Graham moves on to other adventures
Christine Rupp — Staff WriterArticle Photos
FAIRMONT - The teen phenomenon who earned national attention when he saved Truman's small-town grocery store has left the business.
Nick Graham, who bought the store when he was 17, and then purchased two stores in Kiester and Armstrong, hadn't planned to sell his businesses. He simply got an offer he couldn't refuse.
"It was just a perfect opportunity," he said.
After the buyer approached him and made an offer for all three stores, Graham was out of the grocery business in about two weeks. He didn't sit idle for long, though.
He now works full time in sales for Easy Automation in Welcome. Then, toward the end of October, he saw articles in the Sentinel detailing the financial struggles of Stepping Stones, a local daycare. He walked in one day and asked if he could look at the daycare's books.
"We'd been looking for a volunteer for a while to do some of that for us," said Amy Bloomquist, Stepping Stone's director. She referred to Graham as an answer to prayer.
Graham admits he had no idea what child care entailed, but he is good with numbers.
"I like challenges and thought I could help these people out," he said.
Along with bookkeeping, Graham has helped streamline other processes. He also re-wrote some software dealing with finances and scheduling.
"It's been fun and exciting," Graham said.
Combine his efforts with great support from staff and parents, and the business' bills are being paid and its debt is being cleared up.
"Things are moving forward and really looking positive," he said.
It's not unusual for Graham to be in the daycare's office until midnight.
Although Graham travels a lot for his sales position, if he is in town, he is sure to stop by Stepping Stones after work.
Graham, now 19, doesn't intend to go anywhere in the immediate future. Unlike many young men his age, he has no plans to attend college.
Some may wonder how a teen-ager with no more than a high school diploma has managed to accomplish so much. Graham attributes his success to aggressiveness and curiosity.
He also doesn't compromise, Bloomquist said, quoting one of Graham's favorite phrases: "Good enough isn't good enough."
With everyone at Stepping Stones coming together, the daycare is now in the black with operations alone, Graham said, and that doesn't include fund-raising. He is happy to be a part of the success, adding that he thoroughly enjoys what he's doing.
"I think I'd miss these guys too much if I just took off," he said.
That might be a moot point, though, as Bloomquist laughed and said they're not planning on letting him go anytime soon, whether he wants to or not.
"It's amazing what he's been able to do in a short amount of time," she said.
