Mike Fernandez is a seasoned executive with over 25 years in the solid waste and recycling industry, currently serving as Vice President of Post Collections at Waste Pro. A Florida native, Mike earned both his undergraduate degree and an MBA from Florida International University. His career is marked by a strong track record of optimizing business processes, driving productivity, and developing alternative revenue opportunities, as well as implementing effective standard operating procedures and tools to ensure success.
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Before joining Waste Pro, Mike led the solid waste division of the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management for 15 years, overseeing one of the nation’s largest municipal operations for collection, recycling, transfer, and post-collection services. His role included managing budgets, operations, and a workforce of more than 1,100 employees, as well as facility and equipment maintenance for this vertically integrated system.
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Mike’s work has been widely recognized within the industry. He was inducted into the U.S. Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor for Essential Workers during COVID, received five National Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), and was named to the Waste360 40 Under 40 list in 2018. He is also a recipient of the MSW Management 2023 Leadership Award.
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An active leader in his field, Mike serves as a board member for the Florida Sunshine Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and contributes to community organizations such as the United Way, the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce.
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At Waste Pro, Mike oversees Post Collections development and operations, including landfill, transfer station, and recycling processing across the company’s 10-state footprint.
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Outside of work, Mike enjoys running, swimming, and golfing. He has completed five marathons, including those in New York, Chicago, and Miami. He is a dedicated family man, living in Florida with his wife and twin teenage daughters, and an enthusiastic fan of South Florida sports teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, and Florida Panthers.