Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Catherine Reheis-Boyd

Top 100 Hall of Fame

For the last 15 years Catherine Reheis-Boyd has served as the CEO of the Western States Petroleum Association, aka WSPA (“whis-puh”), where she has had the unenviable task of trying to lead her industry through California’s efforts to transition away from fossil fuels. Through it all she has proven herself to be a formidable warrior in defense of petroleum interests, with several of her toughest and most public jousts with a certain governor with presidential aspirations. And whether he wants to admit it or not, she’s won more than she’s lost – which is why she’s been on this list a dozen times. Overall, Reheis-Boyd has held a variety of roles during her 33 years at WSPA, from Chief of Staff to Executive Vice President to Chief Operating Officer. And before that, she worked in environmental compliance for a Getty Oil, Texaco and a consulting firm, giving her more than four decades of experience in the oil industry. A graduate of the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management, Reheis-Boyd often finds herself at odds with California Democrats, but her longevity in the position speaks to her ability to deftly work angles, see around corners and build coalitions. Over the years, she’s been appointed to the California Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force and the National Marine Protected Areas Center’s Federal Advisory Committee and in 2016 was named Distinguished Woman and Petroleum Advocate of the Year by the California Latino Leadership Institute. Like Frazier and Lipper before her, Reheis-Boyd has become synonymous with her issue in California.

Updated Aug. 26, 2025