40 YEARS AND THREE GENERATIONS OF SERVING THE TRI-CITIES
TOTAL ENERGY'S FIRST GENERATION
Originally from West Virginia, Roger DeWitt ended up in the Tri-Cities when his parents relocated to Richland to pursue work at the Hanford Project. When Roger finished high school in 1960, he immediately enlisted with the US Air Force where he served 6 years in Canada and was honorably discharged in 1966. While on this active duty, Roger met his wife, Lin. After just 13 days, Roger and Lin were married in Ontario, Canada. Shortly after, the newlyweds moved to Richland, WA where they planted their roots and started a family. The couple had 3 children, Brad, Aaron and Sydelle.
After returning to Richland, Roger spent 20 years in the paper and pulp industry when he decided he was ready for something new. Roger took a chance and ventured into business on his own in 1984 and started Total Energy Management, a 5-employee refrigeration company. TEM began in a tiny office in West Richland, and eventually a small fabrication shop was added down the street at a different location. In 1992, they expanded to a new, 5,000 square foot facility in Richland where the company operated out of until eventually building a new facility in 2017.
Roger’s two sons, Brad and Aaron joined the family business in the mid 90’s, bringing with them diverse backgrounds in the electrical technology and engineering fields. With their involvement, TEM’s growth was set into motion and the company expanded its services to include HVAC service, replacement HVAC, electrical, automation and controls, and complete fabrication design.
Roger, Brad and Aaron were in business together for almost 20 years when the two sons bought the company from their father in 2010. Roger spent his retired years doing what he loved most, anything that involved classic cars and hot rods. He was also known to stop by the office every now and then just to check in on his sons and the business he had started many years before. Roger DeWitt passed away April 30th, 2020 and is missed by everyone at TEM and all of the people in the community that were lucky enough to know him.
TOTAL ENERGY'S SECOND GENERATION
Today, Total Energy Management is celebrating almost 40 years of business in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas. TEM is currently operating out of its new 25,000-square-foot facility in Richland to accommodate the company’s growth over the years. Brad and Aaron have taken the small 5-employee refrigeration company and transformed it into what is now a full contracting firm with over 130 employees.
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With both Brad and Aaron being part of the family business for over 30 years, they have worked hard to expand Total Energy Management while staying small business-focused. With a solid foundation laid by Roger, the brothers were able to take the company to new heights and expand its offerings, both residentially, and commercially. Between the three of them, Roger, Brad and Aaron have created a successful company with strong ties to the community, staff and other stakeholders that have contributed to make Total Energy Management what it is today.
COMMUNITY
TEM has long preached a “family first” mentality to its employees and the community. We pride ourselves in being involved in our community in a variety of ways. Whether it’s our holiday giving or fundraising through our TEM Charitable Giving Foundation, TEM recognizes the importance of being able to give back to the community that it has been a part of for almost 40 years.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
At TEM, customer service is our number 1 priority, laying the foundation for our company’s success. We strive to exceed customer and client expectations with every project we complete. Our team is committed to delivering service that goes above and beyond to provide the best experience for you.
INTEGRITY
As a 2nd generation family-owned business, integrity stands at the pinnacle of our values. At TEM, we take immense pride in consistently providing exceptional services and innovative solutions to our customers across all market segments we serve. Our commitment to prioritizing integrity is evident in how we stand behind every product and service we offer. The loyalty and repeat business from our customers serve as a testament to our belief in the power of integrity.