The 2011 Local Hero Nominees

Real people making a real difference: 25 worthy nominees for a 2011 Heart of Green Award.

Meet the By Dan Shapley

Lynn Brown, VP of Communications for Waste Management

2011 Local Hero: Nominee

"There's one thing you have to know about Lynn Brown: She’s a fighter.

"When Lynn joined Waste Management in 2005, the word 'green' was used in reference to the color of the company's trucks. But Lynn and her team wanted something more, and they worked together to convince a major garbage company to think in terms of 'zero waste.'

"Six years later, Waste Management is a completely different company as a leader of waste-to-energy technologies and recycling. Manning the helm is Lynn herself.

"Lynn applied that same fighter attitude when she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer – she downed a shot of optimism with her chemo cocktail and told her oncologist to 'bring it on.' Over the next year, Lynn will receive chemotherapy every Friday, and she plans to continue her work with Waste Management during treatment. At the end of her treatment, Lynn is expected to make a full recovery. She's already planning a mentor program for other Waste Management employees fighting breast cancer.

"'Everyone knows someone who has been affected,' she said. 'That’s why cancer sucks. It's no longer an epidemic, it’s a pandemic.'"

"Today, Lynn is dealing with some of the darker parts of the disease with her own sense of humor. At the time of this interview Lynn was still getting used to her new wig and post-op figure.

"'I stand in the mirror and look at my fat, scarred body and bald head and just laugh,' she sad. 'Because if you don't laugh, then what will you do?'"