Veolia ES Solid Waste Inc., Milwaukee, has announced that one of its drivers, Eugene Schmidtke, has been named by the Environmental Industry Association as its 2011 Driver of the Year in the Large Industrial category. The award honors drivers with the highest safety record and who have distinguished themselves in service to the company and communities in which they serve.
“This award recognizes Eugene as one of the best drivers in the waste industry,” says Jim Long, president and CEO of Veolia ES Solid Waste. “He is a true ambassador of Veolia’s operational mission of ‘Service First, Safety Always,’ and we are so proud to have Eugene as a member of our team.”
In addition to winning Driver of the Year, Schmidtke has been honored with Veolia’s Good Samaritan Award and other companywide recognitions for his commitment to safety and performance on the job. He was also named a finalist in the 2010 EIA Driver of the Year competition.
“I am so honored to have been awarded with this distinction and am very pleased to know that my efforts to put safety first everyday have been recognized,” said Schmidtke.
Schmidtke, an Ocala, Fla., resident was recognized during EIA’s WasteExpo conference in Dallas in May 2011.