Nick Johnson, 48, is an associate and senior mechanical engineer at Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers LLC, a KeySpan Business Solutions company, at its headquarters in Watertown, Mass. He lives with his wife, Susan, in Waltham, Mass.

He is a registered professional engineer, a certified energy manager and a certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) engineer. Johnson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1985. Johnson has performed a wide range of engineering analyses for medical centers, universities, private corporations and other clients worldwide. He has traveled across the country giving engineering presentations, and has been involved with the analysis and negotiation of energy company rebates totaling several million dollars. He has completed energy analyses for several projects that have received national awards from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.

Johnson served as chairman of the Massachusetts State Energy Advisory Committee from 1996 to 2000 and is currently a committee member. During his term as chairman, the committee developed and implemented a new state energy code. He’s past president of the Boston chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers. Johnson has authored several articles for national engineering trade magazines.

Johnson is chairman of MDA’s Massachusetts State Task Force on Public Awareness. He also is involved with many MDA fundraising events, appears annually on the local broadcast of the MDA Labor Day weekend show, and has helped to organize several expositions focused on current state-of-the-art technology available for people facing physical challenges.

He was the recipient of MDA’s 1993 Personal Achievement Award for the New England Region, and MDA’s 1995 State Personal Achievement Award for Massachusetts. Johnson received MDA’s 2004 National Personal Achievement Award.

Johnson has Friedreich’s ataxia, a disease of the peripheral nerves that causes a lack of coordination and muscle weakness.