The energy industry and utilities have gone through major transformations over the last few decades. Dennis Vermillion (’85 Elec. Eng.) has had a front-row seat for most of it.
Vermillion retired as CEO of Avista Corp at the end of 2024 after nearly 40 years with the company. Avista President and CEO Heather Rosentrater took the helm on January 1.
Energy company Avista is involved with production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. It’s best known as the utility providing electricity and natural gas to 1.7 million customers across eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and parts of southern and eastern Oregon.
“Our company’s been in business for 135 years. I’m proud of the commitment to the community that we serve and our customers,” Vermillion says.
Vermillion, a Spokane native, started with Avista in 1985 with an engineering degree from Washington State University. In addition to his CEO position, he served in senior leadership at the company for nearly 24 years, including president of Avista Corp, senior vice president of Avista Corp and president of Avista Utilities, and vice president of energy resources.
He helped Avista navigate challenging times: COVID-19 with its supply chain disruptions and inflation pressures, complicated regulatory changes, ongoing transition to clean energy sources, and new policies. Vermillion also led investment in modernizing the electrical grid for resiliency, wildfire mitigation, and increased demand from customers.
Customers are the main priority, Vermillion says. They “flip the light switch and the lights come on, and that’s what you think about. But it really can be a very complicated industry.”
He notes that energy crises, customer service during the recent pandemic, grid resilience, clean energy transitions, and the great recession were some of toughest tests of his leadership. He credits his Avista colleagues for ensuring they made it through rough patches so customers could keep the lights and heat on.
“I’ve been so fortunate being able to work at Avista and to have a long, fulfilling career in my hometown in a part of the country that I love,” Vermillion says. “I thank my lucky stars for that opportunity.”