From Section 8
To CEO
We don't just develop affordable housing. We grew up in it.
Where it all began — Kansas City, Missouri
A Boy From the Projects
Some kids grow up dreaming about what they'll become. Troy Nash grew up wondering if there would be food on the table tomorrow. That's where this story begins.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Troy was raised by a single mother struggling to keep her children fed. They lived in Section 8 housing—the thin walls, the unreliable heat, the constant uncertainty. He bounced between public housing projects: Holy Temple Homes and Friendship Village Apartments.
He was labeled "at-risk." Teachers said he wasn't "college material." As part of Kansas City's famous desegregation experiment, Troy was bused from the inner city to Korte Elementary and Nowlin Middle School in Independence, Missouri—the hometown of President Harry Truman.
By high school, he was on the verge of dropping out. Drugs, crime, and violence surrounded him—but they were never part of his vision. Then, a recruiter changed everything.
The Air Force Saved His Life
At 18, Troy Nash enlisted in the United States Air Force. It was the first time anyone told him he could be something—and the first time he believed it.
Stationed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, at just 20 years old, he was selected Dorm Chief of Honor Flight 048, responsible for the direct supervision of fifty airmen.
He served during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. While on active duty—squeezing in classes at night, during lunch, and on weekends—Troy earned his first college degree: a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Wesley College.
Troy received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force.
He Went Back For His Family
When Troy returned home from the Air Force, he faced a choice every first generation success story faces. He could pursue his own career, or he could lift his family first. He chose family—without hesitation.
At 25, Troy converted his mother's small living room into a classroom. He bought used textbooks from thrift stores. He tutored his three older brothers—and helped every single one of them enroll in college for the first time.
But his mother wasn't left out. At 55 years old, with Troy's encouragement, she studied for and earned her GED. Then she enrolled in college herself—the woman who had spent her whole life working low-wage jobs to keep her boys fed was finally getting her chance.
When she passed away on March 15, 2003, she was a junior in college. The University of Missouri-Kansas City posthumously awarded her a Bachelor's degree. Troy accepted that degree on her behalf—a moment of triumph and heartbreak that would forever define his life's work.
"My family was my first project. If I could help three brothers and a single mother break the cycle, I could help other families do the same. That was the proof of concept for everything I would build."
— Dr. Troy Nash
Brothers Turn Dream Into Determination
Read the original Kansas City Star article about how Troy transformed his family through education.
📄 Read the ArticleNine Degrees. One Mission.
The kid who was told he wasn't "college material" earned nine degrees—and made education the foundation for every community he would build.
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
🎓 Saint Louis University
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
🎓 University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
🎓 Brown University School of Public Health
Master of Science (M.S.) in Nonprofit Leadership
🎓 University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice (Currently Pursuing)
Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.)
🎓 University of Southern California Sol Price School
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
🎓 University of Missouri Henry W. Bloch School of Management
M.A. in Economics
🎓 University of Missouri-Kansas City College of Arts and Sciences
M.A. in Political Science
🎓 University of Missouri-Kansas City College of Arts and Sciences
B.S. in Economics
🎓 Wesley College (Active Duty)
From Public Servant to History Maker
First African American Student Curator
At 26, nominated by Governor Mel Carnahan and confirmed by the Missouri Senate to the University of Missouri Board of Curators—the voice for over 55,000 college students statewide.
Kansas City City Council
Elected at 29. Served two terms. Chaired Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Committee, overseeing $10+ billion in development.
Missouri Housing Development Commission
Appointed by the Governor. Served as Vice Chairman, administering HUD's most successful affordable housing programs including LIHTC.
Shattering a 193-Year Glass Ceiling
Became the first African American principal/shareholder in a top-ten commercial real estate firm in Missouri's history—shattering a glass ceiling that stood since Missouri became the 24th state on August 10, 1821.
Professor of Real Estate & Director, Lewis White Real Estate Center at UMKC
Teaching the next generation of real estate professionals at his alma mater while developing the affordable housing communities that families deserve.
Building Community. Restoring Hope.
Today, The Nash Group turns lived experience into lasting impact—with a track record that speaks for itself.
Active markets in Kansas City, St. Louis, and West Palm Beach. Current projects include Promise Place (85 units) and The Mabion (57 units).
Let's Build Something That Outlasts Us Both
America is short more than 7 million affordable homes. We bring the experience, the credentials, and the commitment to help you deliver outcomes that families can feel.