Ronald J. Mittelstaedt has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Waste Connections since April 2023. From July 2019 to that date, Mr. Mittelstaedt served as Executive Chairman of Waste Connections. From its formation in 1997 to July 2019, Mr. Mittelstaedt served as Chief Executive Officer of Waste Connections. Mr. Mittelstaedt has served as a director of Waste Connections since its formation and serves on the Executive Committee. Mr. Mittelstaedt was elected Chairman in January 1998 and served in that capacity until stepping down to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2023. He also served as President of Waste Connections from its formation through August 2004. Mr. Mittelstaedt has more than 30 years of experience in the solid waste industry. He serves as a director of SkyWest, Inc. Mr. Mittelstaedt holds a B.A. degree in Business Economics with a finance emphasis from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Darrell W. Chambliss has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Waste Connections since October 2003. From October 1, 1997, to that date, Mr. Chambliss served as Executive Vice President – Operations of Waste Connections. Mr. Chambliss has more than 30 years of experience in the solid waste industry. Mr. Chambliss holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas.
James M. Little has been Executive Vice President – Engineering and Disposal of Waste Connections since July 2019. From February 2009 to that date, he served as Senior Vice President – Engineering and Disposal of Waste Connections. Mr. Little served as Vice President – Engineering of Waste Connections from September 1999 to February 2009. Mr. Little held various management positions with Waste Management, Inc. (formerly USA Waste Services, Inc., which acquired Waste Management, Inc. and Chambers Development Co. Inc.) from April 1990 to September 1999, including Regional Environmental Manager and Regional Landfill Manager, and most recently Division Manager in Ohio, where he was responsible for the operations of ten operating companies in the Northern Ohio area. Mr. Little is a certified professional geologist and holds a B.S. degree in Geology from Slippery Rock University.
Patrick J. Shea has been Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Waste Connections since July 2019. From August 2014 to that date, he served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Waste Connections. Mr. Shea served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Waste Connections from February 2009 to August 2014. He served as General Counsel and Secretary of Waste Connections from February 2008 to February 2009 and Corporate Counsel of Waste Connections from February 2004 to February 2008. Mr. Shea practiced corporate and securities law with Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP in San Francisco from 1999 to 2003 and Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP) in New York and London from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Shea holds a B.S. degree in Managerial Economics from the University of California at Davis and a J.D. degree from Cornell University.
Mary Anne Whitney has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 2021. From July 2018 to that date, Ms. Whitney served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Waste Connections. From February 2018 to July 2018, Ms. Whitney served as Senior Vice President - Finance of Waste Connections. From March 2012 to February 2018, Ms. Whitney served as Vice President - Finance of Waste Connections. From November 2006 to March 2012, Ms. Whitney served as Director of Finance of Waste Connections. Ms. Whitney held various finance positions for Wheelabrator Technologies from 1990 to 2001. Ms. Whitney holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business.
Matthew S. Black has been Senior Vice President – Chief Accounting Officer of Waste Connections since February 2023. From January 2017 to that date, Mr. Black served as Senior Vice President and Chief Tax Officer of Waste Connections. From March 2012 to January 2017, Mr. Black served as Vice President and Chief Tax Officer of Waste Connections. From December 2006 to March 2012, Mr. Black served as Executive Director of Taxes of Waste Connections. Mr. Black served as Tax Director for The McClatchy Company from April 2001 to November 2006, and served as Tax Manager from December 2000 to March 2001. From January 1994 to November 2000, Mr. Black held various positions, including Tax Manager, for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Black is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. degree in Accounting and Master’s degree in Taxation from California State University, Sacramento.
Robert M. Cloninger has been Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Waste Connections since February 2022. From August 2014 to February 2022, Mr. Cloninger served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Waste Connections. From February 2013 to August 2014, Mr. Cloninger served as Deputy General Counsel of Waste Connections. From February 2008 to February 2013, Mr. Cloninger served as Corporate Counsel of Waste Connections. Mr. Cloninger practiced corporate, securities and mergers and acquisitions law with Schiff Hardin LLP in Chicago from 1999 to 2004 and Downey Brand LLP in Sacramento from 2004 to 2008. Mr. Cloninger holds a B.A. degree in History from Northwestern University and a J.D. degree from the University of California at Davis.
