Dennis Hart

Dennis Hart has been named as Executive Director of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust. The Trust was initially created to issue bonds and notes for the financing of wastewater treatment projects. The Trust now has an expanded scope which provides low-cost financing for the construction of environmental infrastructure projects that enhance and protect ground and surface water resources, the safety of drinking water supplies, and assistance with landfill closure, site cleanup and property acquisition in conjunction with our Green Acres Program.

Hart is in his 23rd year with the Department and has held many key management positions through the years, serving most recently as Administrator of our Water Supply Program (including the role of State Drought Coordinator). He formerly served as Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Regulation, Director of the Division of Water Quality, and Administrator of the Wastewater Facilities Regulation Element. Earlier in his career he also worked in Water Enforcement and the Site Remediation Program.

Hart's extensive experience in water quality issues over the majority of his career and direct involvement with the Trust over the past 10 years make him an ideal selection to succeed Dirk Hofman, who has led the Trust since its inception in 1985.

Michele Putnam

Michele Putnam will replace Dennis Hart and serve as Administrator of DEP's Water Supply Program.

Putnam is also a veteran of the DEP with 15 years of experience. Michele recently worked for the Director of the Division of Watershed Management as part of the Water Resource Policy Group. She has played a key role in the development of the Department's BIG Map to implement the Governor's Smart Growth Initiative, including managing the development of revisions to the Water Quality Management Planning Rules. Finally, she also has been involved with the development of the next New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan which will provide a framework to guide the management, conservation and uses of the State's water resources out into the future.

Prior to these responsibilities, Putnam spent the first ten years of her career in the Solid and Hazardous Waste Program. She served as Chief of Manifest and Information Systems, Assistant Director of Hazardous Waste Planning and Deputy Director of Hazardous Waste Operations.

Aside from her service to DEP, Putnam also has worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency in their Construction Grants Program and with the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC).

Stanley V. Cach, Jr.

Stanley V. Cach, Jr. was appointed to the position of Assistant Director, Municipal Finance and Construction, Division of Water Quality.

Cach brings over 30 years of wastewater and water experience to this important post. For more than 20 years, he has served as Chief of the Bureau of Engineering North. In that position, he was responsible for ensuring that wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater projects met the requirements associated with DEP regulatory programs, the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program, and other State programs. He managed the Treatment Works Approval, Capacity Assurance, Sewer Ban, and the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) General Permitting Programs. New Jersey's CSO program is recognized as a national model program.

Cach's work over the years has helped to build strong relationships with borrowers in the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program, and with officials in federal, state, and local government.

Prior to his state employment, Stan worked as a wastewater and water design engineer for Havens and Emerson, Ltd. and Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. consulting engineers. He planned, designed and oversaw the construction and startup of environmental infrastructure projects located in the states of New Jersey, New York and Georgia.

Cach is the past Executive Secretary of the New Jersey Water Pollution Control Association, now named the NJ Water Environment Association - the oldest water pollution control association in the United States.