2021 40 Under 40: Nathan McCartney

The values of placing service above self that were instilled years ago in Nathan McCartney as a serviceman in the U.S. Air Force continue to drive his goals as a businessman today.

As vice president at longtime family-run business Arctic Food Equipment, McCartney, 34, has led the complete overhaul of its accounting software and invoicing practices amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company even expanded its portfolio this past year by acquiring Ozarks Food Equipment Sales & Service, which fostered the addition of a sales department.

McCartney is also busy in the community, tackling leadership roles with Good Dads Inc. and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Proudest moment? Marrying my wife, followed by throwing my hat in the air as the Thunderbirds flew over my Air Force Academy graduation.

What did you learn the hard way? I was a young lieutenant and my crew had an overnight network outage scheduled. I thought everything was set to go, but failed to do my due diligence. I learned two hard lessons when my commander woke me up around 2 a.m. with a problem. Plans are important, and I also learned the importance of verifying information. A great team bailed me out.

Most treasured possession? My class ring from the academy was definitely the most difficult to earn and is irreplaceable. The metal ingot that it was smelted from was flown in space.