Patti Wilson Leadership Program

The Patti Wilson Leadership Program

The Patti Wilson Leadership Program is being 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 will be 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.
  

Eligibility

Program funds are restricted to female applicants pursuing an enhancement of knowledge of district energy, sustainability, urban planning or energy efficiency.

Applicants should be newly employed in the district energy industry (3 years or less) or currently enrolled in an undergraduate, masters or PhD program at an accredited college, university, community college or technical institute with a focus toward a degree in marketing, management, engineering, finance, energy, environmental studies or another relevant field.   

About Patti Wilson

Patti Wilson, IDEA Chair from 2014 to 2015 and a past board member and executive committee member.

Wilson was director of business development at Affiliated Engineers for 26 years. She held a bachelor’s degree from Towson State University and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland.

"Patti was a fixture at the IDEA Campus Energy Conference for many, many years, where her brilliant smile and warm heart welcomed all," said Rob Thornton, IDEA president and CEO. "She had a genuine, easy laugh, always looked you in the eye, and made time to listen, in the truest sense. Patti made it her mission to connect with people, especially those attending IDEA for the first time."

"She was always prepared, paid attention to detail and was simply a step ahead. I recall a time when IDEA was hosting a large delegation from Japan, and Patti arranged for the IDEA delegates to have our business cards two-sided printed in Japanese for proper presentation to our guests. She even coached us on how to present a card two-handed, facing the person with an appropriate depth of bow."