BEVERLY, MA — October 9, 2026 — Women in Energy, a national association dedicated to elevating the perception and impact of women in the energy sector, proudly announces the winners of its 2026 Annual Awards. The prestigious honors were presented during the organization's Annual Conference, held from October 6–8 at the Wylie Center & Tupper Manor at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. This year’s accolades celebrate extraordinary professionals who embody the community's dedication to excellence, mentorship, and future leadership.

2026 Major Award Recipients

Woman of the Year Award

• Allison Heaney (Skaggs-Walsh): This peer-nominated accolade is the association's highest honor, recognizing an active member celebrated for outstanding professional achievements, deep community involvement, and the highest level of respect from industry peers. As President of Skaggs-Walsh, Allison is deeply involved in the heating industry, continually pursuing innovative business opportunities to grow and evolve her family-owned business. Despite her demanding executive leadership role, she consistently prioritizes ongoing personal learning and dedicates significant time to supporting and advancing the broader industry.

EmpowerHER Award

• Amber Luzi (Tevis Energy): Aligned with the association's core mission of connecting and empowering women, this award recognizes the unsung heroines of the workplace. Over her 18 years with Tevis, Amber has immersed herself in many aspects of the business to better serve the customer. She continuously takes the lead in implementing improvements, volunteers for industry events, and dedicates countless hours—including evenings and weekends—to monitoring and improving after-hours emergency services. Over the last two years, she has focused heavily on management training and personal development to lead the Tevis Customer Care team toward excellence and the fulfillment of the company's pillars of Quality, Integrity, and Response.

• Kelly Brown (Lehigh Fuels): A deeply dedicated and caring professional who began her career in the fuel oil business with her family at FM Brown in Reading, Pennsylvania.Following the sale of the family business, she joined Lehigh Fuels, where her profound love for her daily work shines through to coworkers, colleagues, and industry friends. Known for arriving in the early morning hours to set her team up for success, Kelly also frequently steps up to support the PPA and local Pennsylvania associations as a valued professional leader, friend, and mentor.

• Tara Clerkin (Cetane Associates): The definitive backbone of her company, Tara has spent nearly eight years driving its growth and operational stability. Beginning her journey as an Administrative Assistant, she earned her way to Director of Marketing, where her skills have significantly helped the firm grow and expand. Beyond her professional impact, Tara is celebrated by her teammates as an exceptionally kind, considerate, and patient coworker who offers unwavering support and serves as an exemplary workplace leader, reliable anchor, and friend.

Judy Garber Rising Star Award

• Diane Cichocki (Ross Enterprises): Named in honor of industry veteran and Women in Energy co-founder Judy Garber, this award recognizes an up-and-coming, peer-nominated member with less than seven years in the energy industry who shows immense promise as a future industry and community leader. An extremely hardworking professional, Diane stands out for her innovative mindset and ability to bring creative, fresh ideas that spark fundamental change. As a talented organizer and trainer, she approaches leadership with deep compassion for her employees while maintaining exceptionally high standards for excellence.

"We are incredibly proud to celebrate our 2026 award winners at our Annual Conference this year," said Beth Tocco, President of Women in Energy. "Each of these winners embody our core values that support Women in Energy's mission to elevate the perception and impact of women in the energy industry. We are so thankful to have amazing women such as Allison, Amber, Kelly, Tara, and Diane leading the way."

Founded by established members of the oil and energy industries, Women in Energy continues to provide the growth-oriented resources and high-impact professional community necessary to foster a diverse and robust workforce prepared to lead the future of global energy.

For more information about the award criteria, individual bios, or upcoming association events, please visit wewomeninenergy.com or contact the media representative listed below.