Patti Wilson Leadership Program 2025 Winners

The Patti Wilson Leadership Program:
2025 Award Winners

The Patti Wilson Leadership Program was launched in 2024 to honor the legacy of former International District Energy Association (IDEA) Chair and longtime Board Member Patti Wilson. 

Patti embraced the essence of IDEA through her passion for connecting people, a commitment to lifelong learning, and her warm spirit of collegiality.  This program is underwritten in part through the generous support of Affiliated Engineers, Inc (AEI), her long term employer, and IDEA.  

The award was presented at the annual IDEA Campus Energy Conference, where Patti’s many years of professionalism and leadership helped to advance the industry. The primary intent of the program is to attract and foster participation of promising young women in the district energy industry and support emerging leadership potential to continue advancing the global mission of IDEA.

On February 4 at CampusEnergy2025 in Boston, at our inaugural awards ceremony, we were pleased to honor eight Patti Wilson Leadership Award recipients who exemplify Patti's spirit and dedication to the specialty. 

Megan Campbell
Smith Group
Pittsburgh, PA

I was first introduced to the Patti Wilson Leadership Program through my colleagues and mentor at SmithGroup. I consider myself fortunate to work alongside such dedicated individuals who are genuinely invested in my professional growth. Their support has reinforced my belief in the importance of continuous learning, not only for personal development but also for fostering a culture of design excellence within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction field. Upon learning about this opportunity to apply, I was eager to further expand my knowledge of district energy systems, microgrids, decarbonization strategies, and campus energy planning – fields that have intrigued me since my undergraduate studies and have continued to grow in significance throughout my professional career.

 

Madeline "Mary" Cotter
University of Virginia (Undergrad)
Rochester, NY

Originally, I learned about IDEA through conversations with Ted Borer (just retired from the Princeton TIGER CUB program) and Rob Thornton (IDEA President and CEO). I am connected to IDEA on LinkedIn and follow their posts. It is interesting to check out anything they highlight. Paul Zmick (IDEA Board of Directors), my mentor and employer at the University of Virginia (UVA), sent me information about the Patti Wilson Leadership Program scholarship since he knows I hold multiple student leadership roles at UVA, am planning a career in District Energy advancement, and that I would be very excited to attend this year’s conference!  

Paige Davis
Austin Energy
Austin, TX

My first introduction to IDEA was in 2015 when I was hired as a summer intern after graduating from Boston University. During my time on staff I was fortunate enough to meet Patti Wilson at a few different events where she was always welcoming and supportive. So I was very pleased to hear about the Leadership Program in her honor.

Rebecca Grekin
Stanford University (Ph.D. Candidate)
Mountain View, CA

I saw the news about this new leadership program through a newsletter email from IDEA early last month. I was also encouraged to apply by Joan Ang, the Energy & Carbon Manager at Western University, one of the universities that is participating in my research project that is described in more detail below, and that I will be presenting about at IDEA CampusEnergy 2025. I first heard of Patti Wilson during one of the keynote lunch speeches during CampusEnergy 2024 and was moved by the impact she had on those who knew her.


People spoke of her with love and enthusiasm. It was clear that Patti made a huge difference within the IDEA community - something that is incredibly inspiring, particularly as there are so few women in this space it is often easy (and often easier) to remain invisible.

Emma Luis
Circadia Group
Brooklyn, NY

Since joining Circadia Group as a Project Manager a year ago, IDEA has been a recurring theme when talking about our company’s success over the past few years. IDEA has been a transformative network for Circadia since 2021. Through our involvement, we have been able to connect with new clients and expand our footprint in district energy on large campuses. The access to industry leaders, resources, and strategic partnerships has played a crucial role in strengthening our presence as experts in district energy project management.

Grace Mwangi
Corix
Vancouver, BC, CANADA

I first came across the Patti Wilson Leadership Program through IDEA’s LinkedIn page and website. As someone committed to growing my career in the district energy field, I was immediately drawn to the program’s focus on empowering emerging female leaders. I was excited by the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of professionals and interact with like-minded peers. In October, I had the opportunity to attend the online session about Master Planning hosted by the Young Professionals Group (YPG) which was an eye-opening discussion that sparked my interest to attend the upcoming Campus Energy Conference.

Anna Schappert
Efficiency Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA

I learned of the Patti Wilson Leadership Program from my manager, who discovered it recently through the International District Energy Association email newsletter. My manager and I have both also recently become aware of the IDEA as part of our collective investigation into ground source district energy systems and thermal energy networks more broadly. The IDEA has stood out to us as an excellent resource to enhance our understanding of district energy systems, and key considerations for their design and application.

Sandra Turner
University of Minnesota (Undergrad)
Plymouth, MN

I learned about the Patti Wilson Leadership Program and IDEA through one of my academic scholarship sponsors at the University of Minnesota, who was a member of IDEA for nearly 20 years. My sponsor has shared insights about the organization’s dedication to energy innovation and sustainability and encouraged me to explore this opportunity. Their guidance and belief in my potential have inspired me to apply for this scholarship.