Waste Pro announces that Mike Fernandez is joining the company as Vice President of Post Collections. Mike is a highly experienced senior executive with over 25 years of experience in the solid waste and recycling industry. A Florida native, Mike received both his undergraduate degree and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Florida International University. Mike has a proven career track record of improving business processes, increasing productivity, developing alternative revenue opportunities, and increasing profitability—experience with creating and implementing standard operating procedures, processes, and tools to drive success.
Mike joins the company after leading the solid waste division of the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management for the last 15 years. Miami-Dade County is one of the country’s largest municipal collection, recycling, transfer, and post-collection operations. Mike led operations, budget, and oversight for this large government-owned, vertically integrated solid waste system. This included managing over 1100 employees, facility management, and equipment maintenance.
He has been recognized consistently by the industry, including but not limited to being inducted into the US Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor for Essential Workers during COVID, awarded 5 National Achievement Awards by the National Association of Counties (NACo), was recognized in 2018 as a Waste360 40 Under 40, and is an MSW Management, 2023 Leadership Award Recipient.
Mike is also very active in both industry and community organizations such as the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), as a Florida Sunshine Chapter, Board Member, a leadership member of the United Way, and active representative for both the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce.
As Vice President of Post Collections, Mike will manage Post Collections development and operations, including Landfill, Transfer Station, and Recycling Processing throughout the company’s 10-state footprint. “We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the Waste Pro family. Mike’s reputation as an industry leader and impressive career in solid waste management will foster growth and drive operational excellence within the post-collections umbrella at Waste Pro,” said President and CEO Sean Jennings. “Mike’s values align with ours, and I’m certain his leadership will produce great success.”