About Us

Eric Swain

Eric S. Swain grew up on his grandfather’s dairy farm near Statesville, NC, where he learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and trust. At Statesville High, he played football with hopes of continuing in college, but family obligations led him to pursue hard work in roles many shy away from.

Eric started his career with a septic tank service company, earning his Commercial Drivers Licence (CDL) to support the job. Later, he joined a paving company, learning to operate heavy equipment for highway construction. In 1993, putting his grandfather’s lessons of hard work and trust to use, Eric secured a loan—initially sealed with a handshake—to buy a motor grader and begin contracting road work on his own.

Eric expanded his equipment and subcontracted for a major highway project on Charlotte’s I-485. By 1997, he added underground water and sewer work to his services. After a severe back injury in 2003 and multiple surgeries, Eric had to sell much of his equipment. He eventually returned to work as an equipment operator, with hopes of owning his own equipment again.

In 2012, Eric bought equipment to return as a subcontractor on the I-485 project. As the project wound down in 2018, he shifted to waste management, forming Waste Management Pros of the Carolinas, LLC (WMPOTC), focusing on septic system design, installation, and service.

Eric maintains his CDL and is licensed by NCDOT for Heavy Highway Construction, including railway work. He’s qualified in underground water and sewer installation. His experience in waste management and his coursework at North Carolina State University, led him to earn certifications as an onsite water and sewer installer, inspector, and Level 2 Treatment Plant Operator in both North and South Carolina.

Dan Harms

Dan Harms brings over 40 years of experience in accounting, finance, and operations, including working directly with entrepreneurs. His experience spans the Financial Services, Manufacturing (printing, assembly, light manufacturing), and Distribution industries. He has worked with private equity-owned and family-owned businesses and has been involved in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Dan has also spent over 30 years as a member of an executive team.

Prior to joining WMPSE, Dan served as an audit manager at Deloitte before moving to a Chief Financial Officer role at a mid-size printing and distribution company owned by a Private Equity firm. After developing a successful divestiture plan, he led the operating team in negotiations with the buyers. He then became the Chief Financial Officer at a privately held company which performs third party manufacturing assembly for Fortune 500 companies. During his 17-year tenure, he played a key role in guiding the business from a highly entrepreneurial stage to a data-driven decision-making environment.

Dan is proud to be a U.S. Navy veteran and is deeply grateful for the GI Bill benefits, which afforded him the opportunity to earn his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.