Patricia Nilsen Honored as Distinguished Female Leader in Rochester Region
NYSEG and RGE CEO honored among Rochester Business Journal’s distinguished women leaders
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — May 7, 2026 — Rochester Business Journal has selected Trish Nilsen, CEO of New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), as a 2026 Women of Excellence honoree. The Women of Excellence awards recognize high-achieving women for their career accomplishments, including professional experience, community involvement, leadership, and sustained commitment to mentoring.
Nilsen was appointed as the Companies’ President and CEO in June 2022, the first woman to serve in that role in NYSEG and RG&E’s history. Nilsen began her career with NYSEG in 1992 in Human Resources before moving to Corporate Communications and Customer Service. She served in a number of high-profile leadership roles throughout her tenure, including director of Emergency Preparedness, where she led crisis response to system emergencies across all eight of AVANGRID’s electric and natural gas companies.
“This recognition speaks to Trish’s many years of unwavering service and leadership at Avangrid,” said José Antonio Miranda, Avangrid CEO. “Her commitment to our customers and employees has been constant throughout her tenure, and her thoughtful, steady leadership continues to strengthen our company. We are grateful for her enduring contributions and the example she sets for others.”
Nilsen has three decades of experience in the energy sector and continues to successfully guide New York toward disciplined, customer‑focused investments that strengthen reliability, modernize the grid, and build a more resilient, sustainable, and smart energy system that will serve customers for generations to come.
“The 2026 Women of Excellence are trailblazers who demonstrate extraordinary leadership,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Rochester Business Journal. “These women elevate, educate, mentor, support, and empower other women and help to make Rochester a wonderful place to live and work.”
The Women of Excellence will be honored at an awards celebration on May 14 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester.
Media Contact
Alexis Arnold