Director Operations
Matthew W. White
Illinois American Water
East Peoria
29
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Seasoned People Leader and Project Manager skilled in developing staff and operational strategies while driving business performance and growth. Engages stakeholders and civic leaders to foster commitment and maintain compliance. Demonstrates strong leadership and a solid work ethic.
Work History
Director Operations
1 Year 8 Months- Rebuilt team of people leaders across Peoria, Pekin, Lincoln & Sterling to enhance leadership capacity.
- Directed daily water and wastewater operations, ensuring safe, reliable service and regulatory compliance.
- Coordinated capital improvement planning with engineering, maintenance, and field teams.
- Oversaw budget development, cost control, and resource allocation for operational priorities.
Senior Manager Business Performance
2 Years 4 Months- Safety – Improving the safety culture across the enterprise continues to be one of my primary focuses. With a team of people embedded in the daily activities of the business, I have insight into most work groups in Illinois, I continually work with my team to drive improvements to the Illinois safety culture. Engaged with the safety team and state leadership to pinpoint opportunities for improving the safety culture.
- Built and led a team of skilled leaders to enhance experiences for internal and external customers across Illinois, ensuring effective communication among end users, managers, state leadership, corporate leads, and programmers.
- Developed a team of people leaders to influence and leverage talent across state, cascading best practices and addressing process gaps while advocating for resources and promoting growth based on identified talent.
- Operational Efficiency – My team is centered around driving operational efficiencies across the state. We have a direct impact on evaluating the needs of the business and building workflow processes where we need them most, then we put boots on the ground to provide a customized approach to each work group, ensuring they received the message. We build and validate reports to measure success and ensure we have the appropriate follow up and that we follow through with implementation.
- Growth – I have built a team to ensure that with every new acquisition, we are able to support the needs of the new group to collect data and ensure a smooth onboarding process for the new facilities, equipment and maintenance plans. We cascade best practices which help improve capitalization rates and organic growth.
Illinois EAM Operations Manager
1 Year 8 Months- Safety – Improving the safety culture across the enterprise continues to be one of my primary focuses. With my exposure to most work groups in Illinois I continually work to improve upon that culture wherever possible. I work closely with the safety team and state leadership to identify opportunities and tools to enhance our safety culture.
- Customer Focus – holding my team to a high expectation with prompt and clear responses to customers’ needs, putting the right people in place to keep our customers at the center of everything we do, promoting tools that empower our employees to meet our customers’ needs (MapCall, C1V, Meter Ops, Billing Analytics App); implemented expectations for the state including Alert1V pilot.
- People – Challenging my team to be industry leaders, working with each of them on developing their skills and ensuring that we are reaching our goals together, giving them opportunities to grow and learn outside their normal tasks. Some examples are: interim senior manager for the Chicago Metro district for five months in 2018, statewide MapCall QA sessions, MapCall Summit for Midwest states, labor relations meeting.
- People – challenged team to become industry leaders, collaborated on skill development and goal achievement, provided opportunities for growth outside normal tasks, served as interim senior manager for Chicago Metro district for five months in 2018, led statewide MapCall QA sessions, organized MapCall Summit for Midwest states, participated in labor relations meetings.
- Led MapCall rollout for distribution across the state, actively embraced new technologies to empower teams and improve efficiencies.
- Growth – Sadorus acquisition, Fisher acquisition, Sidney acquisition (in progress); attend public meetings, building a solid positive reputation with all of our customers. Enabling our customers to help us grow our business by sharing their positive experiences in their communities.
Operation Supervisor
5 Years 5 Months- Promoted safety protocols to enhance workplace safety. – SafeStart Trainer, member of the safety committee, communicate safety alerts, safety inspections, report and discuss safety concerns with the crews and employees, training, and work closely with the safety department
- Employee Management – Working closely with the employees and the union on a daily basis to ensure we work as a team to meet our common goals
- Operational Efficiency – Scheduling and organizing crews on a daily basis; Working with the unions, contractors, engineers and city officials to ensure the interests of our customers and IAW are protected for all projects in our service area.
- Scheduled and organized crews daily; coordinated with unions, contractors, engineers, and city officials to protect customer interests and ensure compliance for all projects in service area.
- Technology – Constantly looking for new ways to improve our business; Keeping current with the safest, most efficient methods to cut pipe and protect excavations; perform site inspections.
- Cultivated positive relationships with customers to enhance reputation. – Building a solid positive reputation with all of our customers. Enabling our customers to help us grow our business by sharing their positive experiences in their communities.
9 Years 4 Months
- Responsible for the safety of the crew; Regular inspections of job site, excavations, and equipment; Kept current on regular safety training including OSHA 10hr, scheduling on-site training and instruction for specialty equipment.
- Worked with the customers to schedule work and explain the process; addressed any concerns while work was being performed as well as after the work had been completed; Found ways to go above and beyond expectations while focusing on the bottom line.
- Worked to build a strong team of individuals within my crew and within the company; trained new employees and offered new ideas on processes.
- Organized daily tasks; Planned ahead for current and future tasks; Kept a well-planned schedule allowing flexibility for changes.
- Operated, supervised and trained on equipment new to the organization such as Directional Drilling, Hammers, Fusion, Pigging and locating; kept current on new product technology.
- Built relationships and trust with all customers; ensured a positive experience with each customer.
New Store Setup Coordinator – Store Manager
4 Years- Contributed to design the New Store Setup practices; implemented these practices in the remodels and setups of stores across the country; Balanced expense budgets to plan while exceeding sales targets.
- Built and developed teams to effectively manage and maintain each location.
- Planned and designed new and remodeled stores; oversaw computer upgrades and served as certified store trainer.
- Designed New Store Setup practices; implemented in remodels and setups nationwide; balanced expense budgets while exceeding sales targets.
- Understood the needs of the customer and met those needs; resolved customer concerns.
Merchandising Manager – Special Project Coordinator
1 Month- Identified and addressed customer needs, effectively resolving concerns to enhance satisfaction.
- Built and guided teams to successfully manage and maintain operations at assigned locations.
- Drove store remodeling initiatives to improve customer experience and store functionality.
- Became a leader in the company remodeling stores.
- Enhanced customer experience by proactively addressing needs and collaborating with coworkers on additional service initiatives.
Education
Associates Degree - General Studies
- Organizational Leadership
Pursuing a degree in Organizational Leadership
Skills
Strategic planning
Execution strategy
Operations oversight
Business management
Process improvements
Change management
Operational effectiveness
Developing People
Certification
- Class C Public Water Supply Operator
- Certified SafeStart Trainer
Disclaimer
References and certifications can be provided upon request.
Timeline
Director Operations
Illinois American Water
03.2025 - CurrentRead More
Senior Manager Business Performance
Illinois American Water
11.2022 - 03.2025Read More
Illinois EAM Operations Manager
Illinois American Water
03.2021 - 11.2022Read More
Operation Supervisor
Illinois American Water
02.2011 - 07.2016Read More
J.C. Dillon Inc.
10.2001 - 02.2011Read More
New Store Setup Coordinator – Store Manager
Petco
10.1997 - 10.2001Read More
Merchandising Manager – Special Project Coordinator
Petsmart Inc.
09.1997 - 10.1997Read More
Greenville College
from Organizational Leadership
Read More
Illinois Central College
Associates Degree from General Studies
Read More