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Phenom

Michelle Barrows-Carter is the co-owner of Junk It Junk Removal, a Portland-based business she runs alongside her husband, Dupree Carter. With 12 years of experience in the construction industry, she has built the company into a trusted community partner that extends beyond traditional hauling services to create meaningful collaborations across the region.

A graduate of Clackamas Community College, Barrows-Carter has transformed her business into a model that integrates environmental stewardship with community impact. Under her leadership, Junk It Junk Removal has established city contracts with Portland Parks & Recreation, supporting the cleanup of trails and natural areas throughout the city. The company also has contributed to major construction projects including Bull Run, while taking on janitorial roles to maintain operational standards on job sites.

Barrows-Carter鈥檚 collaborative approach distinguishes her work in an industry often characterized by competition. She has formed partnerships with local haulers, movers and truckers including Von鈥檚 Moving and Storage, Frog & Toad Hauling, the Dream Team, GI Junk and 2C Building Services. Through her membership in the Professional Business Development Group, she has brought her voice into civic spaces, participating in meetings with city council members and appearing at public sessions.

The company鈥檚 initiatives around reuse and redistribution divert furniture and household goods from landfills to families in need, demonstrating how business operations can advance both sustainability and equity. Barrows-Carter also has partnered with organizations including SOLVE and Trash for Peace, extending her company鈥檚 reach into environmental stewardship through cleanup initiatives, bulky waste pilots and creative redistribution programs.

Beyond business operations, Barrows-Carter contributed to the Parent Handbook for Justice-Involved Youth, a project led by POIC + RAHS (Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center + Rosemary Anderson High School). She collaborated directly with the District Attorney鈥檚 office, judges, probation officers and community partners to create a practical resource for families navigating the juvenile justice system. The guide is now housed on the Oregon Judicial Department鈥檚 Multnomah County Circuit Court website.

鈥淢ichelle鈥檚 leadership extends to visionary how others can partner, work together, build together,鈥� Fayetta Burch, Professional Business Development Group, wrote in Barrows-Carter鈥檚 Phenom nomination. 鈥淲e have been amazed at her skills.鈥�

Junk It Junk Removal operates as a family-run organization. Barrows-Carter鈥檚 oldest son serves as operations manager, another son leads field crews, and her stepson recently joined the workforce to learn the business, ensuring the company鈥檚 values of service, resilience and community commitment carry forward to the next generation.