Rutland, Vt., USA - July 9, 2015, Rutland, Vt., USA - Casella Waste Systems, Inc., a solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company, appoints waste management industry veteran, James E. O'Connor, to the board of directors.
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Mr. O'Connor is the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Republic Services, Inc., the second largest provider of non-hazardous solid waste collection, recycling and disposal services in the United States.
From 1998 to 2011, Mr. O'Connor was CEO of Republic Services, Inc. and served as Chairman of the Board from 2003 to 2011.
During his 13 years serving as CEO of Republic Services, including serving the last eight years as both Chairman and CEO.
Among Mr. O'Connor's many achievements at Republic Services was the transformative acquisition of Allied Waste in December 2008.
Prior to joining Republic Services, Mr. O'Connor spent close to 30 years at Waste Management, Inc. where he held various senior management positions.
He entered the waste management industry over 40 years ago as a young entrepreneur by acquiring a small waste management company in Indiana, selling it and then going to work for Waste Management.
In 2001, Mr. O'Connor was the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) which rewards Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.
He was named to the list of America's Best CEOs each year, between 2005 and 2010. In 2011, Mr. O'Connor was named to the Institutional Investors' All American Executive Team.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of Clean Energy Fuels Corp., a provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America, where he serves on the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Canadian National Railway Company, where he Chairs the Board's Strategic Planning Committee and also serves on the Audit, Environment, Safety & Security and Finance Committees.
Mr. O'Connor also serves on the board of directors of the South Florida P.G.A. of America Foundation.
Mr. O'Connor holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce (concentration in accounting) from DePaul University.
He will replace current director John F. Chapple III as a Class III director who, following years of dedicated service to Casella, has chosen to retire from the Casella Board. ■