Haylee Martinez-Marquez - JHHS, Class of 2018

Campus: Horn 

Graduation Year: 2018

College: The University of Texas at Arlington; Bachelor’s

Current Occupation: Co-Owner of HD Waste & Recycling 

Haylee Martinez-Marquez’s career was built on a strong foundation years before she realized which career path she wanted to pursue. As a fourth grader at Smith Elementary School, Martinez-Marquez was selected to serve on the campus’ Green Team, which was composed of students who stayed after school to dispose of recyclable materials from across the campus. That early experience contributed to her growth in leadership, responsibility and community service - all skills that have come full circle in her current role as co-owner of her family’s business, HD Waste & Recycling. For Martinez-Marquez, the educational experience she received in Mesquite ISD served as a launching pad for her success in college and beyond. 

A Firm Foundation

Throughout her time in Mesquite ISD, Martinez-Marquez continued to grow academically and as a leader. Her career interest shifted towards the healthcare field in high school, prompting her decision to explore industry-related courses. During her junior year, Martinez-Marquez participated in healthcare clinical rotations which allowed her to gain hands-on experience at various facilities across the Metroplex including Dallas Regional Hospital, a local nursing home and daycare center. Due to her academic excellence, she was nominated by one of her teachers to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine and Healthcare at UCLA in the summer of 2016. 

Martinez-Marquez was also a member of the Berry Middle and Horn High School cheerleading teams, which further developed her confidence, discipline and time management. 

Coming Full Circle 

By her senior year, Martinez-Marquez had secured a pharmaceutical job, which led her to pursue nursing at The University of Texas at Arlington. However, her college journey took an unexpected turn when her grandmother, whom she was incredibly close to, passed away during her freshman year. Navigating that loss while adjusting to college was difficult, and her academics temporarily took a hit. With encouragement from her family, she found the motivation to keep moving forward. Martinez-Marquez often heard the words, “¡Échale ganas!”, from her loved ones, which was a constant reminder to pour her heart into what she was doing and to keep going. 

Fueled by their encouragement, she decided to pivot and change her major to business, knowing it would grant her the ultimate flexibility she wanted for her future. Despite being set back a year, she persevered and graduated from UTA in four years, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Marketing as a first-generation college graduate. Her journey is proof that success doesn’t always follow a straight path. Sometimes, an unexpected detour can lead somewhere even better than originally planned.

Today, her role in the family business is anything but one-dimensional. She manages staff, finances, payroll, logistics, and human resources while helping create a workplace where employees feel safe, valued and motivated. The work she does also allows her to make a tangible environmental impact. HD Waste & Recycling actively sorts recyclable materials to divert waste from local landfills, bringing her career full circle to the Green Team at Smith Elementary. Looking back, Martinez-Marquez can now see the connection between the fourth grader who collected recycling bins after school and the business owner she has become.

“I wish I could tell fourth grade Haylee that the small recycling containers she emptied after school would later launch environmental stewardship and a lifelong, fulfilling career in entrepreneurship and leadership,” she says. 

Favorite High School Memory

“My favorite high school memories center around being deeply involved in campus life through cheerleading and student leadership. I was a cheerleader at Horn for all four years and loved the energy of supporting our sports organizations. There was always a strong sense of school spirit and community connection,” says Martinez-Marquez. “Being selected for Student Leadership my junior and senior years was also a defining part of my high school experience. We volunteered and organized a wide variety of campus events, which also aided in my professional and personal development.” 

Advice from Haylee to Current Students

For students considering a career in entrepreneurship, management, or the environmental sector, Martinez-Marquez encourages them to take advantage of the opportunities available through Mesquite ISD and, most importantly, to get involved.

“When challenges arise in college or your career, remember to ''échale ganas''! Pour your heart into your education and community groups, pivot when you need to, and trust that God will guide you.”