December Lunch Meeting: Society Presidential Visit!

President Sarah Maston’s theme for the 2026-27 Society Year is “Changing the Game: Retrofitting for Resilience.”

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution or game plan for retrofitting buildings. Every building has its own constraints – mechanical systems, budgets and operational needs. Also, financial constraints, or utility infrastructure, plays a part in deciding the game plan or resilience strategy of a building. That’s why teamwork is absolutely essential.”

Her theme focuses on how the building industry can work together to improve the efficiency, performance and resilience of existing buildings in the face of growing climate and infrastructure challenges. She compares retrofitting buildings to developing a winning “game plan,” highlighting the importance of modern building codes, retro-commissioning and cross-functional collaboration among owners, operators, engineers, manufacturers, code officials and commissioning providers.

“We need to figure out how Team ASHRAE, with its wealth of knowledge and educational offerings, can help create a game plan to make existing buildings more efficient, healthy and resilient. This year we are going to focus on codes, technical guidance and building our team.”  Sarah notes that it won’t always be easy, but encourages everyone to meet our building industry partners where they are- listen, collaborate, and try new approaches, to meet the challenges ahead, together.

Professionally, Maston has more than 25 years of experience in mechanical/HVAC systems evaluation, troubleshooting, design, startup and commissioning for a variety of project types. She currently serves as the Geographic Discipline Leader for Commissioning & Energy Services in New England for Colliers Project Leaders. Maston is a Registered Mechanical Engineer (PE), Building Commissioning Professional (BCxP) and LEED Certified Professional, with facility experience in hospitals, laboratories, universities, schools and office space.

She is also a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin for its Commissioning Process for Delivering Quality Constructed Projects course and has contributed articles to leading industry publications, including a piece titled "Design and Construction Administration for the 21st Century" for Engineering Systems magazine. Sarah received ASHRAE’s Distinguished Service Award in 2017 and the Exceptional Service Award in 2024.

Maston graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a concentration in Energy Systems.