Our NextGens to Watch Class of 2025 demonstrates the myriad ways young family members can define “legacy stewardship” in their own lives and careers. Introducing 21 standout rising-generation members who are making a difference in their family enterprises, providing fresh perspectives while honoring the generations that preceded them.
Natalie Nash
Fifth Generation
Rogers Group, Inc.
Nashville, Tenn.
Natalie Nash is a fifth-generation owner of her family’s companies, with the largest being Rogers Group Inc. Founded more than 117 years ago by her great-great grandfather when he quit school at the age of 14 and took a job digging ditches to support his widowed mother and sister, the company today is the largest family-owned crushed stone company in the United States and one of the nation’s largest highway contractors.
Natalie is an artist with a specialty in decorative gourds, as well as silversmithing, and sells her work online. She is a regular volunteer at Pillar, a residential and day program for adults with disabilities, and Hildegard House, which provides a home and end-of-life care when someone has nowhere else to turn. For the last 13 years, she has participated in her branch’s charitable foundation, nominating organizations for consideration and approving annual gifts and multi-year pledges. In addition, Natalie recently completed her third and final year as chair of the family council. The council, created 30 years ago, serves a critical governance role for the family’s 63 shareholders and beneficiaries.
“While working as our family council chair for the past three years I have hoped to improve family member engagement, especially with our NextGen,” Natalie says. “With the support of other family office members, we have provided meaningful and fun annual family meetings for the whole group to enjoy.”
According to Jeanne Galiano, business manager at Rogers Group, Natalie oversaw several key initiatives during her tenure as family council chair. These initiatives included creating, rolling out and interpreting a family-wide survey; revising the family constitution; analyzing and selecting an online shareholder communication platform; designing and running the annual winter family meeting; planning group tours of operations for shareholders; engaging a family business consultant/facilitator; executing the G5 board internship program; and creating the family’s new “Speakers Series.” She plans to continue to serve on the council for another year and recently volunteered to be a member of the newly created shareholder retreat committee.
“I feel working in our family business has been such a blessing in my life. I enjoy getting to connect with my extended family and working on goals together,” Natalie says. “Recognizing all the hard work put in by previous generations also inspired me to contribute in my own way.”