# Nate Morris

> Nate Morris is a Kentucky entrepreneur, Rubicon co-founder and former CEO, and chairman and CEO of Morris Industries. He built a waste and recycling business around technology and independent haulers, led it to a 2022 public listing, and left the CEO role that October. After a 2025-2026 Republican Senate campaign, he withdrew and was nominated to become U.S. ambassador to Colombia; his confirmation hearing took place in August 2026.

- **Role:** Chairman and CEO at Morris Industries; nominee for U.S. ambassador to Colombia
- **Organizations:** Rubicon (co-founder and former CEO), Morris Industries (founder, chairman and CEO), Republic Financial (chairman), Morris Foundation (founder and managing trustee), University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics (former entrepreneur in residence)
- **From:** Lexington, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, George Washington University, Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs, Executive MBA, University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, University of Pikeville
- **Known for:** Co-founded Rubicon and led it through its August 2022 public listing., Named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 in 2014., Inducted into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2019.

## Career timeline

- **2003** — Graduated from George Washington University.
- **2008-2009** — Developed Rubicon with Marc Spiegel in 2008; described its legal formation in Kentucky as 2009.
- **2010** — Founded Morris Industries.
- **2014** — Named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40.
- **2016** — Became entrepreneur in residence at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College; the Lewis Sexton Scholarship Fund began awarding scholarships.
- **2019** — Inducted into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.
- **2022-08** — Rubicon became publicly traded on the NYSE through its combination with Founder SPAC.
- **2022-10-13** — Concluded tenure as Rubicon CEO; Phil Rodoni succeeded him.
- **2022-10-18** — Rang the NYSE opening bell with Rubicon colleagues.
- **2024-09** — Morris Industries announced the addition of Republic Financial.
- **2025-06** — Announced his Republican candidacy for U.S. Senate in Kentucky.
- **2026-05** — Withdrew from the Senate race and endorsed Andy Barr.
- **2026-06** — Nominated to be U.S. ambassador to Colombia.
- **2026-08** — Appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Rubicon and led it through its August 2022 public listing.
- Named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 in 2014.
- Inducted into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2019.
- Elected to Phi Beta Kappa at George Washington University.
- Established the Morris Foundation and supported scholarships for Kentucky students.
- Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pikeville in 2021.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Confirmation hearing held August 5 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the Colombia ambassadorship; the nomination tracker lists the nomination as pending.
- **2026-06** — Nominated for U.S. ambassador to Colombia.
- **2026-05** — Withdrew from Kentucky’s Republican Senate primary and endorsed Andy Barr.
- **2026-01** — Axios reported Elon Musk gave $10 million to the pro-Morris Fight for Kentucky super PAC.

## Links

- Website: https://www.natemorris.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemorris
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/NateMorris
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkL9UpLgqOUQWmbU0WjbKpw
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate.morris/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nate.morris/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nate-morris
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27