Novak to retire from Novak Sanitary Service

April 11, 2018

Forty-two years after buying the family business from his parents the day before he turned 18, Bob Novak is retiring.

The owner of Novak Sanitary Service has grown his company from a single truck that worked four days a week to a business with 90 employees, 70 trucks and more than 23,000 customers.

He plans to consult until the end of February 2019 but said “I’ll probably consult my whole life just because it’s who I am. I’ll always answer questions and help whoever is here.”

The business will continue to carry the Novak name. It has been a subsidiary of Waste Connections Inc. since 1999. In addition to running the Sioux Falls office, Novak served as division vice president overseeing parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming.

“The growth of Sioux Falls has been amazing,” he said. “It’s what’s allowed us to grow.”

His replacement in managing Sioux Falls will be Mike Herbst, who joined Waste Connections as assistant district manager in Omaha 17 months ago after retiring from the military. Herbst recently relocated to Sioux Falls.

“He’s a military guy who’s moved all over the world, and he’s learned to adjust and adapt to people. He’s one of those guys when you meet him the first time you like him,” Novak said. “I wanted someone who would treat the team well, and he’s that guy. He’s a high-integrity guy.”

From single truck to industry leader: Novak builds business with commitment to customer service

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Novak to retire from Novak Sanitary Service

Forty-two years after buying the family business from his parents the day before he turned 18, Bob Novak is retiring.

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