Smart Energy Decisions (SED) presented the fourth annual Women in Smart Energy (WISE) Awards on April 23, 2025, at its Net Zero Forum Spring held at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Lost Pines, Texas. SED is thrilled to continue to raise the profile of the important work being done by women in energy and sustainability through this award program. Open to women in commercial, industrial, institutional (higher education and healthcare), and government organizations, the 2025 WISE Awards recognized leaders across the categories of Industry Veteran, Leadership, Project/Initiative, and Rising Star.

Project/Initiative: Recognizing a woman who has led or significantly contributed to a project for her organization or the wider smart energy industry

Alyssa Barbuto, Environmental Sustainability Lead, Honda 

With a clear vision of integrating sustainability into every aspect of business operations, Alyssa Barbuto is a passionate advocate for advancing environmental practices. As part of its commitment to reducing supply chain emissions, Honda created the Honda Green Excellence Academy to provide resources to guide suppliers in their own sustainability journeys. 

Alyssa has expertly guided the development of the program from inception, working closely with stakeholders to ensure the structure and content align with both Honda’s goals and the evolving needs of the supply chain. Alyssa’s efforts to support a simplified approach and messaging to suppliers helped outline the key objectives and methods of the Transform: Auto program, which is designed to reduce Scope 3 emissions within the global automotive industry.  

Nicole Bridges, Project Manager, Medxcel 

Nicole Bridges became a driving force for sustainability and energy conservation at one of Medxcel’s largest managed hospitals.  Over the past year, she spearheaded several critical infrastructure projects aimed at decarbonization and energy reduction. This includes the implementation of Advanced Building Automation System controls for surgical operations, central utility plant improvements, and a new high-pressure steam-to-hot water conversion system for a children’s hospital to reduce Scope 1 usage. Nicole’s collaborative approach has been instrumental in advancing the campus’s energy savings and decarbonization objectives. Overall, her projects are currently on track to contribute over 5% energy savings, demonstrating her pivotal role in driving tangible results. 

Sarah Emerson, Environmental Services Specialist, City of San José 

Sarah Emerson acted as a driving force behind the creation and growth of the Electric Homes San José program from its planning and implementation to the evaluation of its impact. This vital electrification initiative focused on advancing gas-to-electric fuel switching in the residential sector, with a special emphasis on supporting communities facing high energy burdens. Beyond her administrative strengths, Sarah’s innovative thinking and organizational skills were essential in strategizing outreach and implementation practices that effectively reached and engaged the community. By fostering meaningful partnerships with external stakeholders and engaging with community-based organizations and residents of San José, Sarah played a key role in launching this program. The results are making a significant impact in reducing one of the city’s most prominent sources of greenhouse gas emissions, building energy consumption. 

Dr. Maryann Tebben, Director, Center for Food and Resilience (CFaR), Bard College at Simon’s Rock  

Dr. Maryann Tebben is the Founding Director of the Center for Food and Resilience at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. She developed a strategy, obtained funding and guides the initiative, which is the college’s home for all its sustainability efforts. Its farm program routinely produces enough to supply the college’s dining hall and the local food pantry. Maryann also organized and supervised campus-wide “move-out” collections to achieve compliance with Mass General laws around textile disposal and recycling.  CFaR has also provided work-study jobs to many students who have greatly benefited from Maryann’s guidance and care and have grown exponentially from all of her teachings and directives.   

Leadership: Recognizing a woman who has demonstrated excellence in leadership either within her own organization or the wider smart energy industry

Lisa Belokur, Vice President of Planning & Facilities Management, Georgetown University  

Lisa Belokur has consistently demonstrated leadership in integrating sustainability into the University’s operations and projects. She has effectively empowered and led team members to develop and execute sustainable initiatives throughout campus. Under her leadership, Georgetown University has progressed rapidly in approving an energy efficiency plan that will reduce Energy Usage Intensity by 35% by 2031. She has also spearheaded the revival of the Georgetown Zero Waste Program, which increased recycling and compost effectiveness across campus. Lisa’s leadership has seen sustainability practices like achieving LEED platinum on a new academic building and designing two buildings, one completed now and one in design, that will reach minimum LEED gold. 

Charlene Heydinger, President, Texas PACE Authority

Under Charlene Heydinger’s leadership, the organization is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. Beginning in 2015, under a new, untested statute, the nonprofit has grown to serve 103 local governments reaching 75% of the Texas population, facilitating half a billion dollars in new energy and water saving privately funded investments for businesses and nonprofits throughout the state. Charlene’s success in facilitating private sector investment in sustainability has preserved natural resources from waste, reduced operating expenses for businesses and nonprofits, brought underutilized and vacant buildings back to life, increased local tax base, created places of employment, and reduced harmful emissions, all at no cost to local governments or taxpayers. 

