Nate Morris

Originally from Lexington,{{cite magazine |last1=Goldmacher |first1=Shane |date=18 June 2014 |title=Rand Paul's New Confidant |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/2014/06/18/rand-pauls-new-confidant |magazine=National Journal |accessdate=25 December 2015 |archive-date=18 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118024332/https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/55981/rand-pauls-new-confidant/ |url-status=live }} Morris grew up in Louisville, Kentucky with his mother{{cite journal |last1=Fields |first1=Greg |year=1998 |title=Youth dreams of presidency |url=https://outline.com/jd8bWf |journal=The Courier Journal from Louisville, Kentucky |volume= |issue= |pages=21 |doi= |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118024402/https://outline.com/jd8bWf |url-status=live }}{{Failed verification|date=February 2025}} and maternal grandparents.{{cite news |last1=Zax |first1=David |date=October 25, 2014 |title=Dividing and Conquering the Trash |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/business/dividing-and-conquering-the-trash.html |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125030414/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/business/dividing-and-conquering-the-trash.html |url-status=live }} A ninth-generation Kentuckian, Morris’ family descends from Morgan County, in Appalachia.{{Cite web |title=Presidential Fellows {{!}} Gatton College of Business and Economics |url=https://gatton.uky.edu/programs/undergraduate/professional-development/leadership-programs/presidential-fellows |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=gatton.uky.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Nate Morris Fellowship at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress {{!}} Academic Commons |url=https://academiccommons.gwu.edu/nate-morris-fellowship-center-study-presidency-and-congress |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=academiccommons.gwu.edu |archive-date=2025-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220165904/https://academiccommons.gwu.edu/nate-morris-fellowship-center-study-presidency-and-congress |url-status=live }} He was close to his grandfather, Lewis Sexton, who was a former president of the Ford plant United Auto Workers union in Louisville.{{cite news |last1=Konrad |first1=Alex |date=January 10, 2017 |title=Meet Rubicon Global, The Startup Using Uber's Playbook To Disrupt Your Trash |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/01/10/rubicon-global-follows-uber-playbook-to-disrupt-trash/#309fc33872d4 |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717011843/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/01/10/rubicon-global-follows-uber-playbook-to-disrupt-trash/#309fc33872d4 |url-status=live }} While attending Eastern High School,{{Failed verification|date=February 2025}} Morris reportedly developed political aspirations after multiple spinal fractures derailed his hopes of a football career in the fall of 1996.

Beginning in 1999, Morris attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. on an academic scholarship, where he studied international affairs, was member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, and elected Phi Beta Kappa.{{cite news |title=A Look at History From Room 723 |last1=Gaines |first1=Patrice |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/08/21/a-look-at-history-from-room-723/59dd92cd-5d92-48ae-bee8-6f08c4dd9458/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 21, 1999 |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216041854/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/08/21/a-look-at-history-from-room-723/59dd92cd-5d92-48ae-bee8-6f08c4dd9458/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Rand Paul's money man Nate Morris leverages trash contacts for political cash |last1=Bykowicz |first1=Julie |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article44490948.html |work=Lexington Herald Leader |date=May 29, 2014 |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706190532/https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article44490948.html |url-status=live }} Morris attended graduate school at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.{{cite magazine |last1=Kosoff |first1=Maya |date=June 2, 2016 |title=Why Did Leo Dicaprio Join a Garbage Start-up—Literally? |magazine=Vanity Fair |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/06/rubicon-trash-disposal-startup |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021001432/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/06/rubicon-trash-disposal-startup |url-status=live }} Morris also graduated from the University of Oxford’s Said Business School, where he was a member of St Hugh's College;{{Cite web |title=Nate Morris on LinkedIn: #internationalwomensday #happyinternationalwomensday |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/natemorris_internationalwomensday-happyinternationalwomensday-activity-7171917006504505345-h_3i |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308202805/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/natemorris_internationalwomensday-happyinternationalwomensday-activity-7171917006504505345-h_3i |url-status=live }} he is also a member of the Oxford Union.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

File:J D Vance and Nate Morris.jpg with Morris, July 2024]]

