Dr. Nate Klein Honored with Junior Achievement USA® Rising Star Award

National Recognition Celebrates Local Leadership and Impact

Author: Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Published: Thursday, 07 Aug 2025

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Image caption: Enter an image captionDr. Nate Klein, Vice President of Education at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, receives the JA USA® Rising Star Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and impact on students across Eastern Iowa.

Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is proud to celebrate a major milestone for one of our own. Dr. Nate Klein, Vice President of Education, has been honored with the Junior Achievement USA® Rising Star Award—a national recognition presented to outstanding Junior Achievement (JA) staff who demonstrate exemplary leadership and a bold commitment to expanding impact in their communities.

This award recognizes emerging JA professionals across the country who are not only excelling in their roles but are shaping the future of the organization through innovation, service, and dedication. Nate’s leadership embodies all of that—and more.

“Nate leads with passion, vision, and an unwavering belief in what’s possible for our students,” said Christine Landa, President of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. “He brings heart and innovation to everything he undertakes, and his ability to connect big dreams to practical, local impact has been truly inspiring. We’re thrilled to see his leadership recognized at the national level.”

Nate’s journey with Junior Achievement began 20 years ago as a college intern, and since then, he has continued to build connections with educators, business leaders, and volunteers to bring JA’s real-world learning programs to life in classrooms across Eastern Iowa.

“I’m truly honored to be recognized individually for what has been a remarkable collective effort to elevate Junior Achievement and deepen our impact in the community,” said Klein. “Over the past few years, it’s been both inspiring and energizing to collaborate with our incredible educator partners—dreaming big and turning those dreams into action alongside a fantacular team. It’s surreal to reflect on the journey: from starting as a college intern with JA 20 years ago to now being part of such a meaningful chapter in the story of JA of Eastern Iowa. What a full-circle moment!”

Under Nate’s leadership, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa has launched new and expanded programming—including the introduction of 3DE™ schools, growth of JA BizTown® Mobile and JA Finance Park® Mobile, and strengthened partnerships with school districts and industry leaders throughout the region.

Please join us in congratulating Nate on this well-deserved honor. His work continues to open doors and shape brighter futures for thousands of students across Eastern Iowa—and we can’t wait to see what’s next.