Valicor Environmental Services, a Monroe, Ohio-based provider of nonhazardous wastewater treatment services, announced the appointment of Steve Hopper as the company’s new CEO. The appointment becomes effective July 5.
Hopper succeeds Gregg Kaplan, a former operating partner with Chicago-based Pritzker Private Capital (PPC), who led Valicor through the pandemic and is departing to pursue other professional opportunities.
“I am honored to join the Valicor team,” Hopper says. “I have long admired Valicor’s culture, service quality and leadership position as the largest operator of centralized wastewater treatment (CWT) facilities in the U.S. I look forward to serving our customers, strengthening our industry partnerships and accelerating our next phase of growth.”
“Steve’s experience building environmental services businesses makes him ideally suited to lead Valicor into the future,” David Gau, partner and head of operations at PPC, says. “Our long-duration capital will continue to support Valicor as Steve helps drive new business opportunities, evaluates add-on acquisitions and further strengthens Valicor’s customer relationships.”
“We thank Gregg for his exceptional service leading Valicor through the pandemic, and we wish him well on his next endeavor,” Gau says. “After several years with PPC, Gregg offered to lead Valicor last year through our initial efforts of sorting the team, strategy and execution. Gregg has helped build a strong foundation that positions Valicor for future success, and this initial work is now complete. We are pleased to welcome Steve as he steps in to guide Valicor into its next chapter.”
According to the company, Hopper brings a successful track record of leading and growing environmental services businesses to Valicor. Hopper joins the company from Luxembourg-based Eurofins Scientific, where he served as president and COO for Environment Testing America. He previously held various senior roles at Boston-based Veolia North America, including president and COO of the company’s Industrial Water and Regeneration division. Hopper received a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree from The University of Houston.
Valicor’s strategy focuses on developing greenfield CWT facilities and acquiring operators of CWT facilities, as well as other providers of waste management and environmental services, including materials recycling, product destruction, landfill solidification and related services.