Working in waste is all Samantha Barreiro has known.聽At just 18 years old, Samantha began working for the Fort Myers, FL Division during her freshman year at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she earned a BS in Business Management.聽鈥淚 realized tuition, books and the cost of housing was expensive鈥o I started at Waste Pro one month into my college career and have been loving it ever since,鈥� she said.
That was over a decade ago, in 2010. Since then, Samantha has worked her way up by getting involved in all aspects of the business, including personnel management, employee engagement, operations, customer service, and of course, human resources. Since joining the HR team, she has distinguished herself by obtaining her Professional in Human Resources accreditation and being promoted to the Regional HR Manager of the largest region in the company.
鈥淣o two days are the same,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hether I鈥檓 working with managers on the best way to find candidates and streamline the hiring process or brainstorming employee engagement initiatives, every day I strive to be a more human 谤别蝉辞耻谤肠别.鈥�
In 2018, Waste Pro Founder and Executive Board Chairman John Jennings selected Samantha to be part of the company鈥檚 Leadership Initiative, which is a mentorship program designed to train the next generation of the company鈥檚 young leaders. For Samantha, being selected by Mr. Jennings was one of the highest points of her career.
鈥淓very day I get to work side-by-side with the most outstanding group of people,鈥� she said. 鈥淲orking in HR at Waste Pro, I鈥檝e had the privilege of experiencing our team鈥檚 culture, hearing their incredible stories, and helping our team members reach their fullest potential.鈥�
Of course, she鈥檚 met challenges along the way 鈥� especially once the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and the significant nationwide labor shortage that followed and is still being felt across the country. She was only one month into her new role as Regional HR Manager at the onset of the pandemic. But, she says, by building relationships and working as a team, they鈥檝e been able to navigate through the unprecedented times together.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been forced to think outside of the box and get creative with how we attract and retain talent, which has made me a better HR professional and a better leader,鈥� she said.
Being a young woman in what is typically a male-dominated industry, Samantha says she has challenged herself to work harder, think faster, and earn a seat at the table 鈥� but her mentors and fellow leaders recognized her dedication along her journey and not only made room for her at the table, but wholeheartedly welcomed her. And the same, she said, can be true for other women.
鈥淭here is a place for you here 鈥� any job that you see here, you can do it and you can do it well,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here is a place for everyone in the waste industry where you can have a successful and rewarding career.鈥