Lester Sola celebrated his 23rd anniversary as a Miami-Dade County employee in fine fashion recently, as he was appointed director of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) during a meeting of the Miami-Dade County Commission.
Fresh out of grad school, Sola began his career on Feb. 3, 1992 as part of the County Manager Management Training Program. Since that time, he has spent his more than two decades of public service working at many county departments and agencies, reorganizing and refocusing their structures, strategies, and services at each stop for the betterment of Miami-Dade County residents.
“Lester Sola has been directly involved with some of Miami-Dade County’s largest projects and programs,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “From Aviation, PortMiami, Elections, the Performing Arts Center and American Airlines Arena, I don’t think there is an area of Miami-Dade County government that Lester hasn’t been a part of. His combination of vast experience and unparalleled ethics, integrity and professionalism is why I am confident that Lester is the right person to oversee WASD during the implementation of its $13.5 billion Capital Improvement Plan.”
County commissioners echoed the mayor’s sentiments and lauded Sola as a consummate professional and troubleshooter who consistently leaves departments in better standing than when he arrived. Sola was thankful for the kind words and said he was looking forward to the opportunities that lay ahead at WASD.
“I’m honored to be here,” he said. “There are big challenges at WASD and we will prove to the community — our rate payers — that we can deliver on our promises. I have had incredible teachers here at the county during these last 23 years and I will follow in the footsteps of those who have led. I commit to you that I will lead by example and do what is right.”
