LM Engineer Wins FEMP 2024 FEDS Spotlight Award

Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) Engineer Lisa Saurborn has been selected as a 2024 FEDS Spotlight Honoree in the Professional Achievement Award category. Saurborn was honored at a ceremony Oct. 17 in Washington, D.C.

Established in 2017, the FEDS Spotlight Award recognizes hard-working people who implement exceptionally resilient, efficient, and secure energy and water management practices and projects. Saurborn was selected for her development of several high-profile projects across LM. 

Saurborn’s peers nominated her for both her leadership and her continuation of LM’s mission to protect the environment through her help designing the sustainable building repair of the Grand Junction Field Support Center in Colorado.

Saurborn was also a sustainable-buildings advocate on the sustainability team at LM. She was instrumental in securing LM’s first AFFECT grant for a Topic Area 1 feasibility study targeting deep energy retrofits, building automation systems, geothermal heat pumps, electrification, on-site renewable energy, LED lighting, and water conservation. The project also includes the installation of electric vehicle stations, electric heat pumps, and solar panels.

Saurborn expressed her gratitude on winning the award and for the help she gets from her colleagues. 

“I’m truly honored to be recognized for this award. I’m thankful to have the support of an amazing team,” Saurborn said. “The people, LM, and its contactors, are amazing. They are highly intelligent, hard-working, and passionate about their work. It’s a joy to work with such a great group of professionals.”

Saurborn, who joined the LM Support Partners (LMSP) in 2019, started working in facility management at a coal power plant after obtaining her degree from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. 

When asked how she got started in the field, Saurborn expressed a great admiration for it.

“I’ve always been interested in how things work,” Saurborn said. “In college, I was introduced to electrical power generation and loved it — yes, I like thermodynamics.” 

Saurborn’s work at the coal power plant taught her how equipment, controls, and systems operated together, and the maintenance and care needed to keep everything operating at peak performance. Afterwards, she moved her skills to West Virginia University. 

“I took my maintenance knowledge to WVU and was able to focus on facility improvements funded through energy savings,” Saurborn said. “Once I came to LMSP, I focused on asset management and facility management. As with most of us, my skills and interest have grown throughout my career, and I consider myself fortunate to be a part of LM.”

After some time with LMSP, Saurborn transitioned to LM in May 2022 on the Asset Management Team. Since then, she has expanded her role into project management and energy management programs manager, where she provides facility and project management technical support within LM.

“I manage projects, apply for grants, research, evaluate and recommend alternatives for LM to meet energy and sustainability goals and requirements,” Saurborn said. 

Saurborn has also been integral in the early adoption of LM’s electrical fleet vehicles and charging station infrastructure to support field operations. 

Saurborn’s hard work and dedication have also consistently been recognized by her colleagues. 

“Among LM’ers, Lisa is a leader in executing our mission whether it be looking for grant opportunities like AFFECT or leading high profile and critical projects,” LM Asset Manager Bud Sokolovich said. “She is well deserving of the FEMP 2024 Spotlight Professional Achievement Award.”

As for future endeavors within LM, Saurborn hopes to continue the development of LM’s project management and energy management programs. 

“I’m excited to continue working on those programs and help them evolve and grow,” Saurborn said. “I look forward to taking those programs into maturity.”