Sunshine 811 Appoints Michael Borg as Executive Director
Veteran utility leader and longtime board member succeeds Mark Sweet following more than two decades of service
DEBARY, Fla. (Jan. 20, 2026) – Sunshine 811, which coordinates Florida’s “call before you dig” process between excavators and utilities, has named Michael Borg as its new executive director, effective Feb. 2, 2026. Borg succeeds Mark Sweet, who is retiring after more than two decades of leadership.
Borg brings more than 30 years of experience in municipal utilities and more than two decades of service on the Sunshine 811 Board of Directors where he has held multiple leadership roles, including chairman, treasurer and committee chair. Borg comes aboard after serving as Manager of Water Distribution for the City of Lakeland for the past 25 years where he oversaw daily operations, long-term planning, regulatory compliance and a workforce of more than 60 employees.
“Sunshine 811 plays a critical role in protecting Florida’s communities, infrastructure and workforce through safe digging education and awareness efforts,” Borg said. “Having served this organization as a board member for many years, I understand both its responsibility and its potential. I am honored to step into this role and build on the strong foundation Mark and the board have established, while continuing to advance our mission of safety, reliability and collaboration across the state.”
Throughout his career, Borg has led large teams, managed multimillion-dollar budgets and worked closely with government agencies, utilities, contractors and industry partners to improve operational performance and reduce risk. His background provides both field-level understanding as well as executive leadership experience directly aligned with Sunshine 811’s mission.
Outgoing Executive Director Mark Sweet said the transition reflects careful planning and a commitment to continuity.
“Mike knows this organization inside and out,” Sweet said. “He also understands the importance of damage prevention, the value of collaboration and the needs of our stakeholders. After nearly 20 years with Sunshine 811, I am confident the organization is in excellent hands and well-positioned for the future under Mike’s leadership.”
As executive director, Borg will oversee Sunshine 811’s operations, strategic initiatives, engagement efforts and more while continuing to work closely with the board, member utilities, contractors, regulators and community partners to promote safe digging practices and damage prevention across the Sunshine state.
“This is a moment of continuity and momentum,” Borg added. “Our focus remains clear: to protect Florida and it’s underground infrastructure through consistent, responsible safe digging practices.”
About Sunshine 811
Celebrating more than 30 years of work to make Florida the safest place to dig, Sunshine 811 is the state’s go-to resource for education and training on the safe digging process. It’s also the organization the law requires you to call before starting any digging project. Sunshine 811 maintains a toll-free number and a 24/7 online system to notify its member utility companies of pending excavation projects so buried utility lines can be located and marked to protect the underground infrastructure.
It’s estimated that a utility line is damaged 73 times every day in Florida. Sunshine 811’s efforts are all about ensuring public safety and preventing underground utility damage. With Florida’s continued ranking as one of the top states in the country for construction activity and related jobs, safe digging in Florida and Sunshine 811’s role has never been more important.