Penn College News

New Director Named at National Sustainable Structures Center

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Alison A. Dillon has been named director of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s National Sustainable Structures Center, a groundbreaking force in the field of building science and energy-efficiency training.

Effective July 1, Dillon – assistant director since 2011 – will be the main point of contact for the department, provide supervisory responsibilities for the team, and take the leadership role in working with NSSC’s clients and partners. She succeeds John E. Manz, who transitions to a role as director of special initiatives at NSSC.



Alison A. Dillon“I am pleased to name Alison Dillon as director of NSSC. She brings to this role many years of experience managing NSSC’s multiple programs to improve the energy efficiency of both commercial and residential structures,” said Tracy L. Brundage, vice president for workforce development at Penn College. “With John transitioning to director of special initiatives, we find ourselves in a great position to have someone with Alison’s experience step in and guide NSSC through its next stages of growth and development.”

Dillon brings to her new position more than 12 years’ experience working with educational institutions, government, industry and nonprofits. Her background includes program and budget management, customer-relationship development, project and event coordination, presentations, instructional design, marketing, and program evaluation and improvement.

For the past six years, she served as a key technical adviser for Pennsylvania’s Weatherization Assistance Program and as a member of the National Weatherization Trainers Consortium. She spearheaded the department’s successful effort to earn accreditation through the Interstate Renewable Energy Council for NSSC’s four Home Energy Professional training programs, the only center in the commonwealth to reach that milestone.

Prior to Penn College, the former Wellsboro resident worked for six years in Washington, D.C., as a training specialist for a federal contractor, implementing the company’s Masters Certificate Program. In addition, she has worked as a freelance research associate for the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability, where she researched green building market trends, products and standards, and assisted in developing the framework for the SMART Sustainable Product Standards.

Dillon is certified as a Building Performance Institute Envelope Professional, an Environmental Protection Agency Certified Lead Renovator and a Level I Thermographer. She holds a masters certificate in Performance-Based Acquisition from the Acquisition Solutions Training Institute, as well as a bachelor’s degree in international studies, focusing on sustainable development and political science, from Susquehanna University.

For more information about the National Sustainable Structures Center, including the courses offered from its Reach Road headquarters in Williamsport, call 570-327-4768.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.