Indiana Chapter Executive Committee

Emily Schilling

2025 Indiana Chapter Chair

Emily Schilling retired from Indiana Electric Cooperatives in 2023. She had been editor of Indiana Connection magazine since 1985. While at IEC, she wrote a history book about rural electrification in Indiana, “Power to the People.”

Emily has been active in WiNUP since she joined the organization in 1990. She was WiNUP’s first international president (in 1999) and, previous to that, served as national vice president and secretary of WiNUP’s forerunner organization, Electrical Women’s Round Table, Inc. She’s chaired and served on several international as well as chapter committees during her membership. She received the POWER Award in 1994 and Member of the Year Award in 1999 and is an International Honorary Life Member. She has chaired or co-chaired three national/international conferences (1993, 2011, 2023) and helped plan five other conferences.

Through the years, Emily has served various terms as Indiana Chapter chair, vice chair, secretary, newsletter editor and international board representative. She is also a member of the New York chapter.

Emily received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ball State University. She and husband Mark live in Zionsville.

Melody Lynch

2025 Indiana Chapter Co-Vice Chair

Melody Lynch is Chief Operating Officer at Whitewater Valley REMC in east central Indiana. Melody loves working with their employees doing employee relations, employee training and development, benefits, and all of the special projects that Whitewater Valley REMC implements.  She also takes care of the strategic plan for Whitewater Valley REMC and works very closely with the CEO in many aspects.

Melody came to Whitewater Valley REMC out of high school after a cooperative work program during her senior year.  She spent the first 23 years of her career in billing, member support and office management.

Melody earned her bachelor’s degree in business management and HR management in 2017 from Indiana Wesleyan University.  She has been a Relay for Life volunteer, Faith & Fitness board member and is currently a volunteer for Junior Achievement.  She will begin a board position with Junior Achievement in 2025.

Melody has been a member of WINUP and the Indiana chapter since 2014 where she has been involved on both the international and local level. She has served as chapter secretary and vice chair and has served on the 2019 international conference committee and the member publication committee.  She is very involved with the Indiana chapter in many different areas.

Melody is married to Patrick.  She has three grown children and five grandchildren and two bonus grandchildren. Patrick and Melody are very active in their church and Melody runs the technology for the church including live streaming, presentations, video and audio. She is an artist who loves to paint when time allows and has donated several paintings for international conferences. 

Holly Huffman

2025 Indiana Chapter Co-Vice Chair

Holly Huffman, CCC, is a communication support specialist at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. She works with Indiana Connection magazine to produce monthly content, along with various other communications projects for the organization.

Before joining Indiana Electric Cooperatives, Huffman spent nearly eight years at Wabash Valley Power Alliance in its marketing department. She began her career with Indiana Electric Cooperatives in 2006. In 2010, Huffman earned her Certified Cooperative Communicator (CCC) designation from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

Huffman earned her master’s degree in public relations from Ball State University, where she also received her bachelor’s degree in public relations. She is an active member of the Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP), where she served as the organization’s national president in 2019. Huffman has received two of the organization’s highest individual awards, the POWER Award in 2013 and the OAK Award in 2021.

Huffman has also been a board member for the Hoosier Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and a member of the Indianapolis Ambassadors volunteer organization.

She resides in Indianapolis.

Sarah Gordon

2025 Indiana Chapter Secretary

Sarah Gordon is a Lead Operations and Compliance Auditor at American Water. Sarah has been in the environmental and safety field for almost a decade across both manufacturing and utility industries holding roles including an Environmental Engineer, Engineering Project Manager, Environmental Compliance Supervisor, and EHS Team Leader.

Sarah is an active Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) member. She has served as the Indiana Chapter Secretary since 2024 and was the 2023 STEM Scholarship Committee Chair. Sarah also serves as an Indiana-American Water ID&E committee co-chair.

Sarah holds a Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health with an Environmental Management focus and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology from Murray State University. Sarah received her Associate Safety Professional certification in 2019 and her Certified Safety Professional certification in 2020.

Sarah and her husband John reside in Zionsville with their two sons along with their dog and cat, Scout and Lena.  

Shelby Leisz

2025 Indiana Chapter Treasurer

Shelby Leisz is the Federal Regulatory & RTO Policy Lead for AES Indiana and AES Ohio where she supports the implementation of commercial and regulatory strategies for both utilities. In this role, Shelby leads the AES US Utilities DER policy initiatives and DOE project efforts. In past roles at AES, Shelby supported commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis as a customer account manager, managed the 2016 and 2019 AES Indiana Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) as a project manager, and led energy efficiency program evaluations as a lead analyst. 

Shelby is an active Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) member. She has served as the Indiana Chapter Treasurer since 2024 and was the chapter's International Board Member from 2023-24. Shelby received the 2021 WiNUP POWER Award which acknowledges an up-and-coming member of WiNUP that contributes to the organization and the energy industry with their professional accomplishments. Shelby is also on the leadership committee for the AES Women’s Networking Group (WNG).

Shelby holds a Master of Public Affairs and a Master of Environmental Science (both degrees with an energy policy analysis focus), and a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs, all from Indiana University Bloomington. Shelby Leisz received her Professional Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2020.

Shelby and her husband Keegan reside in Indianapolis with their son (born in Spring 2024) and their rescue mutt Wrigley. 

Rebecca Ashack

2025 International Board Rep

Rebecca Ashack is an Operations Training Business Partner at American Water. In her current role, Rebecca helps operations with learning and development opportunities throughout the American Water footprint. Additionally, she supports the leadership team throughout American Water to help with leadership effectiveness. Previously Rebecca worked in Operations as a Supervisor and in Engineering as a Project Manager for Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water.

Rebecca is an active Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) member. She served as the 2023 & 2024 Indiana Chapter Chair and is the 2025-56 International Board Rep for Indiana. Rebecca is a committee member of Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA) and their Leadership Development Institute focused on helping leaders specifically in the water and wastewater fields. She also is a board member & Secretary of Pet Friendly Services of Indiana, which is focused on ending the euthanasia of adoptable pets by providing free/low cost spay/neuter services around Indiana.

Rebecca holds a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Tech. Rebecca received her Water Operator’s License (WT3) in 2021.

Rebecca and her husband, Nathan, reside in Indianapolis with their 2 rescue dogs, Rufio & Malakai and 5 rescue cats, Loki, Sootie, Freya, Ruby, and Calliope. When not busy with work and other activities, she loves to travel, hike, bicycle, and enjoy nature.