Bill Taormina’s roots in Anaheim go back to the post World War II period. His father, Cosmo Taormina, came to Anaheim in 1949, driving to city hall in his truck looking for garbage collection customers.
The City Manager told the young man to collect the trash in the city along East Lincoln Avenue and report back when he was done.
At the end of the day and with a truck overloaded with trash, the City Manager was impressed with Taormina’s hard work, not only had he collected the trash to the Anaheim city limit, he had collected all the trash all the way to the foothills miles away not knowing exactly where the city limits ended.
Based on his demonstrated work ethic, Taormina got the job of collecting refuse in Anaheim and founded his business originally known as Anaheim Disposal. The family grew their small company to become the largest privately owned recycling firm in the State until merging with a public company in the late 1990’s, now the second largest waste hauler in the nation.
Taormina – who is the latest addition to the Voice of OC Board of Directors – learned the value of hard work and giving back from his father. In recent years he has taken a leading role in the fight to end homelessness and address mental health in Orange County. He is a founding Board member of BeWellOC, a public/private partnership providing mental health services on the street level. Working with various non-profit groups and faith based organizations, he has been a catalyst in the development of six major homeless shelters in the Orange County area.
“My family has been blessed in our business careers and we believe strongly in putting our efforts and resources back into our community,” says Taormina. “I look forward to bringing my skill set and perspective to the Voice of OC Board.”
“I’m delighted to welcome Bill Taormina to the Board. In the decades I’ve known him I can’t think of anyone with more integrity, and mindful business sense. He is a great addition to the future growth of Voice of OC.” said Barbara Venezia, Voice of OC Board Member.
Voice of OC Board Chairman Wylie Aitken and founding publisher and editor-in-chief, Norberto Santana, Jr., both credited Taormina’s strong business and ethical base as a welcome addition to the board of directors.
“Reading Bill’s recent comments on the importance of ethics in the city-hired corruption investigators report in Anaheim was uplifting,” Santana said, adding “it’s inspiring to see members of the business community standing up for ethics and we welcome that perspective on the Voice of OC board of directors.”
“Bill symbolizes what Voice of OC is about,” Aitken added, “A citizen who takes great pride in his city, is generous both with his time and pocketbook and is passionate about accountability and honesty in local government.”