Dennis Hart joined the Chemistry Council of New Jersey as its executive director on November 14, 2016.
Dennis Hart’s career spans more than four decades with most of it spent at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, where he started as an enforcement case manager in the Division of Water Resources, rising to the rank of assistant commissioner of Environmental Regulation, and later administrator of the New Jersey Water Supply Program.
He was appointed by Governor McGreevey to be the state’s Drought Coordinator during the 2002 drought, directing the state’s efforts in responding to and dealing with one of the worst droughts in New Jersey’s history.
As assistant commissioner for Environmental Regulations, Dennis led a staff of 550 employees within the Divisions of Water Quality, Environmental Financing Program, Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, Air Quality Permitting, Pollution Prevention and Permit Coordination, and the Environmental Safety Health and Analytical Programs, managing an operating budget of more than $41 million.
In 2003, Dennis was appointed executive director of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, where for seven years he managed a portfolio of loans and investments in excess of $4 billion. During his tenure he completely transformed the program, which was recognized by the USEPA in 2007 with the Pisces Award for Clean Water Financing Innovation.
Prior to joining the Chemistry Council of New Jersey, Dennis worked in various leadership positions with the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey (UTCA of NJ). The UTCA of NJ is an association representing more than 1000 member firms involved in the construction of highways, bridges, transportation, water and sewer facilities and environmental remediation. Dennis was with the UTCA of NJ and The Construction Industry Advancement Program of New Jersey for six years, and ended his tenure as the director of utility operations. Dennis served as the state and federal government relations representative concerning water and utility regulatory and legal issues.