Morris is a Republican and is noted as a political fundraiser.{{cite news|last1=Peters|first1=Jeremy|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|title=Paul Has Ideas, but His Backers Want 2016 Plan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/us/politics/paul-has-ideas-but-his-backers-want-2016-plan.html?referer=&_r=0|accessdate=25 December 2015|work=New York Times|date=22 March 2014|archive-date=21 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121215318/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/us/politics/paul-has-ideas-but-his-backers-want-2016-plan.html?referer=&_r=0|url-status=live}} Morris raised over $50,000 for President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.{{cite news|last1=Cheves|first1=John|title=Kentucky 'Maverick' reels in serious cash for GOP campaign|url=http://www.tpj.org/2004/08/lexington-herald-leader-kentucky.html?m=1|accessdate=25 December 2015|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=29 August 2004|archive-date=9 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165155/http://www.tpj.org/2004/08/lexington-herald-leader-kentucky.html?m=1|url-status=live}} He has worked in a variety of roles for several Kentucky Republicans, including the U.S House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Morris is a friend and supporter of U.S. Senator Rand Paul. He traveled with Paul to Israel in 2013 and raised money for his Senate and presidential campaigns, becoming one of his top fund-raisers. Paul wrote about Morris in his book, Taking a Stand: Moving Beyond Partisan Politics to Unite America. Morris is a political ally of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance{{cite news |last1=Horn |first1=Austin |title=On Trump Jr. podcast, a possible Kentucky Senate candidate courts Trump, bashes McConnell |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article301857739.html |access-date=26 March 2025 |publisher=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=11 March 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Cortellessa |first1=Eric |title=For 2026, Trump Bolsters Young Upstarts to Carry MAGA Torch |url=https://time.com/7271963/donald-trump-2026-maga-byron-donalds/ |access-date=2 April 2025 |publisher=TIME |date=27 March 2025}} and was among the biggest donors in Kentucky to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.{{cite news |last1=Bertucci |first1=Leo |date=24 October 2024 |title=Who are Kentucky's biggest campaign presidential megadonors in 2024? See the list |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/28/kentucky-presidential-election-donors-who-gave-the-most-in-2024/75825333007/ |access-date=26 January 2025 |publisher=Louisville Courier-Journal}}

Morris has expressed interest in possibly running for U.S. Senate or governor in Kentucky.{{cite news |last1=Catanese |first1=David |date=13 February 2025 |title='Fog of war': Kentucky Republicans brace for potential 3-way race for US Senate in 2026 |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article300145754.html |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |publisher=}}{{cite news |last1=Pinski |first1=Hannah |date=11 February 2025 |title=With Barr reportedly in the running, here's who else could seek McConnell's seat |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/11/who-could-replace-kentucky-senator-mitch-mcconnell-andy-barr-daniel-cameron-nate-morris-james-comer/78383912007/ |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=Louisville Courier-Journal |publisher=}}{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Siobhan |date=16 February 2025 |title=Mitch McConnell Makes a Lonely Stand Against Trump |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/mitch-mcconnell-leadership-trump-gop-34489671 |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher= |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216154425/https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/mitch-mcconnell-leadership-trump-gop-34489671 |url-status=live }} In February 2025, Morris criticized Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell for voting against Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and also for voting against Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary.{{Cite web |title=McConnell breaks with GOP in vote against Gabbard |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2025/02/12/mcconnell-votes-no-gabbard |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=spectrumnews1.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |title=McConnell tests the strengths and limits of his power opposing a trio of Trump's Cabinet nominees |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mcconnell-tests-strengths-limits-power-opposing-trio-trumps-118818640 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=2025-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215081909/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mcconnell-tests-strengths-limits-power-opposing-trio-trumps-118818640 |url-status=live }} Later that month, Donald Trump Jr. expressed support for Morris's public criticism of McConnell.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=Trump Jr. piggybacks on remarks made by Lexington businessman about Mitch McConnell |url=https://www.lex18.com/news/politics/trump-piggybacks-on-remarks-made-by-kentucky-businessman-about-mitch-mcconnell |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX) |language=en}} In March 2025, Time reported that Vice President JD Vance had encouraged Morris to run for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky.{{Cite magazine |last=Cortellessa |first=Eric |date=2025-03-27 |title=For 2026, Trump Bolsters Young Upstarts to Carry MAGA Torch |url=https://time.com/7271963/donald-trump-2026-maga-byron-donalds/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}

