-

IDEA Announces Recipients of Annual Patti Wilson Leadership Program Awards

Twenty-One Women Honored as Emerging Leaders in the District Energy Industry

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International District Energy Association (IDEA) today announced the 21 recipients of the annual Patti Wilson Leadership Program Awards at CampusEnergy2026—IDEA’s annual conference for district energy professionals focused on sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon energy infrastructure for higher education and other campus environments.

Patti Wilson was a beloved colleague, board member, and friend of IDEA. Following her passing in 2024, her former employer, Affiliated Engineers, worked with IDEA to establish the program to advance and increase the participation of promising young women in the district energy industry.

Award recipients (in alphabetical order) are:

  • Isabella Amyx, Mechanical Engineer, EIT, Nline Energy
  • Ninabella Arlis, Senior & Green Transition Initiative Intern, Georgetown University
  • Karleigh Bubeck, Undergraduate and Co-op Program, University of Pittsburgh/Cordia
  • Selva Calixto, Ph.D., CEO & Founder, Sustainable Heating Consulting
  • Abby Diekmann, Senior Mechanical Engineer, University of Minnesota
  • Rachel Dybro, Assistant Mechanical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell
  • Taylor Mott Elton, Utility Construction Project Manager, University of Florida
  • Kaylee Esgar, Utility Management Engineering Intern and Master's Candidate, University of Wyoming
  • Ashley Falcon, Electrical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell
  • Nicole Lainez, Graduate Student, University of Minnesota
  • Zixuan Liu, Regulatory Affairs, Corix
  • Valeria Mera, Energy Innovator Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy/New York Department of Public Service
  • Colleen Murphy, Lead Engineer, Future of Heat Engineering Division, National Grid
  • Taran Narang, Director of Controllership, Enwave Energy Corporation
  • Alexis Omilion, Director, Business Development, Corix
  • Linnea Paton, Section Manager, Con Edison
  • Colleen Shea, Mechanical Engineer, CHA
  • Anoushka Tamhane, Sophomore, Climate Systems Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Bea Tanada, Junior Project Manager, Corix
  • Marya Thawer, Building Performance Analyst, Introba
  • Ashley Wagner, Campus Engineer, Vanderbilt University

“Patti Wilson embodied the very best of IDEA, with collegiality, collaboration, and the courage to expand our industry’s comfort zone through advocacy and global engagement,” said Rob Thornton, president & CEO, IDEA. “This year, it was a privilege to recognize our esteemed class and celebrate the future of district energy. I am confident our industry’s future is in capable, mission-driven hands.”

IDEA thanks Affiliated Engineers for its sponsorship and partnership in this year’s Patti Wilson Awards program, with additional support from Bond, CenTrio, Ever-Green Energy, and Corix.

To learn more about the award recipients, visit: https://www.districtenergy.org/membership-services/awards-scholarships/patti-wilson-leadership/patti-wilson-leadership2025778.

About IDEA

The International District Energy Association (IDEA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit industry association founded in 1909 and based in Massachusetts, USA. Representing nearly 3,000 members across more than 30 countries, IDEA champions district heating, district cooling, thermal networks, and combined heat and power (CHP) as reliable, efficient, and sustainable solutions. Its mission is to foster the success of its members as global leaders in advancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and building resilient, sustainable communities.

Contacts

Media Relations
Kayla Fedorowicz, Greenough Communications
kfedorowicz@greenoughagency.com

Industry:

International District Energy Association

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Media Relations
Kayla Fedorowicz, Greenough Communications
kfedorowicz@greenoughagency.com

More News From International District Energy Association

International District Energy Association Announces Speakers and Program for CampusEnergy2026

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International District Energy Association (IDEA) will host its 39th annual CampusEnergy conference, CampusEnergy2026, February 17–20, 2026, at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center near Washington, D.C. Under the theme “Advancing Thermal Networks,” the conference will bring together more than 1,200 district energy campus and community energy leaders for four days of workshops, technical sessions, case studies, and sold-out tours at Georgetown Univers...

District Energy Leaders to Tackle Energy Transition at IDEA’s CampusEnergy2026 in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International District Energy Association (IDEA) has announced that registration is open for CampusEnergy2026, its 39th annual campus energy conference, to be held February 17-20, 2026, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C. More than 1,200 energy professionals, policymakers, and technology innovators are expected to attend the four-day event, which will spotlight district energy, microgrids, and thermal energy networks as essen...

IDEA Joins Canada’s Clean Energy Leaders at the 2025 Clean50 Summit

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International District Energy Association (IDEA) is proud to sponsor the 2025 Clean50 Summit, Canada’s premier event recognizing and connecting leaders in sustainability. Hosted at Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto, the Clean50 Summit convenes innovators from across Canada who are shaping the path toward a cleaner, more resilient, and inclusive energy future. Since 2011, the Clean50 Summit has united leaders from business, government, higher education, and the nonpro...
Back to Newsroom