ATLANTA, GA – March 6, 2025 – In today’s world, it can be rare to take your first job post-graduation and know you have found a long- term home. But that is exactly what happened to Keigan Duckett, who was recently promoted to Operations Manager for Waste Pro’s Atlanta/Doraville, Georgia, Division. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, Keigan holds strong ties to Ruston, Louisiana, where she graduated high school. She attended Louisiana State University, where she pursued a degree in business. In 2017, she began her professional career in the solid waste and recycling industry. She was trying to find a path back to the East Coast when she called a friend, Darryon Robinson, who worked at Waste Pro then. He offered her a temp customer service role; as they say, the rest was history. She started at Waste Pro as a temp, learning all she could on the phones. The Gwinnett County bid for service was up for consideration at the time. Seeing how quickly she caught on, management moved her into a dispatch role to help ensure a smooth transition for that account.

Working her way through the ranks, Keigan has been called upon to step into various roles, giving her experience in dispatch, customer service, operations specialist, and supervisor. She caught the eye of now-Divisional Vice President Jennifer Herring. Jenn saw something unique in Keigan: drive and the potential for greatness. Jenn began mentoring Keigan and wanted to ensure opportunities for advancement presented themselves at the right time for her growth within the company.

Keigan credits these opportunities for growth with giving her much-needed experience. Some examples of this were when she was managing routes for the Gwinnett County recycling, yard waste, and bulk contract. She credits that with giving her the tools to handle customer service issues when they arise. “You are dealing with people, and they all make mistakes. It’s how you handle them that makes the difference. You learn to take accountability and move forward positively, which defines how the customer views you at the end of the day,” shared Keigan. She attributes much of her success to her family. Her father was a college basketball coach who taught her to give everything her all, learn from each challenge, and, most of all, be a good sport. He was able to beat cancer twice before passing away last year. Her mom, a successful therapist, helped her put things in perspective and taught her love and understanding. It’s these values and a strong work ethic that Keigan says have propelled her through life to succeed.

Keigan can see each challenge, obstacle, and problem in her journey as a learning opportunity, converting challenges into training. She was put on the overnight shift for route supervision at one point, coming in around 10 pm to coordinate commercial and construction services with roll-off drivers. She was responsible for two major commercial accounts, including the AmericansMart Atlanta account, for which we currently provide 15 roll-offs and 24-hour service, 7 days a week, and Emory University. Immediately, she saw room for improvement, noting a communication gap from the night shift to the early morning. She was able to bridge that gap and improve communication, productivity, and service satisfaction.

Keigan also faced the challenge of managing the move-ins and move-outs on Emory’s college campuses. She noticed many barely used, sometimes new items thrown away on their way to the landfill. She worked with the campus to provide recycling containers and sometimes empty trucks that students used to collect unused or gently used items. This sparked the now active recycling program on campus. The Atlanta Division was awarded another higher-ed account, Kennesaw State University. The successful sustainability and recycling programs implemented at Emory were used as a launching point during the start-up. Additional customizations were implemented, including custom maps and drop-off locations, helping students, teachers, and parents navigate move-ins and move-outs seamlessly. Keigan’s initiatives improved waste management practices and set a benchmark for social and environmental responsibility in the industry.

Keigan was also tapped to assist with the South Fulton residential contract in the summer of 2023. The South Fulton contract setup consisted of ordering 10 Automated side-load trucks and over 38,000 containers. In the first six months, Keigan set up routes, hired over 20 drivers and helpers, and tracked productivity to ensure we were maximizing services. She appreciates the patience and mentorship of her management team, which gave her a chance to learn about and participate in the operational processes. Keigan’s hands-on approach and dedication during the South Fulton residential contract ensured its successful implementation and demonstrated her exceptional ability to manage complex projects and teams effectively. Keigan’s unwavering dedication to her role is genuinely inspiring. She always thinks of the next great idea and is grateful for the opportunities to prove herself. “All I want to do is impress my manager and colleagues, and Waste Pro has made me want to be the best version of myself. My manager, Jenn, is known to breed results and has created a path toward excellence for me. She makes me want to do better, be better. Keigan’s dedication and constant push to perform is a testament to her commitment to Waste Pro’s success.”

Now entering her 7th year at Waste Pro, Keigan embarks on another step in her career. Her primary responsibility in her new role as Operations Manager will be to provide oversight, coordination, supervision, planning, administration, training, and logistical support to the Atlanta team based out of Doraville. Her work effort weighs heavily on the safe and successful collection, transportation, and disposal of residential/commercial solid waste and recyclables, and we are confident Keigan will rise to the occasion after already demonstrating these skills in her previous roles. “I love feeling part of the fabric of the community. It’s all about relationships and being good to people. New contracts mainly come from good word of mouth; so-n- so from town A said to the mayor of town B that we use Waste Pro and let people know we are available. We are trusted to be in neighborhoods where their children play; they want to know we work safely and watch out for people. I take that challenge on when new contracts arise and am excited for this next big opportunity,” Keigan expressed.

At 32, she shared that she has achieved more than she ever thought possible. Keigan knows there is more in store for her at Waste Pro. She’s expressed interest in learning more about the municipal sales process. In her spare time, she loves to travel; she loves puzzles and continues to keep her mind exploring new things. She loves to cook, pamper her pup, and spend time with family. She is a sports fanatic, and her favorite team is the New Orleans Saints. Here’s a fun side note: Her uncle played for the NOLA Saints and Dallas Cowboys, and Ken Duckett was a wide receiver in the 1980s.

“You can never know enough; I love asking questions! Nosey has excelled me!” We can’t wait to see how far Keigan soars.