Eric Watson Email & Phone Number

City Of Plainfield, Nj

Re-appointed to the Plainfield Mayor’s Cabinet as Director, returning to a familiar role as liaison between the Mayor and City Council and the Public-at=Large. The Director coordinates the development, defense and oversight of a budget of over $4 Million dollars for the Department. He ensures acquisition of approvals and manags the efforts and day to day operations of the Division of Planning, Division of Engineering, Division of Inspections and Code Enforcement, and the Division of Parks and Recreations for the City of Plainfield. A key vision of this administration is to encourage and spur new development in the City to increase ratables, create jobs and improve housing stock in the City.

Plainfield, Nj

Directs and coordinates operations of “Caleb Solutions LLC”, an independent consulting firm and “think tank”, offering potential clients his assistance and the assistance of numerous talented professionals, in developing politically-sensitive, networked solutions to a wide-range of problems facing Urban Communities. The company offers the opportunity to utilize the years of expertise, political saavy, management skills and professional talent made during a public service career

Irvington, Nj

In April, 2014 began and completed a three (3) month temporary assignment (under the outgoing Mayor) as Interim Director, of the Department of Neighborhood Services; overseeing a large number of crucial municipal services including public works, building inspections, engineering and public health services.

Plainfield, Nj

Executed depth of responsibility as CEO by developing key members of a professional, managerial and blue collar team to meet the challenges in fulfilling the mission of the new agency, addressing both solid waste and waste water management. Achieved solutions to complex policy issues and helped forge progressive solid waste management policies over the last decade. Under this management direction, the PMUA has grown from a staff of three (3) employees with a budget of only $40k per month to over 150 full time staff with an annual budget of $30 Million. The PMUA is the fourth (4th) largest employer in the City and provides comprehensive solid waste and sanitary sewer services for over 50,000 residents. Established and Held instrumental role in planning and developing a consensus to create a Municipal Utility Authority for the City of Plainfield. Viewed as the architect of this viable new agency, was selected as Executive Director, managing the daily operations of the start-up agency. Led this growing, high performing public utilities authority providing waste management services within the City of Plainfield and surrounding municipalities. Oversee policy and operations. Change Management Highlights: • Directed a critical $5M renovation to the Plainfield Transfer Station to ensure service fulfillment.• Directed the construction of 2 new pumping stations with state of the art equipment. Innovative vendor management held the cost of this project to $8M.• Delivered numerous complex project directives including major equipment purchases, upgrades and critical line repairs.• Influenced recognized financial reliability and stability, securing a higher credit rating than many other private and municipal entities. PMUA was bonded on three different instances on projects by other agencies that had insufficient credit standing.• Administered budgets of up to $38M, increasing financial profitability and decreasing capital/cost deficits.

Plainfield, Nj

Elected Mayor’s Cabinet appointment as Department Director. managing Directed a cabinet comprised of Engineering, Plannint Public Works and Community Relations departments under the auspicies of the Mayor of the City of Plainfield. Responsible for a wide array of responsibilities. These ranged from executing the City’s long-standing basic and essential services, snow removal, street maintenance, water and sewer services, etc – to being piviotal in the design and implementation of new initiatives critical to fulfilling the collective vision of Plainfield’s future…a more vibrant downtown, a City infrastructure that better supports traffic, pedestrian access, new business influx, and a City that responds to environmental enhancement. Management of diverse projects, which have required the ability to work with engineering, architectural, and construction professionals on public and private rehabilitation, restoration, and construction programs. Experience ranges from concept to sign-off and includes the supervision of in-house and field crews on both privately and city/federally funded building and highway contractsEffectively advocated for resources and other critical support for the successful operation of the City of Plainfield. Advocated, articulated policy proposals and delivered presentations to a wide array of audiences, as well as sustated regular and effective communications with organizational stakeholders. Collaborated with other departments, agencies and organizations. Managed complex public-private projects. Experience ranges from concept to sign-off and includes the supervision of in-house and field crews on both privately and city/federally funded contracts.

Senior Executives Program, State And Local Government

Education record