Launching her career at Casella after serving in the US Army National Guard, Phoenix Hughes takes her service-first mindset to the next level. Awarded the 2024 National Waste and Recycling Association's (NWRA) Women’s Council Scholarship, Hughes is committed to furthering her education and growth in the industry, while promoting the same determination among her Auburn, MA division.
I enlisted when I was in college, and six months later, our unit was being deployed. I was a chemical operations specialist and took courses in the medical management of chemical/nuclear and biological weapons. I helped lead a team that was prepared to respond if necessary. Our unit spent several months in Kuwait offloading vehicles from naval ships and escorting soldiers when arriving at various bases around the country before we went north to Iraq for a year.
It has taught me the element of balance. In basic training, you learn structure, discipline, and focus. On a deployment, you must take those values and apply them to unpredictable scenarios that require adaptability. In operations, you frequently run into scenarios where you are battling constraints, whether it be personnel, vehicles, or logistical constraints. As bothersome as the constraints are, it is our ability to adapt that makes our team successful.
Although it’s been 20 years since my deployment, it can be somewhat awkward to talk about. I think many Veterans enjoy having a couple of people to connect with who understand but also don’t want to seem like they are seeking attention or stealing valor. I am incredibly grateful to work with the people that I do. They are incredibly hardworking, dedicated, and caring. I have built many great relationships and have always felt supported on a personal and professional level.
Growth is everything to me. I try to surround myself with people who challenge the way that I think and aren’t afraid to take risks. The only constant is change, and having a growth mindset gives you the agility and resilience to navigate changes both personally and professionally. Continuing my education has shifted my area of focus from manager to leader. The way we strategize our sustainability, growth, and succession has given me a scope of forward thinking.
I feel honored. It is a great feeling to work alongside some of the most passionate and authentic people I’ve ever met. Just as my team inspires me to improve every day, so does this scholarship as I continue my educational goals. I still have an incredible amount to learn about the industry, and I'm grateful to learn from some of the best. I'm excited for the future of the division, and, as for myself, I will keep pursuing growth at any opportunity.
Want to join our team? Explore our various career path options and apply today at casella.com/careers.
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, is one of the largest recyclers and most experienced fully integrated resource management companies in the Eastern United States. Founded in 1975 as a single truck collection service, Casella has grown its operations to provide solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to more than one million residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers and provides professional resource management services to over 10,000 customer locations in more than 40 states.
