Josh lived in Jasper briefly before joining the military in 2000. He served in the Army as an Airborne Ranger with 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. After the military, he worked as a Private Military Contractor in Iraq.
Returning to Alabama, he finished his undergraduate degree at the University of South Alabama before moving to New Orleans, LA. While living there, Josh invested in a startup project named Saturday Down South, a digital media publishing company. As CEO, Josh managed and expanded the company and several subsequent umbrella brands. The portfolio of brands was sold in 2021. Today, Josh continues to invest in startups and is currently involved in two projects in the renewable energy space.
In 2014, Josh and his family decided to settle in Jasper. His wife Talia is a local physician and they have two sons, Kye and Zane. The Gates are members of Jasper’s First Baptist Church.
Josh is currently serving as the Chairman-elect of the Jasper Industrial Development Board, is the immediate Past-President of Jasper Main Street, serves on the Synovus Bank Advisory Board, and is a member of the Walker Area Community Foundation’s Grant Review Committee.
On May 23, 2024, Josh became the third Alabamian to summit Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth.