The board of directors of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority has announced that Roger E. Merritt Jr. will officially rejoin the Authority as its executive director on Monday, Aug. 24.
Merritt, who previously served as VIWMA’s executive director from 2016 to 2018, returns to the Authority after he was selected by the board of directors, which vetted a field of applicants, both locally and nationally.
With his selection, the board looks forward to the dynamic and innovative changes he will bring to move the Authority closer toward fulfilling its mission and vision as set forth in its enabling legislation, bylaws and priorities established by the board.
In accepting the position, Merritt plans to continue the job he started during his first tenure in bringing VIWMA into compliance with local and federal consent decree mandates while improving operational efficiency.
He also will be responsible for implementing organizational priorities established during the board’s annual meeting held this past February.
Merritt has been a highly experienced leader in the waste management industry in both the private and public sectors for nearly 25 years. His expertise and record of success include a role as associate director for Prince George’s County’s Waste Management Division. His responsibilities included managing a $100 million enterprise fund for the collection and processing of solid waste, household hazardous waste and bulk and recyclable materials. Serving the best interest of the public, Merritt’s cost-saving initiatives saved the county nearly $30 million.
As the director of landfill engineering for EnviroSolutions (ESI), he provided oversight for their construction projects in the northeast and developed environmental programs at landfills and transfer stations to ensure regulatory compliance. His strong background in both engineering and finance saved ESI over $21 million.
Since leaving the Authority, he managed and provided oversight for hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal in the Gulf Coast area as the senior district manager with private-sector conglomerate Waste Management Inc. He was responsible for financial performance, environmental compliance, fleet maintenance, engineering, construction and project management.
Merritt describes his leadership style as hands-on with an open-door policy.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and an executive MBA with a concentration in finance from Clark Atlanta University.
The VIWMA Board of Directors conveys its sincere gratitude to acting Chief Operating Officer Ann Hanley, who stepped up to provide continuity of leadership as interim executive director, along with her team, during the process of selecting a permanent executive director.
For more information, contact the board’s office at gkelly@viwma.org.
