Colorado Spring, Colo. (September 04, 2019) — PNM Resources Chairman, President, and CEO Patricia “Pat” Vincent-Collawn today was awarded the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI’s) Distinguished Leadership Award by her peers for her years of significant contributions and her ongoing commitment to the electric power industry.
"Pat is an exceptional leader whose vision, expertise, and actions continually elevate our industry and help ensure we are meeting the changing needs of our customers, our communities, and our workforce,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "From leading on clean energy, to developing energy policy, to navigating the challenges and opportunities we face every day, I can always count on her to provide valuable leadership on the issues most important to our industry."
The award, established to recognize outstanding individual achievement, was presented during EEI’s fall CEO and board of directors meeting.
Vincent-Collawn served as EEI chairman from June 2017 until June 2018, the first woman to hold the position, and she remains a member of EEI’s executive committee. As EEI chairman, Vincent-Collawn focused on building a more inclusive workforce that more strongly embraces the unique diversity of the different communities EEI’s member companies serve.
“Recruiting and retaining a diverse, highly skilled workforce that reflects the communities we serve are critical to the ongoing success of our industry,” said EEI Chairman Chris Crane, president and CEO of Exelon Corporation. “Pat is a steadfast leader for our industry who has helped to ensure that best practices on diversity and inclusion are being documented and shared throughout the industry.”
Vincent-Collawn hosted the industry’s first-ever diversity and inclusion forum with the goal of identifying best practices and outlining measurable performance goals and metrics for EEI member companies. She then led the development of a formal Diversity and Inclusion Commitment that was endorsed by EEI’s Board of Directors in June 2018.
As EEI chairman, Vincent-Collawn also focused on promoting the benefits of smart communities and explaining how smarter energy infrastructure can leverage the power of data and technology to improve sustainability, spur economic development, help drive efficiencies, and enhance the overall quality of life for their citizens.
“Every community has the opportunity to benefit from smarter technologies, and Pat has helped the industry lead the conversations on the ongoing electrification of our economy through investments in smarter energy infrastructure," said American Electric Power Chairman, President, and CEO Nick Akins. Akins received EEI’s Distinguished Leadership Award in 2017.
Vincent-Collawn has been an industry leader on major policy issues, such as tax reform and wildfire mitigation, and she continues to work with the Department of Interior and tribal nations to ensure electric companies can access and maintain critical energy infrastructure.
“I congratulate Pat on this well-deserved award," said Dominion Energy Chairman, President, and CEO Tom Farrell. "During her time as EEI chairman, she led our industry’s outreach on the monumental tax reform legislation that has benefitted electricity customers across the country.” Farrell received EEI’s Distinguished Leadership Award in 2013.
Vincent-Collawn has more than 20 years of experience in the electric power industry. She served as president and chief operating officer of PNM Resources from 2008 to 2010 and as utilities president from 2007 to 2008. Before joining PNM Resources in 2007, she served as president and CEO of Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy. Prior to that, Vincent-Collawn worked at Arizona Public Service.
Vincent-Collawn currently is serving as chairman of the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent, nonprofit center for public interest energy and environmental research. She also serves as the chair of the New Mexico Partnership, the official business recruiting arm for the state of New Mexico, contracted by the New Mexico Economic Development Department to promote businesses locating and expanding in New Mexico. She is the former chair of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Kirtland Partnership Committee, and the United Way of Central New Mexico.
Vincent-Collawn earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Drake University, and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