Jason J. Craft has been Senior Vice President – Operations of Waste Connections since July 2020. From December 2014 to that date, Mr. Craft served as a Regional Vice President of Waste Connections. From February 2010 to December 2014, Mr. Craft served as a Divisional Vice President of Waste Connections. From July 2006 to February 2010, Mr. Craft served as a District Manager of Waste Connections, and from November 2003 to July 2006 he served as a member of Waste Connections’ Operations Analysis and Integrations department. From April 2003 until November 2003, Mr. Craft served as a member of Waste Connections’ Internal Audit department. Mr. Craft held various accounting positions with The Newark Group Inc. from June 2000 to April 2003. Mr. Craft spent seven years in the military, both in the U.S. Navy and the Army National Guard. Mr. Craft holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from Montana State University.
David G. Eddie has been Senior Vice President – Performance Optimization since February 2023. From January 2011 to that date, Mr. Eddie has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Waste Connections. From February 2010 to January 2011, Mr. Eddie served as Vice President – Chief Accounting Officer of Waste Connections. From March 2004 to February 2010, Mr. Eddie served as Vice President – Corporate Controller of Waste Connections. From April 2003 to February 2004, Mr. Eddie served as Vice President – Public Reporting and Compliance of Waste Connections. From May 2001 to March 2003, Mr. Eddie served as Director of Finance of Waste Connections. Mr. Eddie served as Corporate Controller for International Fibercom, Inc. from April 2000 to May 2001. From September 1999 to April 2000, Mr. Eddie served as Waste Connections’ Manager of Financial Reporting. From September 1994 to September 1999, Mr. Eddie held various positions, including Audit Manager, for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Eddie holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from California State University, Sacramento.
Eric O. Hansen has been Senior Vice President – Chief Information Officer of Waste Connections since February 1, 2019. From July 2004 to that date, Mr. Hansen served as Vice President – Chief Information Officer of Waste Connections. From January 2001 to July 2004, Mr. Hansen served as Vice President – Information Technology of Waste Connections. From April 1998 to December 2000, Mr. Hansen served as Director of Management Information Systems of Waste Connections. Mr. Hansen holds a B.S. degree from Portland State University.
Susan R. Netherton has been Senior Vice President – People, Training and Development of Waste Connections since February 2022. From July 2013 to February 2022, Ms. Netherton served as Vice President – People, Training and Development of Waste Connections. From February 2007 to July 2013, Ms. Netherton served as Director of Human Resources and Employment Manager of Waste Connections. From 1994 to 2007, Ms. Netherton held various human resources positions at Carpenter Technology Corporation, a publicly-traded, specialty metals and materials company. Ms. Netherton holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Kutztown University and an M.B.A. from St. Mary’s College of California.
Andrea R. Click has been Vice President – Tax of Waste Connections since February 2023. From February 2017 to that date, Ms. Click served as Executive Director of Tax of Waste Connections. From February 2015 to January 2017, Ms. Click served as Tax Director of Waste Connections. From February 2009 to February 2015, Ms. Click served as Tax Manager of Waste Connections. From January 2007 to January 2009, Ms. Click served as Tax Analyst of Waste Connections. Ms. Click served as Tax Analyst for The McClatchy Company from October 2004 to December 2006. Ms. Click is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from California State University, Stanislaus.
Keith P. Gordon has been Vice President – Information Systems of Waste Connections since January 2017. From September 2010 to that date, Mr. Gordon served as Director of Information Systems of Waste Connections. Prior to joining Waste Connections, he spent 14 years in leadership roles with CableData, DST Innovis and Amdocs, Inc. leading an international software development organization, as well as serving as CTO for a startup company that was acquired by LivingSocial. Mr. Gordon spent 11 years as an Army officer in a number of leadership positions including Company Commander and Battalion staff positions. Mr. Gordon has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from United States Military Academy, West Point, and M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University.
