Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> August 17, 1998
RICHARD J. HECKMAN was elected Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Filter on July 16, 1990. He led the
investment group that purchased controlling interest in the company,
appointed new management and initiated a series of corporate changes
that have improved revenues and earnings. In 1990, U.S. Filter had
annualized revenues of approximately $17 million, reporting multimillion
dollars losses in its previous two years. U.S. Filter's revenues for
fiscal year 1997 were $1.37 billion. Heckman was named 1993 Entrepreneur
of the Year in the Turnaround category and 1997 Entrepreneur of the Year
in the Master Entrepreneur category for the Inland Empire Region of
Southern California. U.S. Filter's annualized revenues are over $3.5
billion. His was a director and owner of Smith Goggles (Sun Valley,
Idaho). He is also a founding shareholder of Callaway Golf, Inc. Heckman
serves on the Board of Directors of U.S.A. Waste Services, Inc., a non-
hazardous solid waste management company that has grown from $6 million
in revenues to over $2.5 billion in six years. He also serves on the
Board of Directors of K-2, Inc., a manufacturer of sporting goods
equipment listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Heckman attended
the University of Hawaii and completed the Small Company Management
Program at Harvard Business School. He is located at U.S. Filter's
corporate offices in Palm Desert, Ca. He is married with six children. Profile
Filter.
Mr. Heckman: U.S. Filter today is a company with annualized revenues in
excess of $4-1/2 billion, 22,000 employees,
