Colville Tribal Government Names Executive Director

Debra Rosenbaum has been named executive director of the Colville tribal government, a position she has held on an acting basis since September.

The position, equivalent to a county administrator, places Rosenbaum in day-to-day control of the tribal government’s nine divisions and approximately 600 employees. She is responsible for carrying out the directions of the tribal business council in everything from police to planning, natural resources to health care.

Rosenbaum, 35, is a tribal member from Inchelium, Wash. She replaces Harvey Moses Jr., whose contract was not renewed.

Rosenbaum worked for the tribal government for five years in the mid-1980s, and returned in December 1992 as administrative director, second in command behind Moses. In the interim, she served six months as internal auditor for the Spokane Tribe and 5 1/2 years as administrative director for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

Rosenbaum’s appointment last month was part of a reorganization in which controller Diana WhiteMessing was named administrative manager. WhiteMessing’s new position combines Rosenbaum’s old duties with those of the controller.