20 · SBJ.NET APRIL 8-14, 2024 MEN OF THE YEAR 2024 TAWNIE WILSON TAWNIE WILSON For Cristian Rath, adviser at Abacus CPAs, growing up in extreme poverty was his driving force to double down on his education for a chance at a better life. “I vividly recall the moment at the age of 10 when I decided to break the perpetual cycle that trapped my family,” says Rath. “I directed all my energy toward breaking barriers that seemed insurmountable.” His life’s journey has been defined by the principle that “people deserve better,” and he says the mantra has guided him through personal and professional challenges. In his advising role at accounting firm Abacus, he leads the pipeline team, a collaborative mission to prioritize teamwork that has led the company to have an annual growth rate of 20%. “By fostering a culture that prioritizes teamwork, we have achieved remarkable economic success,” says Rath, noting a companywide net revenue of $17.8 million in 2023, a 30% increase from the previous year. Additionally, Rath is part of the firm’s mentorship program and helps lead an Abacus program that helped employees gain personalized one-on-one and small-group meetings to aid them on their journey to obtaining a CPA license. “I serve as a mentor to young professionals because of my desire to invest in the next generation,” he says, adding the program saw the retention of over 20 interns from tax season internships in the past year. Rath says he is motivated to invest in others, and he invests in his 550 clients by taking the time to walk each one through the details of their tax return. This contribution to the success and growth of others holds true to his mantra. Being the first to graduate college in his family, he knew he wanted to use his experience to help others in the community escape the clutches of poverty. “I learned to envision possibilities and recognized the potential to not only elevate myself but also extend a helping hand to others,” says Rath about his motivation to serve the community. This year, he is launching the Breakthrough Project, a nonprofit geared toward helping students end the poverty cycle and learn how to be self-sufficient after high school. “Through small groups and presentations, we will offer financial literacy and resources, including credit counseling,” says Rath. “The ultimate goal is to provide scholarships for first-generation college students pursuing a secondary education or trade schools.” He has also volunteered with Upward Bound as a mentor, served as a sales and marketing judge for Future Business Leaders of America, and volunteers with the Rotary Club of Harrison, Arkansas. Rath’s efforts to prepare the next generation for college and career endeavors do not go unnoticed by his colleagues as he was named a Springfield Business Journal Up and Comer Trusted Adviser in 2020 and won the Abacus Abe’s Golden Microphone for excellent communication the same year. “These accolades serve as validation of my dedication to excellence and reinforce that I have defied all odds, successfully breaking the cycle of poverty,” says Rath. —Jillian Smith, Editorial Intern In His Words Words to live by: Don’t let your dreams be dreams. Favorite place to be in Springfield area: Fellows Lake bike trails. Childhood dream: To be financially independent and financially comfortable. Not having to worry about having clean clothes or food was a huge motivator for me. Critical trait in employees: Passion. I truly care about making a difference and helping people. Sometimes that takes helping people out of their situation or just encouraging them to keep going. Other times it’s just showing them opportunities and opening a world of possibilities. Critical trait in leaders: People focused. When Tyler Padgitt arrived in Springfield in 1999, he began pastoring a student group at Truth Tabernacle that grew from a few members to over a hundred in just five years. “It was a fun season of trips, student services, community outreach, service projects and individual investment in students,” he says. “Many of those first students are still a part of church life today and a few serve on The Courageous Church staff.” After becoming lead pastor in 2004, Padgitt helped spearhead a comprehensive rebranding and relaunch initiative, transforming Truth Tabernacle into The Courageous Church. Through this transition, Padgitt faced the challenge of updating the church’s methodology while adhering to biblical principles. “This required navigating an established church culture and membership that needed both bold leadership and relational investment to embrace change,” he says. “That change was slow at times and personally painful, but resulted in great growth and blessing.” Under his leadership, The Courageous Church has grown from a staff of one part-time member to a team of 20 staff members and 400 volunteers, plus expanding from one location to three campuses. He also helped increase total assets from $300,000 to $13 million, which he attributes to effective stewardship and strategic financial management. Padgitt says he invests efforts to develop an active volunteer culture among the leadership team, staff and church members. A recent volunteer program involved mobilizing the church for a substantial diaper and feminine hygiene drive for Council of Churches of the Ozarks Inc. This, he says, resulted in the collection of over 360,000 items, one of the largest donations of items the organization has received. He also served on the Council of Churches’ board of directors. During this time, Padgitt contributed to a leadership overhaul that facilitated the move to a new facility, aiming to better serve the Springfield community. Mentorship and coaching is a role woven into Padgitt’s life, including his involvement with Man Camp, a group of 20-30 men dedicated to developing themselves into Christ-honoring men, exceptional fathers and workplace leaders. “This ongoing effort, spanning over 12 years, has nurtured numerous leaders, fostering a close-knit community of mentorship and personal success,” he says. In his personal life, Padgitt extends his leadership qualities to his two sons, Evan and Owen. He says it is a passion to equip them for adulthood and have them involved in the church themselves. Outside of pastoral duties, Padgitt is a real estate investor, dedicating any extra time to coaching new investors. He says he is driven by a passion for fostering financial independence and success, aiming to help investors create a lasting legacy for their families. He adds that he takes great pride in Springfield and cares about influencing others to become stakeholders and make a hands-on investment. —Nicole Chilton, Contributing Writer In His Words Family: I’ve been blessed with a soulmate and life partner. I was ready to marry my teenage sweetheart Renee at 14. I was 15, she evidently needed some time. Eventually, I sealed the deal. Our two sons Owen and Evan give me many reasons to celebrate and be thankful. Words to live by: Be bold, not boring! Advice to men: Men are like pickup trucks. They drive smoother and straighter under a load. Commit! Critical trait in employees: They need to be FAT! Faithful, available and trainable. Critical trait in leaders: To work with undiminished enthusiasm toward a limited objective. Cristian Rath Abacus CPAs LLC Tyler Padgitt The Courageous Church
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