Morris founded Rubicon Technologies, formerly known as Rubicon Global, in 2008 after collaborating with a high school friend, Marc Spiegel. The company is focused on business-to-business and municipal waste and recycling services. Rubicon became a public company in August 2022, listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RBT.{{cite news | title=Taking out the trash: Rubicon brings waste digital marketplace to NYSE as the company goes public | last1=Altus | first1=Kristen | url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/taking-out-trash-rubicon-brings-waste-digital-marketplace-nyse-company-goes-public | work=Fox Business | date=August 16, 2022 | accessdate=August 29, 2022 | archive-date=August 29, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829161946/https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/taking-out-trash-rubicon-brings-waste-digital-marketplace-nyse-company-goes-public | url-status=live }} A 2017 Bloomberg article described the company's struggles with its technology and business model, as it attempted to distinguish itself from a traditional waste broker.{{Cite news |last1=Brustein |first1=Joshua |last2=Huet |first2=Ellen |date=2 October 2017 |title=Can the 'Uber of Trash' Clean Up Its Own Business? |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-10-02/can-the-uber-of-trash-clean-up-its-own-business |work=Bloomberg Business}}

Mr. Morris stepped down as Rubicon's CEO on October 13, 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wastedive.com/news/rubicon-stock-spac-morris-jefferies-waste/634144/ |title=Rubicon's stock has struggled since going public. Is the SPAC trend to blame? |access-date=2022-11-01 |language=en-us |archive-date=2022-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102175220/https://www.wastedive.com/news/rubicon-stock-spac-morris-jefferies-waste/634144/ |url-status=live }} CTO Phil Rodoni succeeded Morris as CEO. As part of the transition, Morris retained a consulting role, was chairman, and a member of the board of directors.{{Cite web |last=Cawthon |first=Haley |date=October 17, 2022 |title=Rubicon Technologies names new CEO |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/inno/stories/news/2022/10/17/rubicon-technologies-names-new-ceo.html |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=www.bizjournals.com |archive-date=2022-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017190155/https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/inno/stories/news/2022/10/17/rubicon-technologies-names-new-ceo.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2022 |title=Rubicon Technologies Promotes CTO Phil Rodoni To Succeed Nate Morris As CEO |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/rubicon-technologies-promotes-cto-phil-rodoni-to-succeed-nate-morris-as-ceo |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031050134/https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/rubicon-technologies-promotes-cto-phil-rodoni-to-succeed-nate-morris-as-ceo |url-status=live }}

Morris founded Morris Industries in 2010, where he serves as chairman and CEO, headquartered in Lexington. Morris Industries acquired Republic Financial, an insurance company, in 2024.{{cite news |title=Morris Industries acquires Republic Financial |url=https://www.lanereport.com/176814/2024/09/morris-industries-acquires-republic-financial/ |access-date=31 January 2025 |publisher=The Lane Report |date=26 September 2024}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently secondary (press release).|date=January 2025}}

Morris was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Pikeville.{{Cite web |title=About Nate Morris |url=https://www.natemorris.com/about |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Nate Morris |language=en}}

Morris married Jane Mosbacher on New Year's Eve 2011. She is the daughter of Robert Mosbacher Jr., the head of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation under George W. Bush, and granddaughter of George H. W. Bush's commerce secretary Robert Mosbacher Sr.

Morris is a member of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

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Category:1980 births

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:Alumni of St Hugh's College, Oxford

Category:American chairpersons of corporations

Category:Businesspeople from Lexington, Kentucky

Category:Eastern High School (Louisville, Kentucky) alumni

Category:George Washington University alumni

Category:Kentucky Republicans

Category:Living people

Category:Princeton School of Public and International Affairs alumni