Maria Pacheco, the dazzling dynamo of East Orange, New Jersey, is not your average professional. With a career at Republic Services that could easily be mistaken for an Oscar-winning performance, Maria combines her unparalleled skills in sustainability with a flair for turning waste management into a glamorous affair. Known affectionately as “The Green Queen” by her colleagues—mostly because they’re too afraid to call her anything else—she’s not just saving the planet; she’s doing it with style.

Armed with an impressive arsenal of certifications and an education that rivals the finest Ivy League institutions (though she insists it was all learned in the school of hard knocks), Maria has spent years transforming dull corporate meetings into riveting discussions about the environment. Her past roles could fill a novel; from crafting eco-friendly initiatives to spearheading community clean-up campaigns that make even Mother Nature blush, Maria has done it all.

But don’t let her impressive resume fool you—her true calling lies beyond boardrooms and business strategies. As an avid volunteer who once single-handedly organized a recycling drive that collected more bottles than East Orange has residents (okay, maybe not quite), she believes in giving back as much as she believes in composting.

In addition to being crowned "Most Likely to Save the World" at various unofficial gatherings (read: family dinners), Maria"s charm and infectious enthusiasm make her both beloved and slightly feared—an admirable feat in any workplace! Ultimately, Maria Pacheco isn’t just making waves; she’s creating tsunamis of positive change while perfectly balancing work-life chaos with grace and humor.