Innovator of the Year

Kathy Loftus ‘86 is the 2016 WPI Innovator of the Year. As the global leader of sustainable facilities for Whole Foods Market, Inc., the world’s leading natural and organic foods retailer, Kathy’s passion for sustainability, green and renewable energy, and green building practices drives her to make a real positive change in the world. Always thinking outside the box, she continuously rethinks how to use available technologies and, when those don’t fit her needs, develops new technology that will. With Kathy’s keen and innovative direction, Whole Foods continuously reduces its footprint from energy, refrigerant gas, waste, and water. Eager to help the rest of the world achieve the same success at conserving the earth’s resources, Kathy shares her knowledge as a keynote speaker at conferences nationwide and as a guest lecturer at colleges and universities. As an energy and sustainability advocate in her personal life, Kathy remains involved in WPI’s sustainability and energy efforts. She is a member of WPI’s Center for Sustainability in Business and Mechanical Engineering External Advisory Boards, Mass Maritime Academy’s Energy Advisory Council, and Cradle to Cradle’s Renewable Energy and Carbon Management Advisory Group. She is a member of the boards of Green Building Initiative, The Future of American Energy, and City Sprouts; she served as board chair of Clean Air-Cool Planet, and was a board member of Waste Cap of Massachusetts. Kathy holds a  BS degree in Mechanical Engineering.