Vincent-Collawn earns EEI’s Distinguished Leadership Award
Patricia Vincent-Collawn, president, CEO, and chair of PNM Resources, was honored with the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI’s) Distinguished Leadership Award for her contributions and commitment to the electric power industry.
Vincent-Collawn also served as past chair of EEI, an association that represents electric companies. When she was appointed to that post in June 2017, she became the first woman to serve as chair. As EEI chair, Vincent-Collawn focused on building a more inclusive workforce that embraces the diversity of the various communities EEI’s member companies serve. Her term as chair ended in June 2018, but she remains a member of EEI’s executive committee.
“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,” EEI President Tom Kuhn said. “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.”
Among her achievements while chair, Vincent-Collawn hosted the industry’s first-ever diversity and inclusion forum. The objective of the forum was to identify best practices and outline performance metrics for EEI member companies. That led to the development of EEI’s Diversity and Inclusion Commitment, which was endorsed by EEI’s Board of Directors.
“Recruiting and retaining a diverse, highly skilled workforce that reflects the communities we serve are critical to the ongoing success of our industry,” EEI Chairman Chris Crane, president and CEO of Exelon Corporation, said. “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 also focused on promoting smart communities and how smarter energy infrastructure can improve sustainability, spur economic development, drive efficiencies, and enhance the quality of life for 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,” American Electric Power Chairman, President, and CEO Nick Akins said.
Vincent-Collawn has been with PNM Resources since 2007, serving in a variety of executive roles. She currently holds the title of president, CEO, and chair. Before that, she was president and CEO of Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy. She also worked at Arizona Public Service.
Vincent-Collawn 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. Also, she is the former chair of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Kirtland Partnership Committee, and the United Way of Central New Mexico. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Drake University and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.