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If you have never heard of the Nursey Foundation or Direct Components Incorporated, then you might not know about Aaron Nursey. And if you do know Aaron Nursey, then you probably count yourself lucky.
Nursey has been in the electronic components distribution industry for over 25 years, and he has been the CEO of DCI from the start. In that time, he has created a working environment that draws people in and truly makes them want to show up to work each and every day. From those humble beginnings until now, Nursey has led DCI from a small start-up to being named #1 in Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Fast 50.
Nursey’s journey has not been easy. For many of his adolescent years, it was just he and his mom.
“My son means the world to me,” Aaron’s mother Otta said. “I lost my husband when Aaron was 9, so he and I became close over the years.”
On top of this, Nursey has been someone with a growth mindset. Since he was a young boy, he has always been a brainy child who sets goals for himself. He has worked hard ever since he was a child, and that has helped him find the success he has today.
“As a kid, he was always looking for adventures,” Otta said. “He was a go-getter. He always tried things at least once. He never sat still either. His mind is always thinking of things.”
Nursey has a whole lot of humility too. He is someone who is as humble as can be, and that has played a large part in his growth as a Champion CEO.
He also has a huge heart. Nursey is constantly giving back, which is why, when he had the opportunity, he co-founded his namesake’s charity that serves underprivileged communities.
“He’s always been a giving person… Now that he has his own business, he is giving back with his Nursey Foundation,” Otta said.
Nursey continues to take care of others the way he always has.
“He looks after the whole family,” Otta added. “When his grandfather died, he looked after his grandmother… He looks after my sister too.”
Nursey never forgets where he came from and how he grew up, and he certainly does not take his success for granted.
As a matter of fact, DCI’s COO/CFO Roddy Premsukh said with the success Nursey has had, he could easily be out on a boat somewhere. Instead, Nursey spends a lot of time giving back and being a hands-on CEO.
It is that hands-on approach that has helped DCI find the success that it has.
“I have gotten the privilege of seeing the company grow,” Director of Quality Management and longest-tenured DCI employee Natalie Paull said. “When I started, we had about 10 people, and it has grown to around 90. It’s been an interesting journey.
“He is an amazing person. He not only speaks to the core values here, but he models them. He is fair and appreciative and selfless. He will reach out to his employees to show his appreciation.”
While at most companies that employ this many people, you have to really make a name for yourself to be known by your CEO, this is not the case at DCI. Right off the bat, Nursey gets to know all his employees. He tries his best to connect with each and every one of them on a deeper level, and this goes a long way in creating a culture of high employee engagement.
“I had never worked for a boss like him,” Paull stated. “He really tries to connect with everyone. He always participates in the events we have going on. He likes to know what we are thinking. Are we happy? How are people feeling?”
Nursey does not just ask these questions to ask them. He genuinely cares about his staff, and he wants to make sure the workplace atmosphere remains up to the standard expected from his employees.
It is no wonder the company has a basketball hoop out back, a video game set up and a golfing tee off area in the building. It creates a culture of togetherness and family, which is exactly the precedent Nursey wants to have set.
Nursey is even a top-notch Twitch DJ who loves hosting happy hour at the office on Fridays.
He has created an atmosphere and a culture that employees genuinely enjoy, and he was able to do that because he has worked hard for his success.
“He’s worked every venture of the company,” Premsukh said. “Aaron singlehandedly guided the company to a point of success. He’s created a culture of a family environment where people are treated fairly and are well compensated.”
Whether this is by making sure his employees have enough money for food during a hurricane, or by entrusting his staff to make big decisions, Nursey has really created an inclusive culture at DCI.
“Aaron’s a true visionary,” Premsukh said. “He’s not afraid to take risks. He provides the resources needed to grow. He makes it easy to succeed and hard to fail. Aaron puts a lot of money back into the company too. Everything you need to thrive and grow.”
“It’s a great work environment,” Director of HR Tom Topping said. “There is music playing; tons of free snacks and drinks; as well as a true culture of learning through DCI University. It’s inspiring what he’s done with the business and people by simply following a set of core values. It’s just a really unique and special place to work.”
What might even be the most extraordinary thing about Nursey that has not been touched on is, as wonderful and successful a CEO as he is, he is an even better husband and father. Heidi, Sierra and Caleb are all grateful for the husband and father Nursey is, and they love having him around as much as they do. His family is as much a part of the DCI family as they are the Nursey family.
“He’s a great father. It’s family to the nth degree,” Premsukh said. “Aaron’s a faithful husband. He’s a straight shooter and he loves his family. They say that behind every successful man is a successful woman…and that’s Heidi. Their journey was not easy. He has sacrificed so much for them.” They will all tell you it was worthwhile.
And if you ask Premsukh, he will tell you his Champion CEO is not only his best friend, but a brother. That is the type of bond Nursey has formed with his staff, and that bond is just a piece of the puzzle when it comes to the reasons behind his success, along with the success of his company.
For those reasons, Aaron Nursey is worthy of the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from Direct Components, Inc.
Congrats, Aaron!
