Donors support Auburn athlete with mentorship, friendship

The Auburn Family’s generosity sparks life-changing opportunities and impact far beyond campus. But sometimes, it grows into something just as powerful: friendship.

That’s what happened when donors Blake and Traci Henry, the owners of Railroad Investment Group in Opelika, Alabama, met former Auburn tennis player Nick Heng.

“It was like that movie ‘Step Brothers,’” said Blake, who graduated from the Harbert College of Business in 1998. “We just clicked instantly.”

And for Nick, who recently graduated from the College of Liberal Arts with a degree in political science, having the guidance and support of successful professionals in his chosen field of wealth management has been a gift unto itself.

“Seeing how Blake and Traci work together to manage their own books and communicate with clients has taught me so much,” he said. “In this career, you have to be very outgoing, and observing their demeanor has impacted the way I think about working in wealth management.”

A leg up

Since Nick hopes to one day build a firm of his own, having Blake and Traci in his corner has given him an invaluable head start. Through their mentorship, he’s not only learning the ropes of the industry but also seeing how a firm can be driven by purpose as much as performance.

In his last season playing tennis at Auburn, Nick Heng recorded a 17-12 overall singles record, a 13-8 record in dual matches and a 5-7 SEC record.

Blake and Traci Henry, the owners of Railroad Investment Group, have given to a myriad of units across campus and mentored almost two dozen Auburn students.

“Once we got re-engaged with Auburn around 2018, our mindset shifted from getting to giving,” Blake said. “And that philosophy is at the heart of our business. Every one of our clients has specific strategies designed to amplify their philanthropic gifts, so they can make an impact with causes they care about and ultimately live a life of significance.”

The Henrys have given to a myriad of units across campus, including student scholarships, the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, Women’s Philanthropy Board (WPD), the College of Human Sciences, and Auburn Athletics’ Jordan-Hare North project.

Outside of Auburn, Traci’s love of animals has led her to serve as the incoming board president of CARE Humane Society. She’s also a member of WPB and the Gogue Center Engagement Council.

Beyond giving

Through their internship program at Railroad Investment Group, the Henrys have hired and mentored almost two dozen Auburn students.

“Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of exposure to mentors, so I just figured it out on my own,” Blake said. “I’m very passionate about helping young people any way I can.”

Now, Blake and Traci have turned a plan to rebrand their growing business into an interdisciplinary hands-on learning opportunity on campus. Students in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering will create AI-driven software for their firm, while College of Human Sciences students will also play a role in brand development, with opportunities for those in Apparel Merchandising, Apparel Design and Production Management and Hospitality Management to gain valuable, real-world experience.  

A shared hobby

Nick was an intern with Tigers Unlimited when he was introduced to the Henrys. Given Blake’s background as a high school tennis player and Traci’s love of rooting for the Tigers in every sport, it’s not a surprise they hit it off the moment they met. Soon, Nick asked Blake to join him on the tennis court.

“We were blown away — he had just traveled halfway across the country for some really tough matches but was still willing to give his time on what was basically his day off,” Blake said. “After that, we attended every home match for the rest of the year.”

With his internship in the rear-view mirror, Nick now understands how important the Auburn Family is to Auburn’s success, and he can see what a remarkable impact the Henrys have had.

“A lot of people don’t stay engaged with their alma mater,” Nick said. “Seeing how Blake and Traci give back — both in terms of their time and the gifts they’ve made across campus — has been incredible.”

Looking ahead

Thanks in part to support from the Henrys, Nick’s future is bright. He is completing a master’s degree at the University of Michigan and plans to begin his career in New York City.

While their favorite tennis player has moved on, the Henrys are still busy on campus — working with students on their rebranding project, attending performances at the Gogue Performing Arts Center and rooting for the Tigers — but they’ll miss their time cheering for Nick.

“I loved cheering at Nick’s matches,” Traci said. “There’s a special energy to college sports that you don’t always find at the professional level, and I was just so happy to be there for him.”

Nick will miss them, too.

“Every time I won a big point, I could look up at the stands to see Blake and Traci cheering with my family,” he said. “Having them at every match meant the world to me.”