Nate Wyatt

In 2012, Nate Wyatt was managing a branch of a credit union, working on his master’s degree, and expecting his first child. He was contemplating a change from the credit union and one of his classmates suggested he apply at ACES. Nate took that advice and soon began working as an Hourly Trader at ACES’ Midwest Regional Trading Center. After several years on the hourly desk, Nate accepted a role as ACES’ Training Manager.

“I liked the idea of moving into a training role because it was somewhat of a blank canvas and there was an opportunity to make the role whatever I wanted it to be,” Nate says. “I really liked the idea of putting together a training program that I would have found beneficial as a new employee, and appreciate ACES’ senior management team allowing me to be creative in my approach to training,” he adds.

Given the complexities of the energy industry, Nate spends a lot of time familiarizing new employees with the industry and finding the resources that will help them be successful in their role. “When you’re new to the energy industry, the amount of information you need to learn can be overwhelming. I always have to remind people that they won’t be able to learn everything in one day and it’s ok to ask for help if there’s something they don’t understand,” says Nate. “No one can be a subject matter expert in every area of the company. Part of the training for new employees is just helping them identify who they can go to for specific questions, making sure they have access to the appropriate tools and information, and helping them make connections and build relationships,” he adds.

Outside the office, Nate takes on a different sort of training role, coaching both of his kids’ soccer teams, including a “super team” that he co-coaches with another ACES employee. “We had an undefeated team and felt like all-stars in the world of second-grade recreational soccer!” says Nate. “Coaching soccer has definitely taught me patience, and can be challenging at times. But it has been a great bonding experience and it is really fun to see my kids grow, socialize with other kids, and develop a competitive spirit,” he adds.

Nate and his family enjoy the outdoors, particularly hiking and sports. This summer, Nate plans to rent a camper and take his family on a hiking trip throughout Colorado and Utah. “It’s something we’ve never done before and the kids seem really excited about. That whole area is just a lot different than what you see in Indiana and we’re looking forward to exploring it,” says Nate.

Nate is clearly committed to helping people grow, both within and outside the office. When asked what advice he has for new employees, Nate responds “Try to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. You will be put in positions where you won’t have a clear answer and will need to make the best decision you can with the information you have. If you make a mistake, learn from it and don’t repeat it. You can’t be an expert at everything, but if you put in hard work, it will pay off. Just be patient and don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Nate’s push for excellence and his commitment to helping others succeed are just a few of the traits that make him an asset to ACES.