Breaking Barriers: Julia Isaac of Preferred Waste Solutions What happens when service, entrepreneurship, marriage, and an unconventional industry collide? On this episode of Women, Wealth & Entrepreneurship, host Ariel Shaw, MBA, sits down with Julia Isaac, CEO and Co-Owner of Preferred Waste Solutions, a minority-, woman- and veteran-owned sanitation company that Julia operates alongside her husband and business partner, Dawayne Isaac. Julia’s journey is anything but traditional. A veteran and former law-enforcement professional, she has taken the discipline, leadership and commitment to service developed throughout her career and applied them to building a growing sanitation company. Alongside Dawayne—who brings more than 35 years of waste-management experience—the couple is carving out space in an industry where women and minority entrepreneurs have historically had limited representation. This conversation goes beyond trash collection. Julia shares what it takes to build and scale an essential-service business, navigate entrepreneurship with your spouse, compete for larger opportunities, lead in a male-dominated industry, and turn operational excellence and customer service into a competitive advantage. The conversation is especially timely as Preferred Waste Solutions enters a new chapter of growth. In 2026, the company was selected by the City of Selma, Alabama, for its residential and commercial waste collection contract—an expansion beyond its Georgia service footprint and a significant milestone for the company. Tune in for a conversation about breaking barriers, building infrastructure, creating generational wealth, serving communities, and having the courage to build a business in spaces where few women who look like you are represented. Women, Wealth & Entrepreneurship — where we talk about the businesses, strategies and stories behind women building wealth, creating impact and changing industries.Breaking Barriers in the Business of Waste: Julia Isaac of Preferred Waste Solutions What happens when service, entrepreneurship, marriage, and an unconventional industry collide? On this episode of Women, Wealth & Entrepreneurship, Ariel Shaw sits down with Julia Isaac, CEO and Co-Owner of Preferred Waste Solutions, a minority-, woman- and veteran-owned sanitation company that Julia operates alongside her husband and business partner, Dawayne Isaac. Julia’s journey is anything but traditional. A veteran and former law-enforcement professional, she has taken the discipline, leadership and commitment to service developed throughout her career and applied them to building a growing sanitation company. Alongside Dawayne—who brings more than 35 years of waste-management experience—the couple is carving out space in an industry where women and minority entrepreneurs have historically had limited representation. This conversation goes beyond trash collection. Julia shares what it takes to build and scale an essential-service business, navigate entrepreneurship with your spouse, compete for larger opportunities, lead in a male-dominated industry, and turn operational excellence and customer service into a competitive advantage. The conversation is especially timely as Preferred Waste Solutions enters a new chapter of growth. In 2026, the company was selected by the City of Selma, Alabama, for its residential and commercial waste collection contract—an expansion beyond its Georgia service footprint and a significant milestone for the company. Tune in for a conversation about breaking barriers, building infrastructure, creating generational wealth, serving communities, and having the courage to build a business in spaces where few women who look like you are represented. Women, Wealth & Entrepreneurship — where we talk about the businesses, strategies and stories behind women building wealth, creating impact and changing industries.
