Trish Nilsen ’88, CEO of New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), was named by Rochester Business Journal as a 2026 Women of Excellence honoree.
Nilsen, who earned a bachelor's degree in English from Alfred University in 1988, is a member of the Alfred University Board of Trustees. She also earned a master’s degree in English from Syracuse University in 1990 and a master’s degree in adult education from Elmira College in 1996.
She was appointed president and CEO of Avangrid companies New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) in 2022 and is the first woman to lead the company in its 175-year history.
Avangrid is a leading energy company working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses nationwide through service, innovation, and continued investments in expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, including NYSEG and RG&E, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. As CEO, Nilsen leads the NYSEG and RG&E teams which serve more than 1.2 million electric and 579,000 natural gas customers across more than 40 percent of Upstate New York. She has more than three decades of experience in the energy sector, beginning her career at NYSEG in 1992 in Human Resources.
“The 2026 Women of Excellence are trailblazers who demonstrate extraordinary leadership,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Rochester Business Journal, said in an RBJ press release announcing the awards. “These women elevate, educate, mentor, support, and empower other women and help to make Rochester a wonderful place to live and work.”
“This recognition speaks to Trish’s many years of unwavering service and leadership at Avangrid,” José Antonio Miranda, Avangrid CEO, said in the press release. “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.”
The Women of Excellence were honored at an awards celebration in May at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.