Maria Rios

Maria Rios has turned trash into treasure! She is the Founder, President & CEO of Nation Waste, Inc. (NWI), a fully-certified commercial solid waste disposal and recycling company. Maria emigrated from El Salvador as a child and came to the U.S. to pursue an education. After graduating from the University of Houston she purchased two trucks and Nation Waste was born. Today, she has a fleet of over 20 trucks.

NWI offers a full range of compactor, front-end load dumpsters, and large roll-off waste container solutions, and a variety of portable sanitation facilities, for commercial, industrial, government, office, emergency relief, special event venues, TV and film. NWI expanded its recycling capabilities for new government and commercial customers by extending their recycling facility, and adding innovative engineered recycling handling equipment.

As a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduate, Maria has expanded her operations and product line, which has resulted in a multi-million dollar contract with the City of Houston. She has been named one of Houston's Most Influential Women by Houston Woman Magazine; Female Entrepreneur of the Year by the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and has been recognized by the White House and the Texas Governor. She recently won the 2013 Fortune Most Powerful Women Entrepreneur.

Since starting the program, Maria has hired 8 new employees and has seen a 24% increase in revenues. She projects a year end revenue increase of 51% with the revenue generated from the City of Houston, as she will be providing portable sanitation to two major airports, police stations, city parks and events throughout the City. Maria is conducting business with ten Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni. Maria won the 2013 FMPW Entrepreneur Award for her innovative and ground-breaking business model.