Meet Frank Nino IV

We had the good fortune of connecting with Frank Nino IV and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Frank, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My business was built from a personal understanding of what happens when young people don’t have access, guidance, or someone who truly believes in them. Through Rising Sun Athletic League and Rising Sun 360 Photography, my focus has always been about creating opportunity, confidence, and belonging, especially for youth who may feel overlooked or underestimated. Athletics gives kids structure, discipline, and a safe place to grow, while photography allows them to see themselves differently, to feel seen, valued, and capable. Beyond skills, we emphasize character, accountability, and community involvement. I grew up in over 50 group homes and never felt seen or heard, and that is the cherry on top as to why I started Rising Sun Athletic and Rising Sun 360 Photography. The impact isn’t just measured in wins or awards, it’s in the confidence a kid gains, the mentorship relationships formed, and the ripple effect that happens when someone realizes their background does not limit their future. That’s the heart of why I do what I do.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My work sits at the intersection of community impact, entrepreneurship, and personal transformation. I currently lead Rising Sun Athletic League and Rising Sun 360 Photography, two ventures built on the belief that access, mentorship, and consistency can change the trajectory of a life.

What sets my work apart is that it wasn’t created from a business plan alone, it was built from lived experience. I didn’t grow up with a roadmap, capital, or safety net. My journey included group homes, instability, and having to rebuild my life step by step. Because of that, my approach to business has never been about growth at all costs; it’s about building systems that actually serve people and last.

The early stages were anything but easy. I had to learn everything from the ground up, how to form a business, how to manage finances, how to build trust, how to show up consistently even when momentum was slow and resources were limited. I worked full-time while building on the side, reinvesting every dollar, making mistakes, correcting them, and continuing forward anyway. There were long stretches where progress wasn’t visible, but the work still had to be done.

One of the biggest challenges was learning how to move from survival mode into sustainability. That meant shifting from doing everything myself to building structure, processes, and accountability. It meant asking for help, accepting mentorship, and learning how to operate with discipline rather than emotion. It also meant redefining success, not as recognition or revenue alone, but as impact, integrity, and consistency over time.

What I am most proud of is not a single achievement, but the ripple effect. Through athletics, young people gain structure, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Through photography, they are seen, sometimes for the first time, as capable, creative, and worthy of opportunity. Along the way, the work has been recognized with community awards and local media coverage, but the real success is quieter: relationships built, trust earned, and lives positively influenced.

The most important lessons I’ve learned are simple but hard-won: consistency beats talent, humility accelerates growth, and no meaningful work is ever built alone. Progress is rarely linear, and the willingness to keep showing up, especially when no one is watching, is what separates intention from impact.

What I want the world to know about my brand and story is this: where you start does not define where you finish. With the right support, structure, and belief, transformation is possible. My work exists to be proof of that, and to help pass that belief forward to the next generation. I plan to have more business ventures, and it was all because a couple of people believed in me, even when all odds were against me, even when I did not believe in myself. I am also a believer in God, and believe God has everything to do with ALL of my success!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I’d want them to experience Phoenix the way I know it, through community, creativity, and the spaces that bring people together.

We’d start simple and local. A night at Harkins Theatres is a must, it’s a hometown staple and the perfect way to ease into the trip. From there, we’d balance city life with the outdoors by getting out early for a hike. Phoenix is at its best when you’re on a trail at sunrise, reminded how much beauty exists just minutes from the city.

Live music would be a big part of the week. Phoenix has an underrated scene, so we’d catch local bands and touring artists at smaller venues, mixed in with concerts, stand-up comedy shows, and whatever creative event happens to be popping up that weekend.

I’d also make it a point to show them the heart of the city by introducing them to friends who are building something special here. One stop would be The Valley Mechanics, owned by my friend Eddie. It’s not your typical mechanic shop, it’s a place full of personality, artistry, and community. It’s one of those spaces that reminds you businesses can have soul.

Food would be handled by Chato’s, my friend Chato’s authentic food truck. Beyond great food, they host live events with music, stand-up comedy, and even wrestling. It’s one of the most Phoenix things you can experience culture, creativity, and community all in one spot.

Of course, no visit would be complete without showing off Arizona’s natural icons. We’d make a day trip to the Grand Canyon, and another to Slide Rock State Park. Those places reset your perspective and remind you how lucky we are to call this region home.

By the end of the week, they wouldn’t just feel like they visited Phoenix, they’d feel like they experienced it: the people, the creativity, the grit, and the beauty that make the city what it is.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to a few people without whom my story would look very different.

First, Mike DeSeve, who was a mentor and a father figure to me during my time in group homes. Mike believed in me before I believed in myself and showed me what consistency, integrity, and care looked like. He has since passed away, but his impact on my life continues to guide the way I show up for others.

Second, Sandy Zupetz, who was instrumental in both my education and my entrepreneurial journey. Sandy didn’t just encourage me; she gave me the blueprint. From understanding the steps to start a business to sharing countless “golden nuggets” of wisdom, she helped turn ideas into action and possibility into reality.

And finally, my wife, Christina Nino. She walked through fire with me. She sat with me in the lonely seasons, through the struggles, and during the times when no one else was there, especially at the very beginning of changing my life around. Her strength, patience, and unwavering belief in me made everything else possible.

Website: https://www.risingsunathleticleague.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-nino-iv-8147942b0/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frank+nino+iv

Other: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rising+sun+athletic+league

Image Credits
Frank Nino IV
Christina Nino
Rising Sun 360 Photography
Rising Sun Athletic League