U2030 Announces 2025 Women Who SPARK Award Winners

iedmonds5
Oct 13
2 min read

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 – Seattle, WA – The Utility 2030 Leadership Collaborative (U2030) proudly announced the winners of its 2025 Women Who SPARK Awards at a special dinner gala on September 16 at Ivar's, held during the U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting in Seattle.

The Women Who SPARK Awards honor extraordinary women who are shaping the future of utility leadership, innovation, and transformation. Selected through a rigorous, panel-based scoring process, this year’s honorees exemplify the spirit of the award: bold leaders driving meaningful change while championing the growth and success of others across the industry.

“We believe in hiring the best person for the job—and far too often, the best person is flying under the radar,” says Vanessa Edmonds, CEO of U2030 and founder of the Women Who SPARK Awards. “Our goal is to bring these leaders’ contributions to the forefront so others can see what they’re capable of, consider them for roles with increasing responsibility, and follow in their footsteps.”

Although more than half of utility customers are women, female leaders remain underrepresented in roles that shape programs, products, and services. The Women Who SPARK Awards aim to change that paradigm by elevating the visibility of high-performing women across utilities and solution providers, ensuring their leadership and impact are recognized and celebrated.

2025 Women Who SPARK Award Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award

Raquel Berg, Vice President of Member Services, Connexus Energy

Team Award

Amanda Ercanbrack, Director of Customer Service, Provo City

Annalee Larsen, Utility Billing Manager, Provo City

Britny Densley, Call Center Manager, Provo City

Individual Utility Employee Awards

Angie Byford, Manager of Administration HR, SEMO Electric Cooperative & GOSEMO Fiber

Kirsten DePersis, Director of Facilities, Security & Emergency Operations, SMUD

Leah Davidge, Director of Gas Operations, BGE

Brenda Figueroa, Customer Service Manager, Georgia Power Company

Beth Huerta, Client Services Manager, Global Water Resources

Jessica McColgin, Manager, Customer and Community Outreach, Puget Sound Energy

Tanya Terrell, Director of Customer Care, BGE

Individual Solution Provider Employee Awards

Rebecca Houser, Operations Manager, ContactPoint 360

Michelle Whittaker, Vice President of Marketing, InvoiceCloud

Lee Ann Head, Vice President, Research and Insights, Franklin Energy

Learn More About Our Winners

Over the coming weeks, we will publish articles about our winners’ contributions to utility innovation, transformation, and paying it forward. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for new insights.

About the RADIATE Women’s Leadership Program

In addition to the Women Who SPARK Awards, U2030 supports the advancement of women through the RADIATE Women’s Leadership Program—an exceptional leadership development experience to help women thrive in high-pressure utility careers.

It is the only program that combines personal leadership development—such as mastering crucial conversations, personal branding, and inclusive leadership—with a deep understanding of utility operations, customer experience, and the drivers of innovation and transformation.

The 2025-2026 class starts October 16, 2025, and many of the Women Who SPARK Award winners are paying it forward by serving as session leaders and mentors.