Even though she was recovering from pneumonia and barely able to speak, Uponor’s Ingrid Mattsson still managed to convey her genuine shock and awe Tuesday evening as she accepted the Carlson-Holohan Industry Award of Excellence during the Radiant Professionals Alliance’s Membership Reception at the AHR Expo in Chicago.

Uponor North America President Bill Gray held his phone up to the microphone so the audience could hear her speak.

“I’m shaking because I don’t understand,” she said, her voice cracking. “This is amazing. … But I just have to ask, is this a mistake?”

Gray and the audience broke out in laughter.

“No, it’s not,” he said, chuckling. “How much cold medicine have you had?”

Mattsson, whose career in the radiant and hydronics industry has spanned more than two decades, commented lightheartedly on the unfortunate timing of her illness.

“How can this be?” she asked. “I don’t think I’ve missed an ASHRAE show in 22 years!”

“If she’d had known she was going to be recognized, she would have crawled here,” Gray told the audience.

During the livestream of the event on PM’s Facebook page, audience members can be seen waving to Mattsson as the camera pans across the room. Since the video posted, dozens of friends and colleagues have commented to offer their heartfelt congratulations to Mattsson.

“It brought a tear to my eyes,” said Dan Holohan, PM columnist and co-creator of the award, after watching the video. “I'm so glad they chose her; she deserves it.”

Watch the moment Mattsson learned she had won the award below.