Allison Porter, Director of Real Estate Technology & Innovation, HP Inc. 

Allison Porter’s dedication and innovative approach has significantly contributed to HP Inc.’s organizational success in sustainability, particularly in her outstanding work in aligning HP Inc.’s sustainability and business strategies. As Director of Sustainable Real Estate, Allison drove meaningful change in her organization by setting thoughtful goals and focusing on quick wins that advance HP Inc.’s long-term decarbonization impact. She oversaw the global real estate sustainability strategy for over 200 HP sites, demonstrating exceptional leadership and vision. She also developed the real estate strategy for HP Inc.’s ambitious “Sustainable Impact 2030” program focusing on the flows of energy, water and waste at HP sites. Allison’s efforts have not only positioned HP as a leader in sustainability but have also inspired broader industry change. As of March 2025, Allison’s role has expanded to include broader responsibility for technology and innovation in HP’s global corporate real estate.

Monica Walker, Renewable and Energy Strategy Manager, General Motors 

Monica Walker won her first WISE Award as a Rising Star in 2022 and is now fulfilling that promise as she exemplifies outstanding leadership qualities and actions in the realm of energy and sustainability. Monica leads a team focused on executing GM’s strategy, including wind and solar power purchase agreements and green tariff contracts. Notably, Monica helped secure the final contracts needed for GM to achieve its US renewable electricity goal of sourcing 100% of electricity from renewables by the end of 2025. Monica’s leadership has significantly impacted her organization and the wider industry through her dedicated mentorship of her direct reports, interns and rotational employees. Monica’s positive influence inspires others at GM to prioritize employee development and support, creating a ripple effect of growth and opportunity. 

Industry Veteran: Recognizing a woman with more than 10 years of experience who has made — and continues to make — a positive impact on the smart energy industry

Krysten Cruz, Energy Procurement Lead, General Motors 

Krysten Cruz has made a significant impact by leading the company’s participation in three industrial energy ratepayer interest groups in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, where she supports advocacy toward reliable, affordable and increasingly decarbonized energy supplies. Krysten’s leadership not only benefits GM but also strengthens the voice of industrial members in complex utility cases and proposed energy legislation, showcasing her influence in promoting sustainable energy practices across the broader industry. Krysten has also taken the initiative to mentor interns in the energy and sustainability fields. By sharing her knowledge and experience, she helps to cultivate the next generation of professionals in this critical area, demonstrating her commitment to education and leadership.  

Rising Star: Recognizing a woman with less than 10 years of experience in the smart energy industry who is already making a positive impact

Jasmine Jain, Environmental Services Specialist, City of San Jose 

With just over two years of experience, Jasmine Jain has already made a significant impact in equity and environmental justice within the smart energy and sustainability space. Jasmine took over leadership of the City’s GoGreen Teams program and led the development of new climate education efforts with a contractor to implement Spanish-language presentations and outreach. Through her collaboration with local partners and City departments, including Project Hope – an innovative neighborhood engagement and empowerment program aimed at improving quality of life in underserved areas of San José –  Jasmine leveraged trusted community relationships and language access tools to promote the City’s 2024 Home Electrification Webinar Series and reduce technological, language, and access barriers to attendance. Jasmine also initiated and oversaw an audit conducted in collaboration with the Office of Racial and Social Equity, working to develop standardized metrics for assessing equity across City climate initiatives.

To learn more about Climate Smart and the City of San José’s climate initiatives, visit climatesmartsj.org.

Christina Sivulka, Global Sustainability Senior Manager, EnerSys 

Christina Sivulka has achieved significant milestones that have been pivotal in the company’s sustainability journey. She has spearheaded initiatives that have made EnerSys’ processes more energy-efficient, such as reducing energy intensity of operations. Christina collaborates with the Department of Energy’s Better Plants Program to learn and share best practices, establishing herself as both a learner and a leader in the rapidly evolving energy sector. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity in sustainability efforts, Christina also founded the first Sustainability Business Resource Group at EnerSys, which now boasts over 400 members. Christina is a trusted ambassador for EnerSys, representing the company at various industry forums and events and demonstrating her expertise and growing influence in the field.

Alison Ward, Sustainability Supervisor, Boise School District 

Alison Ward’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing sustainability across the Boise School District.  From spearheading energy efficiency initiatives that reduce operational costs and environmental impact to implementing programs that curb food waste, Alison ensures that sustainability is not just a practice, but a value embedded in throughout the school district. She has partnered closely with organizations like Idaho Power and the City of Boise to develop forward-thinking solutions, making the district a model of sustainability in education. A hallmark of Alison’s work is her focus on education and empowerment. Through academic enrichment opportunities, hands-on activities, and curriculum development, as well as the establishment of “Green Teams” at every school, she has created pathways for teachers and students to become informed advocates for sustainability.