Angela Orellano has grown with Waste Pro over the past 15 years. She started with the company in 2006, when Waste Pro only existed in three states and had about 400 employees. Now, Waste Pro dominates the Southeast U.S. in 11 states and has approximately 4,000 employees. “Being able to grow with the company has been one of the best parts of my career,” she said.
Orellano is a self-proclaimed introvert – she doesn’t like being the center of attention. However, Waste Pro Payroll Director Judi Craigo has helped her step out of her comfort zone when duty called. “There were times where I thought I would be physically sick,” she said. “But Judi continued to encourage me to push through. Once I completed the task, I would say, ‘that wasn’t bad.’ Every time.”
Orellano was the first HR Administrator for Waste Pro and handled many facets of the job during the “growing” years. These included Benefits Administration, Training & Development for Office Managers, and co-leading sessions at the annual Waste Pro Manager’s Meeting. According to Craigo, “these fundamentals and Angie’s attention to detail led to her current role.”
Working in payroll was a natural fit for Orellano when an opportunity at Waste Pro became available to her 15 years ago. Math was her favorite subject in school, she said. In addition to processing payroll Orellano has participated in numerous internal audits for timekeeping, payroll accuracy, compliance of I9, and wage garnishments.
Before Waste Pro, she didn’t have a lot of payroll experience. However, when she learned about the company and experienced what she called a family atmosphere, she knew she was in the right place. She later found out she was not alone in Waste Pro. It turned out her uncle, Edwin Hernandez, had been working for the company for years and she didn’t even know it. “It was comforting to know he was happy with Waste Pro, so why wouldn’t I be?” she said.
As she’s watched the company grow over the last 15 years, Orellano has seen firsthand the family spirit of Waste Pro. “My journey with Waste Pro is one I couldn’t have imagined when thinking about what my career choice would be, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Anyone coming into this industry and especially joining the Waste Pro family won’t be disappointed. Enjoy the ride.”
When she isn’t working, Orellano calls herself a “homebody.” She attends fitness classes every day after work, and weekends are spent with her fiancé and their 11-year-old dog. “He’s my baby.”