question?
Need a custom quote?