President / Chief Lobbyist
Dennis Hart brings more than four decades of experience in government, environmental regulation, public affairs, and advocacy. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Chemistry Council of New Jersey (CCNJ), a position he has held since 2016.
Before joining CCNJ, Dennis served as Director of Utility Operations for the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey (UTCA), representing more than 1,100 companies involved in the state’s heavy, highway, and utility construction sectors. In 2010, he was named Managing Director of the Construction Industry Advancement Program of New Jersey (CIAP), where he led public relations efforts for the construction industry and helped increase minority participation and student engagement in the construction trades.
Earlier in his career, Dennis was Executive Director of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT), a state authority that partners with the NJDEP to provide low-cost financing for environmental infrastructure projects. Under his leadership, the program provided over $2.5 billion in low-interest financing for public and private projects.
Dennis also spent 23 years with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), holding several senior roles including Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Regulation, Administrator of the Water Supply Program, Director of the Division of Water Quality, and State Drought Coordinator.
Throughout his career, Dennis has served on the boards of the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities and the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators. He has testified before Congress and the New Jersey Legislature and has been featured on numerous television and radio programs.
He also contributes his expertise as a member of education advisory boards at The College of New Jersey, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Essex County College, and Union County College. Dennis holds a B.S. in Biology from Juniata College, an M.A. in Administration from Rider University, and is a graduate of the Leadership New Jersey Program (Class of 2002).