10 Questions with Marco Herrera

From the Army to the DJ booth to Cape Cod Healthcare, Marco’s journey reflects discipline, purpose and pride — along with nearly three decades of dedication in Environmental Services.

When Marco Herrera first trained in cleaning hospital floors, he says he learned from the best—Tony Guglielmo and Jose Huet—taking “a little piece here, a little piece there,” and, as he jokes, adding his own “special sauce.”

“I started as a regular cleaner, but then they moved me up to project tech,” says Marco.

For nearly three decades, Marco has been a cornerstone of Cape Cod Hospital’s Environmental Services team. Now a lead project technician, he oversees critical spaces, including the hospital pharmacies and diagnostic departments to the main lobby—work he approaches with pride, precision and the same discipline that he learned as a U.S. Army tank commander.

Marco joined Cape Cod Healthcare in 1996, just two years after completing a decade of military service in the Third Army Division during Desert Storm. The Army, he says, instilled in him purpose and discipline—qualities that still guide his work.

“I was proud to be an American soldier,” he says. “I served my country and that was important to me.” That sense of purpose carried him through 27 years cleaning in Radiation Therapy, where he not only maintained strict safety standards but also forged lasting friendships with patients. “I’m not invasive, I just talk to people. I made a lot of friends over the years,” he says.

Born in Panama City, Panama, and raised across the U.S. from Salt Lake City to Chicago, Marco brings a global perspective and deep compassion to his work. He also represents Environmental Services on Cape Cod Healthcare’s Health Equity Committee, sharing ideas to better reach underserved communities through churches and community festivals—and even proposing a mobile van to meet people where they are. “It’s very rewarding to know that I was chosen for the health equity committee,” says Herrera. “I’m always thinking outside the box.”

A champion of giving back, he helps organize holiday adopt-a-family efforts and baby bundles for coworkers in his department who are expecting.

We recently caught up with Marco before the start of a recent shift to learn more about his passion, his favorite mantra, what people might be surprised to learn about him and his biggest inspiration.

Tony and Marco

1. What gets you out of bed in the morning? What’s your passion?

Caring for my home. I’m proud of my lawn and keep my house 100 percent clean. I love getting up in the morning, seeing the sun and the beauty of life.

2. What’s your mantra?

Look sharp, be sharp. How you present yourself reflects your work.

3. Favorite part of the job?

I like the people I work with. I’ve made a lot of friendships here. At the end of the day, we all have families at home, but we also spend about half our lives here. This is another kind of family. When someone is going through a hard time, you can lean on a coworker’s shoulder—we’ve always had each other’s backs.

4. How would your coworkers describe you?

“Always by the book,” meaning disciplined, dependable. 

5. What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a serious music collector. I have well over 10,000 CDs — all genres. Jazz, some country, R&B, Motown, even rock. I was also a DJ for about 10 years, known as “DJ Groove,” on 90.7 WKKL at Cape Cod Community College (he breaks out into his DJ voice: “You are listening to the great sounds of DJ Groove on 90.7 WKKL, West Barnstable”). I also worked a lot of side gigs at weddings and clubs. It was a lot of hustle and bustle, but I loved it.

6. Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My grandfather. He taught me the essence of responsibility. He taught me how to work hard, to be compensated in life. A good, honest effort would take me a long way.

7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

To end all wars—so women, children, the elderly and innocent people don’t suffer. Wars to me are very sad.

8. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Analyze before you act.

9. Your idea of a perfect day off? 

I love watching my sports. I am an avid Boston Celtics and Patriots fan.

10. Favorite Cape spot to unwind?

Menauhant Beach in Falmouth.