Leadership
TRANSFORMING WASTEWATER INTO WEALTH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Board of Directors
Mark Thimmig is an highly experienced executive with over 40 years of experience across diverse automotive, marketing, and education industries. He held key leadership positions within Fortune 100/500 companies and has founded and led several successful businesses. Thimmig's expertise lies in general management, board directorship, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. He was instrumental in Auto Nation's massive growth from $250 million to $20 billion in just three years, during which he oversaw the approval of 400 automotive dealership acquisitions. His strategic planning and execution led to over $15 billion in franchise mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, establishing him as a proficient expert in mergers and acquisitions.
Carlos Garcia, a U.S. Navy veteran, has successfully leveraged military experience and strategic partnerships to build and scale technology-driven businesses. His expertise spans digital marketing and business automation across diverse sectors, including real estate, construction, entertainment, e-commerce, and medical device manufacturing. He now focuses on acquisition and innovation opportunities in the environmental services sector, emphasizing sustainable practices and technological advancement.
Mr. Wittenbraker's extensive lawyer career includes private law firm and in-house corporate experience. For 30 years, he practiced business law and was a partner at the Bracewell law firm in its Houston office. In this practice, he represented major corporations, publicly traded partnerships, and privately-owned businesses in M&A, fund-raising, public company compliance/reporting, and significant business events. He left his Bracewell partnership when he was appointed S.V.P. and General Counsel (CLO) at WM (Waste Management), where he served for 11 years. WM is the largest waste and recycling company in North America and is listed on the NYSE as "WM" As the CLO at WM, he headed large legal and labor relations teams distributed across the U.S. and Canada and acted as WM's chief compliance officer. He took a leading role in managing WM's litigation docket and oversaw WM's security, risk/insurance, safety, aviation, and compliance functions.
Rick Hanna, served as PwC's Global Automotive Leader from 2010 until his retirement in June 2017. With a wealth of experience, he worked extensively with major public and multinational corporations, including Fortune 10 and Fortune 50 companies, as their Global Engagement Partner. Rick's expertise spans the automotive industry, encompassing SEC reporting, financial statement preparation under US GAAP and international accounting standards, and establishing international governance policies. He successfully led multinational teams in audits, navigated complex acquisition and disposal transactions, and oversaw significant IT system implementations. Rick is well-versed in collaborating with Audit Committees and executive management, with a knack for managing diverse, culturally dispersed teams. His career at PwC also included pivotal roles in London and as the Partner-in-Charge of the Russian Audit and Business Advisory practice.
John Sakmar received his BSBA in accounting from Auburn University and started his career at Touche Ross (now Deloitte), where he obtained his CPA and became an Audit Manager. He transitioned into the service industry, taking on senior financial and operations roles, where he displayed expertise in strategic planning, financial analysis, operations management, and mergers and acquisitions. Sakmar's skills in bridging financial targets with operational decisions led to business growth and financial success through adept handling of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. He received multiple awards for leadership and efficiency improvement. His career positions include CFO at J&J Services and several critical roles at Republic Services, including Area Controller and General Manager.
Mike Ricks served as the Chief Executive Officer of Weststar Environmental Inc for over 14 years, successfully developing national and regional sales in wastewater, environmental remediation, and sewage plant construction. He has 27 years of experience holding a multi-state septic contractor license, including in Florida. Ricks' strategic acumen led him to formulate and execute a plan that obtained approval from the S.E.C. and Nasdaq within a 10-year timeframe, a goal he notably achieved in just nine years. His sales management prowess helped him implement a winning strategy that secured bids for large accounts, including the City of Jacksonville's wastewater bio-solids transport and waste services for 1,000 Food Lion grocery stores, among other major chains. His expertise also extends to waste management in restaurant facilities and food services.
Domenic Belgiovane is a highly experienced professional in the waste and transportation industry with a proven track record in cost control, employee development, and improving underperforming operations. With over three decades of experience, he has successfully grown profitable commercial, industrial, and residential businesses. As the Director of Operations at Waste Management in Columbus, Ohio, he managed an annual revenue of $290 million and $30 million a year in capital expenditure, leading successful acquisitions. He was responsible for capital purchases of vehicles and establishing new Compressed Natural Gas locations in Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Toledo, and Dayton. Belgiovane's expertise in developing and leading high-performance teams has consistently driven operational improvements and cost reductions. His extensive background includes senior positions at Cintas Corporation and FedEx Corporation, showcasing his ability to manage large organizations and drive revenue growth.
Tom Page is an accomplished waste management and environmental services entrepreneur with a record of developing innovative waste processing solutions. He skillfully navigated TAP INC., a wastewater pretreatment, and liquid waste transportation company, for almost a decade as its CEO. Following TAP’s acquisition by Waste Resource Management (WRM), Page expanded his expertise as Vice President of Business Development, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and the growth of pretreatment wastewater plant operations. In addition, his inventive creation, the "Vaxjet," a patented closed-loop water blasting machine, illustrates his remarkable blend of technical innovation and business acumen in the industry.
Ryan Wurgler joined WRM (Waste Resource Management) as President & Chief Operating Officer in February of 2021 and became the Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2021. Before joining WRM, Ryan served as Vice President of Operations for Stericycle Environmental, Senior Vice President of Operations for Clean Harbors, Divisional Vice President for Waste Connections, and Division Manager for Waste Management. In his 30-year career, Ryan has led organizations with up to $700MM in revenue, over $150MM in EBITDA, and more than 2,100 employees. Ryan has a demonstrated record of delivering strong stakeholder returns while focusing on hands-on leadership, team member development, operations management, organic growth strategy, M&A integration, and superior sales & marketing performance. Ryan holds a B.S. in Business Administration from North Dakota State University, double majoring in Accounting and Economics.
Refael Aharon, Ph.D., is an accomplished entrepreneur, inventor, and C.E.O. with comprehensive expertise in nanocomposites, bio-waste, water treatment, and genetic engineering. His interdisciplinary skills extend to intellectual property, sustainability, circular economy, and product development.
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