As CEO and department director of the region’s largest public solid waste management division, she oversees 1,200 employees, facilitating trash collection for 350,000 customers and disposal for almost 3 million residents.
“I’ve been doing public service my entire career,” says Daniel, who leads Miami-Dade County Solid Waste.
A Miami Central High graduate, she earned a doctorate degree last year, but her personal achievements run neck-and-neck with Daniel’s drive to support her professional team and her community.
“It is an honor to serve the people, especially the richly diverse communities of Miami-Dade County,” she says. “What I find most rewarding is knowing that the work we do each day directly impacts the quality of life for our residents. From keeping our neighborhoods clean to ensuring reliable waste services and promoting sustainability, our efforts play a vital role in strengthening public health, safety, and environmental stewardship.”
While many residents overlook the significance of rubbish collection, “let that can not get picked up for one week, two weeks, three weeks” and neighborhoods suffer, Daniel says. So she promotes a culture of appreciation for staff and collection employees, visiting work sites and ensuring that employees receive birthday cards.
“I take great pride in leading a department whose services touch every household, every single day,” says Daniel, adding that engaging residents in the community is among “the most fulfilling” aspects of her role.
Her post in Solid Waste marks a “return back home,” adds Daniels, who began working in the department in 2008 for a number of years before moving to other areas of county government. After joining the City of Fort Lauderdale in 2019 and becoming deputy director of public works, she helped lead the community through what she calls “probably one of the most pressing times” when it suffered from six sewer breaks.
Known as a problem-solver, Daniel’s latest goals include preventing similar problems in Miami-Dade.
“Miami-Dade is expanding, and that puts significant pressure on our waste systems,” she says. “We’re meeting this challenge head-on by planning for the future: investing in landfill capacity, exploring waste-diversion strategies, and strengthening our financial system. At the same time, we’re working to communicate the complexities of solid waste management in ways that are transparent and accessible to the public.”
Daniel shared public service with her husband, the late Richard Daniel, a water and sewer employee. She’s a mom to sons Richard, De’Andre and Rashad, and daughter Keirra, and grandmother of eight.
Outside the office, her affiliations include serving as board member and chapter president of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, membership in American Society for Public Administration, Florida City and County Management Association, United Way Women’s Leadership and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce Women Leaders. She also supports Girl Power and other mentorship programs.
“Ultimately, I believe that strong leadership empowers others, strengthens organizations, and leaves a lasting impact on the communities we serve,” Daniel says. “That’s the standard I hold myself to — and the legacy I hope to leave behind.”
