From Shredding to Scaling: Judith Papo on Legal Shred, Medical Waste & Relationship-Driven Growth

What does it take to grow from a single shredding truck to a multi-market operation that competes head-to-head with industry giants? In this candid conversation, Judith Papo shares the journey from Hudson Valley Shred to Legal Shred, which has expanded into data destruction, hard-drive shredding, box storage, and a fast-growing medical waste business—fueled by a relentless focus on relationships, responsiveness, and compliance education. We explore how a family-run partnership divides strengths (ops, sales, leadership), why rebranding unlocked metro-area growth, and how franchising their medical-waste model is opening doors nationwide.
Judith also gets real about being a woman leader in a male-dominated industry—owning her presence, leading with listening, and turning authenticity into a competitive advantage. Plus: hiring realities post-COVID, setting boundaries when you work with your spouse, and the mindset that keeps her scaling: “Life is a daring adventure—be open with kindness and compassion.”