The 1828 Project is one of our signature programs at IndyHub and each year it’s full of incredible leaders between the ages of 18 and 28. Nate is a part of 1828’s Class VII. We sent him some questions and he responded. Keep reading to learn more about Nate!
How do you spend your days?
I spend my days doing public relations and marketing for Visit Indy, the official sales and marketing arm for the city of Indianapolis. Or in layman’s terms, I spend my days promoting the city of Indianapolis as a must-visit tourist destination.
Where are you originally from?
Elkhart, IN
What made you lay your roots here in Indianapolis?
I came to Indy to attend Butler University for my undergrad and I didn’t know much about the city prior to my first college visit. After graduating, I stuck around because Indy is a place where you can really make an impact. It’s a city full of doers, movers and shakers, but most importantly, it’s a city full of people who want to help others be the best versions of themselves. At first, I couldn’t believe how collaborative Indy’s community leaders were, but now it’s just become second nature.
It’s the weekend. What are your plans?
It truly depends on the time of year – a few of my go-tos are running the canal or the cultural trail, catching an Indians game or a concert at The Lawn, the Hi-Fi or 8 Seconds Saloon. You can’t beat a nice kayak out at Eagle Creek or a hike at Fort Ben either. And then I’m getting a little more adventurous on the food & drink side of things so I’m all in on trying out the new spots in the niche neighborhoods. I’m actually in a bowling league too and it gets pretty competitive. I even thought about buying my own ball.
When thinking about the future of our city, what are you looking forward to the most and why?
I get pretty fired up when I think about the future of our city. For starters, we have some exciting infrastructure changes coming. Think BottleWorks on the far end of Mass Ave, Hello Waterside at the former GM Stamping Plant, the new Red Line and how about the development of the White River? I’m a little biased about some of these projects as tourism amenities but they are game-changers to the fabric of who we are as a city. We have several blank canvases and a world of opportunity before us. What kind of mark should we make? How can we improve the city looking 10, 20 or 100 years from now? We have a solid foundation and it’s going to be up to us as the next generation of leaders to see how we can take Indy to that next level.
Quick- you can only eat at one local spot for the rest of your life. Where ya going and what’s your go-to item on the menu?
I’m not sure that you should sustain yourself on buffalo chicken fingers, so The Dugout in Fletcher Place might not be the move (or might it be?)…but I’m going right down the street to Bluebeard. Abbi Merris is one of the best chefs in the city and frankly if I’m going to entrust the rest of my life to one restaurant, I’m here for Bluebeard and Abbi’s steak frites.
What’s a local Indy cause that is near and dear to your heart and how might people go about learning more or getting involved?
While it’s not necessarily local, I’d say this one for me is Big Brothers Big Sisters. It’s a shame so many kids don’t have someone to look up to or serve as a role model and I just see the value and importance of investing in our youth. Coming from a family of 10 children, I’m passionate about empowering kids and making sure they have the resources and support system to do something special with their lives.
What book has impacted you the most, to date?
The Happiness Advantage’ by Shawn Achor or ‘The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader’.
Vacation plans. Where have you been recently or are you looking forward to a particular trip sometime soon?
Since I work in the travel industry, I’ve got to live it too, right? Last year, Wyoming was the move and I’m itching to get back out there. This year, I’ll knock out a couple more national parks down in Utah and Arizona before venturing north into Canada to check out Banff. I have a laundry list of trails to hike, rivers to kayak and views to take in all across the US. It’s a big world – let’s get after it.
