Eight Finalists Named for the 2026 UAI Excellence Awards

Utility analytics community to come together at UA Week to celebrate the people behind the progress.

Nashville, TN - September 1, 2026

The Utility Analytics Institute (UAI), an EndeavorB2B brand and a utility-led community advancing utility transformation through analytics, today announced the eight finalists for the 2026 UAI Excellence Awards. The annual awards recognize individuals, teams, and organizations whose leadership, innovation, expertise, and community contributions are helping advance analytics across the utility industry.

This year's announcement leads to a newly reimagined awards celebration at UA Week 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. For the first time, nominees, finalists, and award recipients will be recognized together during one dedicated General Session on Thursday, October 22, from 11:15 AM-12:30 PM. The session will celebrate excellence across analytics, leadership, innovation, thought leadership, and community engagement.

"The analytics may happen behind the scenes. The people making it happen shouldn't," said Leslie Cook, Manager, Membership, Engagement & Training at UAI. "Being nominated for a UAI Excellence Award is an achievement in itself. These individuals and teams are contributing ideas, leadership, expertise, and energy that move our entire community forward. We want the final General Session at UA Week to feel like what it is: a celebration of them, surrounded by the peers who understand the work, the challenges, and the impact."

2026 UAI Excellence Awards Finalists

Best Utility Analytics Professional

• Luis Selvera - Machine Learning Engineer 3, CPS Energy
• Nicole Edwards - Senior Data Solution Architect, Tacoma Public Utilities

Best Utility Analytics Leader

• Hilario A. Urquieta - Director of Data & Analytics, CPS Energy
• Jennifer Kofsuske - Manager, Eversource
• Siham Naseef - Information Technology Manager, Austin Energy

Best Innovative Utility Analytics Team

• City Utilities of Springfield - IT Business Intelligence and Analysis
• New York Power Authority - AI and Automation CoE
• Southern Company - Power Delivery Data Analytics (PDDA)

A Peer-Driven Recognition Process
Finalists in the three competitive categories were selected through a multi-phase peer-review process led by experienced utility professionals and industry experts. Nominations are evaluated for demonstrated impact, innovation, leadership, collaboration, and contributions to the advancement of utility analytics. Finalists move forward to interviews before the 2026 award recipients are selected.

More Than Three Awards. One Community Celebration.

The October 22 ceremony will extend beyond the three finalist categories. UAI will also announce the 2026 Analytics Ambassador, unveil the 2026 Top 25 Thought Leaders in Utility Analytics, and recognize recipients of the Community Engagement Awards. Together, these honors spotlight the people and organizations whose contributions strengthen the UAI community and help accelerate progress across the industry.

"The Excellence Awards are about more than recognizing great work. They are about recognizing the people behind that work and the community that makes progress possible," said Gina Weber, Managing Director of UAI. "This year, we are bringing every part of that recognition together on one stage. We hope everyone at UA Week will make a point to be in the room, celebrate their peers, and help us give our nominees, finalists, and award recipients the recognition they deserve."

Be in the Room: The UA Week 2026 Excellence Awards Celebration

Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Final General Session | UA Week 2026 | Glendale, Arizona

On October 22, we're not quietly wrapping up UA Week. We're ending it with a celebration. Attendees are encouraged to stay through the final General Session and help UAI celebrate the nominees, finalists, and award recipients who are making an impact across the utility analytics community.

Learn more about UA Week 2026 at https://www.utilityanalyticsweek.com/2026.

About the UAI Excellence Awards
The UAI Excellence Awards celebrate individuals, teams, and organizations advancing analytics innovation across the utility industry. Eligibility to participate in the awards program is one of the benefits included with UAI Utility Membership. Award categories recognize utility analytics professionals, analytics leaders, innovative utility analytics teams, thought leaders and ambassadors, and outstanding community engagement.

About UAI
The Utility Analytics Institute (UAI) is a utility-led membership community focused on advancing the use of analytics across the energy utility industry. UAI connects utility professionals with peer knowledge, research, training, events, and opportunities for collaboration and community engagement. Learn more at https://utilityanalytics.com/

About EndeavorB2B
EndeavorB2B, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, empowers B2B professionals with the knowledge, connections, and tools they need to succeed. With a portfolio of over 90 trusted media brands and more than 45 in-person events, we reach millions of decision-makers, delivering actionable business intelligence, innovative marketing solutions, and meaningful connections that drive growth.

Founded in 2017, EndeavorB2B partners with more than 7,500 clients across key industries to deliver impactful results through timely research, multi-channel content, and strategic marketing services. By fostering connections that spark innovation and accelerate growth, EndeavorB2B equips organizations with the tools they need to thrive in today's competitive markets.

For more information about EndeavorB2B, visit www.endeavorb2b.com.

Press Contact:

Leslie Cook
Manager, Membership, Engagement & Training
Utility Analytics Institute (UAI)
[email protected] | www.utilityanalytics.com