Michelle L. Little has been Vice President – Engagement Solutions of Waste Connections since February 2023. From August 2019 to that date, Ms. Little served as Executive Director – Engagement Solutions/HRIS of Waste Connections. From January 2017 to that date, Ms. Little served as Vice President – Accounting of Waste Connections. From December 2007 to that date, Ms. Little served as Director of Accounting of Waste Connections. From 2001 to 2006, Ms. Little held various accounting positions at companies including Apple Computer and Pearson Education. From September 1996 to June 2001, Ms. Little held various positions, including Manager in Transaction Services, for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Ms. Little is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Shawn W. Mandel has been Vice President – Safety and Risk Management of Waste Connections since January 2017. From May 2011 to that date, Mr. Mandel served as Director of Safety of Waste Connections. From 1995 to 2011, Mr. Mandel held various Safety leadership positions with Republic Services (formerly Browning-Ferris Industries and Allied Waste) including Director of Safety. Mr. Mandel holds a B.A. degree in Business Administration from National University.
John M. Perkey has been Vice President, Deputy General Counsel – Compliance and Government Affairs of Waste Connections since February 2022. From August 2017 to January 2022, Mr. Perkey served as Associate General Counsel – Director of Compliance of Waste Connections. He served as Operations Counsel of Waste Connections from June 2011 to July 2017. Mr. Perkey practiced corporate, real estate, and mergers and acquisitions law with Roetzel & Andress, LPA in Columbus, Ohio from 2006 - 2011. Mr. Perkey holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Ohio Wesleyan University and a J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Jason W. Pratt has been Vice President – Corporate Controller of Waste Connections since February 2020. From June 2016 to that date, Mr. Pratt served as Region Controller – Canada of Waste Connections. From October 2012 to May 2016, Mr. Pratt served as Region Controller – Western Region of Waste Connections. From January 2007 to September 2012, Mr. Pratt served as Division Controller – Mountain West Division and Division Controller – Northern Washington Division of Waste Connections. From July 2005 to December 2006, Mr. Pratt held various Assistant Controller and District Controller positions with Waste Connections. From August 2003 to June 2005, Mr. Pratt served as Tax Accountant for LeMaster and Daniels, PLLC. Mr. Pratt holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and an M.B.A with a concentration in Finance from the University of Portland in Oregon.
Kurt R. Shaner has been Vice President – Engineering and Sustainability of Waste Connections since November 2020. From April 2002 to that date, Mr. Shaner served as the Eastern Region Engineering Manager of Waste Connections. Mr. Shaner held various positions at Waste Management, Inc. and its predecessor companies from June 1990 through March 2002. From February 1988 through June 1990, Mr. Shaner worked as a consulting engineer focused on landfill design and permitting. Mr. Shaner is a professional engineer and received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Miami.
Gregory Thibodeaux has been Vice President – Maintenance and Fleet Management of Waste Connections since January 2011. From January 2000 to that date, Mr. Thibodeaux served as Director of Maintenance of Waste Connections. Mr. Thibodeaux has more than 32 years of experience in the solid waste industry having held various management positions with Browning Ferris Industries, Sanifill, and USA Waste Services, Inc. Before coming to Waste Connections, Mr. Thibodeaux served as corporate Director of Maintenance for Texas Disposal Systems.
Colin G. Wittke has been Vice President – Sales and Customer Engagement since April 2022. From June 2016 to that date, Mr. Wittke was Vice President – Sales of Waste Connections. From June 2011 to May 2016, he served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. Prior to that time, Mr. Wittke held various roles with Waste Management, Inc. for 19 years, including the position of Vice President, Sales and Customer Service. He has more than 30 years of experience in the solid waste industry. Mr. Wittke holds a BSc in Finance (cum laude) from Biola University in La Mirada, California.