Jackie Sargent, General Manager of Texas public power utility Austin Energy, has been selected as the 2022 “ETS Thought Leader of the Year,” Zpryme announced on April 12.
Zpryme is a research-based firm in Austin, Texas, with services focused on energy and technology.
ETS refers to the Energy Thought Summit, is Zpyrme’s signature annual event that brings energy and industry thought leaders together to share ideas and work to solve some of today’s most pressing energy problems.
Sargent was chosen for the recognition among a group of peers following voting by ETS alumni and committee members.
The award salutes an individual among the ETS community of thought leaders “who possesses the type of inventive and brave vision needed to inspire the global energy ecosystem toward sustainable modernization,” Zpryme said.
Previous award winners include Paul Lau, CEO and General Manager of SMUD (2021), Calvin Butler, Senior Vice President and COO at Exelon (2020), and Gil Quiniones, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) (2019).
Sargent, along with other industry nominees, was first identified by the ETS22 Advisory Committee and Zpryme staff in January before the voters made the ultimate decision.
“With her over 30 years of energy experience, Jackie knows how to drive real change, and she knows how to get customers excited and engaged,” said Jason Rodriguez, Zpryme Co-Founder and CEO. “Jackie is driving innovation inside and outside of Austin Energy, by focusing on five core values; safety, financial integrity, operational excellence and reliability, exceptional customer service and engaged employees.”
“I am honored to be named ‘ETS Thought Leader of the Year’ and to join the ranks of my respected colleagues who have received this recognition before me,” Sargent said. “To be chosen by my peers, from a group of some of the most talented people in the energy sector, is humbling, but is really a testament to the Austin Energy staff who inspire me every day.”
Zpryme noted that Sargent oversees Austin Energy’s exceptional reliability and advancements in grid technology. Because of her work, the utility has been able and will continue to offer new levels of communication and collaboration with its customers.
Sargent was honored during a ceremony on April 14 during the Energy Thought Summit in downtown Austin.
