"It goes without saying that Bill is a leader in our industry," said THD founder and CEO Tim Hunter. "After more than 30 years of experience with some of the best companies around, he has acquired a breadth of knowledge and experience few can match. His outstanding people skills enable him to pursue, develop and close challenging new business opportunities. Almost as important - his thoughtful, calm and organized demeanor ensures that complex projects are completed successfully and cost-effectively."
Early in his career, Groener worked primarily in design and production in both regional and academic theatre. After working as an Assistant Professor at Williams College, he joined the Walt Disney Company as a lighting designer for theme park projects.
Post Disney, he moved away from design and production and toward the manufacturing side of the industry - primarily with Strand Lighting. In the mid-90s, he and his family moved to the Northeast where they remain today. For the past 14 years, Groener worked with first Barbizon and later PRG where he became the vice-president/general manager of their Systems Integration Group.
"PRG is a great company and I will miss my friends and colleagues who work there," said Groener. "But - the opportunity to join THD and become Tim's partner was just too good an opportunity to pass up. Tim Hunter Design is an exciting company with great clients and interesting projects. I am eager to work with the talented staff and help them achieve even more."
Throughout his career, Bill has been actively involved in the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA). For ESTA, he has served in a variety of roles on the Board of Directors, has chaired the Technical Standards Committee and currently serves as the President of the association. He also serves on the boards of both The ESTA Foundation and the Southern Connecticut Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
(Lee Baldock)
