From an early age, Nate Smith had an interest in business and finance — though he wasn’t quite sure where that interest might lead. He dreamed of one day owning a business of his own and, more importantly, finding a way to help people along the way.
“My parents instilled in me a strong moral foundation,” he said.
Teachers and coaches also had a huge influence on him, building on that foundation.
By high school, Smith was already getting hands-on experience in the business world. While working at Jock’s Nitch, he not only interacted with customers but also learned the ropes of accounting, budgeting and retail operations. Those early lessons gave him a taste of how business really worked behind the scenes — and confirmed his interest in pursuing it further.
When Smith graduated from Parsons High School in 2002, he continued working for Jock’s Nitch at the Pittsburg location while attending Pittsburg State University, majoring in finance. After a time, he switched to accounting for its career flexibility and long-term potential.
Beyond academics, Smith also dreamed of life in a bigger city — somewhere he could see more, do more, and experience more. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2007 and, after eight years with Jock’s Nitch, decided it was time for a change.
He left for the Kansas City area thinking it was the next step. He found small accounting jobs but none that truly inspired him. Along the way, he met his future wife — and the two quickly discovered they shared similar goals for growth, adventure and purpose. Their journey soon took them west to California, where she worked in health care and he found a new accounting position while they settled in.
The couple loved the active California lifestyle, spending weekends outdoors and forming friendships that felt like family. Life was full — and about to become even fuller.
When they learned they were expecting a baby, life became all the sweeter, Smith said. But their joy was tempered when their daughter was born prematurely.
“She could literally fit in the palm of my hand,” he recalled.
After a long hospital stay, family encouraged the couple to return to Kansas where they could help them care for their fragile newborn. So, they sold everything and came home.
“When we left California is when everything kicked into gear,” Smith said.
Both found good jobs back in Kansas, and as time passed, their daughter grew stronger and healthier. Smith took a position as a director of finance for a nonprofit organization serving people living below the poverty line in the Johnson County area. The experience, he said, reshaped his outlook.
A great mentor and boss helped him see life not just through the lens of business, but from the perspective of the people they were serving, he said. He was finally working with numbers and people — and making a difference, providing the journey he wanted from the start.
Still, after several years, Nate and his wife began to feel that familiar pull again — the desire to explore, to experience more, and to find the best opportunities for their growing family. This time, their next adventure took them to Texas.
There, Smith found a position that perfectly blended his skills and passions. He joined a technology consulting firm that partners with nonprofit organizations to improve their financial and management systems.
Rather than just crunching numbers, Smith now helps organizations operate more efficiently and make a greater impact. Today, he serves as the company’s Director of Implementation Services, a role he has held for nine years.
“It’s fulfilling,” he said. “I get to help people every day.”
Life in Texas has been full in every sense. He and his wife welcomed a son, and their daughter — now 12 — is thriving and active. Smith also coaches youth sports, serves as his neighborhood’s social committee chair, and enjoys the sense of community they’ve built.
Adding to that joy, his parents have since moved nearby, as has his brother, meaning family time no longer requires long drives or flights.
Dreams and reality have finally come together, he said.
To current students at Parsons High School, Smith offers heartfelt advice drawn from his own journey.
“Dreams are meant to be chased,” he said. “Sometimes life may get hard and veer off track, but putting your mind to something can lead to wonderful opportunities.”
Through his work, Smith has connected with people not only across the U.S., but around the world, in places like Japan, Colombia and Panama.
“Life is an adventure,” he said. “Follow your dreams.”