Distinguished Environmental Professional Awards

Honoring efforts for a sustainable industry


The Distinguished Environmental Professional Award was established by MEA in 2016 to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions in the environmental area, especially in the electric and gas utility sector.

This award, bestowed only when merited, acknowledges a specific breakthrough (such as an improvement or activity having a significant environmental impact) or achievement (such as a cooperative effort between industry, regulatory agencies, and/or local government) that has benefited the community of environmental professionals.

If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Denney at (651) 289-9600 x110.

Honorees

Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan

Principal – Environmental Remediation
NiSource, Inc.
Inducted 2023

Sullivan is an engineer who has been working for NiSource for almost 30 years, all of them in environmental remediation. Over these 30 years Sullivan has managed a large portfolio of environmental liability projects, ranging from former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) sites to Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste sites.

Tim Griseto

Tim Griseto

Sr. Environmental Coordinator
ComEd
Inducted 2022

Griseto has worked on numerous environmental initiatives over his 39-year career. These projects include the development of a soil containment bag, sediment filter bag, spill containment back, and spill tray for large transformers. These products significantly reduce operational environmental impacts and increase safety for ComEd crews.

James Milner

Larry Milner

Vice President and Environmental Practice Manager (Retired)
Burns & McDonnell
Inducted 2020, Honored 2021

Milner led more than 70 environmental professionals over 28 years of experience in Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) investigation, remediation and property restoration. Part of his career was spent writing numerous site investigation work plans and remedial action plans for government and industrial clients. Milner was also involved in multiple emergency response cleanups. He managed the Ambient Air Monitoring Program for Alliant Energy and was project coordinator for a toluene spill in Greene County, Pa. and assisted utilities such as Aquila, Peoples Gas, Nicor, and IE Utilities, Inc.

Mark Collins

Mark Collins

Principal Consultant (Retired)
We Energies
Inducted 2019

Collins worked as a Supervisory Hydrogeologist with the USEPA for six years and was a Principal Consultant with We Energies for 26 years. Collins served in multiple environmental areas such as remediation, waste, recycling, and disposal. His vision and leadership helped We Energies create a world class waste management program, saving the company tens of thousands of dollars, as well as increasing compliance performance in the company areas of operation.

James Gould

James Gould

Senior Program Manager (Retired)
Burns & McDonnell
Inducted 2018

Gould is recognized for his 35 years of experience in manufactured gas plant (MGP) site remediation and environmental consulting. Some of his contributions include decades of environmental consulting, acting as ‘The MGP Historian’, and mentoring many in the energy delivery industry. Jim founded some of the environmental approaches the energy industry uses today, assisted with regulatory guidance, and served for over 20 years on the MEA Environmental Committee.

Warren Mueller

Warren Mueller

Manager Environmental Assessments (Retired)
Ameren Missouri
Inducted 2017

Mueller received the award for his leadership and contributions toward advancing environmental excellence and public awareness of environmental efforts. Mueller has brought multiple states and companies together to discuss environmental challenges and more importantly solutions to the ever-changing regulations and environmentally sensitive issues encountered by all utility companies. His leadership, experience, insight, and willingness to challenge contractors to minimize waste have made a lasting impact on his organization and utility companies across the Midwest.

Nancy Huston

Nancy J Huston

President
Tall Oak Associates, Inc.
Inducted 2016

Nancy J. Huston spent 33 years with Nicor Gas, before starting her own company in 2008 “Tall Oak Associates, Inc.”. Nancy worked as an engineering and operations manager until 1989. In 1989 she was asked to begin the Nicor Gas’ environmental department, where she helped organize Nicor Gas’ environmental program, including USTs, wetlands/stormwater, waste disposal and air permitting along with initiating Nicor Gas’s Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) program. As President of Tall Oak Associates, Inc. she continues to assist Nicor Gas with their MGP program and is currently working toward bringing the program to completion.