Former Ecova CEO Jeff Heggedahl dies at 51

Jeff Heggedahl, the former president and CEO of Spokane-based Ecova, died in Minnesota on Friday. He was 51.

“We are beyond saddened by the sudden passing of Jeff Heggedahl,” Ecova president and CEO Jana Schmidt said in a statement. “Jeff was president and CEO of Ecova from 2009 to 2014 and left an invaluable imprint on every project, client and employee he worked with.”

Ecova, which once was part of Avista Corp., provides energy management services.

When Schmidt was named CEO in 2014 she praised Heggedahl for keeping the company focused during “a tremendous period of growth.”

“His contributions made our company better in every way,” Schmidt said in her statement. “We have extended our deepest sympathy to Jeff’s family and will forever remember his passion, kindness and positive energy.”

Services will be held Tuesday in Nerstrand, Minnesota. Heggedahl is survived by his wife, Laura Westby, and extended family, his obituary said.