Nicole C. Wilson, PE, Named Pennsylvania’s 2025 Engineer of the Year

Environmental work doesn’t always make headlines, but for Nicole C. Wilson it’s been the focus of a career that spans more than 25 years. From air permits to emissions tracking, she’s helped hospitals, landfills, and industrial facilities stay compliant, keep operations running, and protect the air we all share.

That dedication earned Nicole the 2025 Engineer of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE). Nominated by the Bucks County Chapter, which she previously served as president, Nicole was selected from a group of engineers representing disciplines across the profession.

“Our projects aren’t always what people picture when they think of engineering,” Nicole said. “It’s not bridges or buildings. But air permitting and compliance protect public health, reduce greenhouse gases, and give facilities the confidence to focus on their work. Seeing that recognized means a lot.”

Decades of Trust Built Project by Project

Nicole is a senior project manager at EARTHRES, a Division of RESPEC, who specializes in air quality permitting, compliance, greenhouse gas reporting, and audits. For more than 2 decades, she’s worked alongside clients across landfills, quarries, utilities, industrial plants, and healthcare facilities. Over these years, Nicole has built systems that make state inspections smoother, allowing facility managers to focus on what they need to do.

Giving Hospitals and Industries Breathing Room

Some of Nicole’s most rewarding projects have been with hospitals. Her team helps facilities create compliance systems that ease the stress of inspections for staff and regulators alike.

“When regulators show up and everything’s in order, it’s one less thing for the facility to worry about,” she said. “It makes everyone’s job easier, including the inspectors’.”

Her work extends beyond healthcare. Nicole has supported landfill expansions, renewable natural gas projects, and industrial facilities implementing recycling and emissions-reduction programs. A highlight of her career was a wood-fired power plant adopting a voluntary universal waste-recycling program based on her recommendations—not because it was required, but because it was the right move.

Staying Hands-On While Helping Others Grow

Nicole’s career is anchored in Bucks County, but her influence extends statewide. She has been the Treasurer, Regional Vice President, and immediate past President of PSPE and is helping plan NSPECon 2025 while mentoring participants in the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Emerging Leaders Program.

Nicole credits her colleagues at EARTHRES and RESPEC for making the work meaningful. “The people I work with are what keep me motivated,” she said. “We’ve got a team that doesn’t back away from challenges, whether it’s a tricky technical issue or a client in a bind. I’m lucky to work alongside people who care about both the work and each other.”

Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree in water resources and environmental engineering from Villanova University. She lives with her husband and two cats in Warminster, Pennsylvania, and stays active in local and alumni communities.

Nicole reflected on the recognition, “It’s humbling, honestly. I’ve had the chance to build a career doing work I care about with people I respect. This award is just the icing on the cake.”