Leading Through Growth: Meet Damian Ribar

Casella’s Operations team is at the heart of delivering safe, reliable service to customers while supporting the employees and infrastructure that keep communities running every day. As Casella continues to grow, the team plays a critical role in ensuring that growth is supported by strong safety performance, operational excellence, technology innovation, and a commitment to culture.

In July 2026, Damian Ribar joined Casella as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than 30 years of industry experience and a leadership philosophy rooted in safety, service, and people development. As he helps guide the company's next phase of growth, Damian is focused on strengthening safety, investing in people, leveraging innovation, and building scalable operations that support long-term success.

You joined Casella in July as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. What attracted you to the company?

I've spent more than 30 years in the solid waste and resource management industry, and what immediately stood out to me about Casella was its culture.

This is a company with a tremendous foundation. It has grown from a small regional business into a leading environmental services company while maintaining a people-first approach. That commitment to serving customers, supporting one another, and investing in employees was incredibly appealing.

I was also excited by where Casella is in its growth journey. We're large enough to have meaningful scale, yet still nimble enough to drive change and continuously improve. That's a unique position to be in, and one that presents tremendous opportunity.

Operations touches nearly every aspect of the business. How do you define the role operations plays in Casella's success?

Operations plays a key role in helping Casella deliver on its commitments to employees, customers, and communities, but it all starts with safety.

Safety isn't just a priority for us. Priorities can change. Safety is a non-negotiable. Every employee, regardless of role, has a responsibility to be a safety leader and help ensure that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.

Beyond safety, operational excellence means consistently delivering great service for our customers while continuously improving our performance. We're constantly evaluating how we can operate more efficiently, optimize routes, improve service reliability, and create better outcomes for both customers and employees.

Safety remains a vital focus for Casella. How do you ensure it stays at the center of operational decision-making?

The first step is leadership visibility and engagement.

One of the things that has impressed me most since joining Casella is the dedication of our safety team, led by Jeff Martin, and the strong commitment our local leaders demonstrate every day. Safety isn't something that happens from behind a desk. It requires being present in the field, participating in morning safety huddles and engaging with frontline employees.

I firmly believe leaders must model the behaviors they expect from others. That means showing up, listening, asking questions, and understanding the challenges employees face each day.

Technology continues to transform the industry. How do you see innovation helping support Casella's future?

Technology creates opportunities to make work safer, more efficient, and more productive.

One example is our Lytx in-cab safety technology, which helps us understand driving behaviors and identify opportunities for coaching and continuous improvement. The real value, however, isn't just the technology itself. It's how we use the information to improve outcomes.

We're also evaluating technologies that can automate manual processes and eliminate administrative burdens for our employees. The goal is simple: give employees better tools so they can spend more time focused on safely serving customers. As technology continues to evolve, we'll continue looking for ways to leverage automation, data, and artificial intelligence to improve safety, service, and operational efficiency.

As Casella grows, what are your top priorities for the Operations team?

The first and most important priority is continuing to strengthen our safety culture.

Beyond that, we're focused on operational discipline and creating scalable processes that support long-term growth. That includes route optimization, asset utilization, operational performance metrics, and ensuring we're investing in the right places to create value for customers and stakeholders.

We're also focused on successfully integrating acquisitions. Casella has grown significantly through acquisition, and it's important that new employees and businesses are integrated effectively while embracing the culture and values that define our organization. Ultimately, we're building an operating model that can support where Casella is today and where we expect to be in the future.

Looking Ahead, What Would Success Look Like for Operations at Casella Over the Next Several Years?

Success starts with creating an organization that can continue to grow while staying true to what makes Casella unique. As we expand, we need systems, processes, and teams that can scale alongside the business without losing the culture, relationships, and customer focus that have driven our success.

I also want our employees to see Casella as a place where they can build a long-term career. When people have opportunities to learn, grow, and take on new challenges, it strengthens the entire organization.

Ultimately, if we're known for demonstrating our commitment to employee safety, delivering exceptional customer service, developing people for growth opportunities, and continuously improving the way we operate, we'll be well-positioned for whatever comes next.