Heather Rosentrater became the first female president of Avista Corp. in October of 2023. Just over one year later, Rosentrater assumed the highest-ranking position as the first female CEO in the 135-year-old power company's history. 

Rosentrater began her professional career as an engineering technician at the corporation's Avista Labs subsidiary in 1996, while she was still an undergraduate at Gonzaga University. 

A Spokane native, Rosentrater was raised in Millwood. Her first job was a server and barista at her parent’s café. 

Education: Bachelor of Science, electrical engineering, Gonzaga University.

What's the best piece of advice you've received? Do your best and don’t take things personally. Through a lot of experience facing challenging situations, I’ve learned that all I can do is my best. I have also learned that I’ll never be able to please everyone. If I’m doing my best, which means I’m approaching situations with a growth mindset, a willingness to listen to feedback objectively, and honest self-reflection, then I shouldn’t take things personally that aren’t constructive. These are tools that have helped me stay centered and steady when I’m helping to lead through critical and emergency situations and everyday challenges as well.

What advice would you have for others looking to follow a career path similar to yours? Like many other industries, the energy industry is extremely complex. To really understand the impacts of decisions you are part of, you need to be OK asking questions, to support continuous learning, help test assumptions, and to understand different perspectives.

Do you have a favorite quote/motto? “Do one thing every day that scares you.” - Eleanor Roosevelt