Brian Heithoff to step down as High West CEO & General Manager
Brian Heithoff to step down as High West CEO & General Manager

High West Energy CEO and General Manager Brian Heithoff addresses the members at the 2018 Annual Meeting in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Heithoff will be stepping down from his position at High West at the end of March.

Brian Heithoff, who has served as High West Energy’s CEO and General Manager for nearly 10 years, recently informed the co-op’s board of directors and the employees that he would be stepping down at the end of March.

Heithoff has accepted the CEO position at Trico Electric Cooperative near Tucson, Arizona.

“I have been with High West for nearly a decade, and I have treasured my time here,” said Heithoff. “I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished here, expanding the co-op in new directions while also presiding over a period of financial growth.”

The High West board of directors met on March 9 to begin exploring their options for an orderly transition to new leadership. The board met again on March 22 and took action to retain a professional search firm to help identify candidates to lead High West. The board’s expectations are to have a new CEO in place by the end of the summer.

“On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Brian for his years of service and wish him well as he moves on to a new professional challenge,” said Ed Prosser, President of High West’s board.

Heithoff expressed optimism about the future of High West Energy and its subsidiary companies, High West Wiring and High West Digital Solutions. Those subsidiaries – which provide electrician services and IT services, respectively – were created during Heithoff’s tenure.

“This was a great co-op when I arrived, and it will be a great co-op for the next leader,” said Heithoff. “Part of being a good coach is putting a system in place where the team continues to succeed even after you’re gone. While moving on was not an easy decision to make, I have every confidence that this team and this system will work to exceed the expectations of our members and customers.”