Nexstar Network - From Innovative Roots As Contractors 2000

While there were officially 16 founding members, everyone in the organization recognizes two of the 16 as Nexstar’s founding fathers.

The founding “fathers” of our contractor association

Frank Blau (Blau Plumbing & Heating, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and George Brazil (George Brazil Services, Phoenix, Arizona) had been working together on industry educational programs almost from the moment they first met.

In the five years after their first meeting, they formed the first ever Service & Repair Committee for a trade association. At the same time they tried to get the trade association to support Frank Blau's brain child of a "Traveling College of Business Knowledge." They eventually withdrew from the committee and turned their attention to forming an entirely new organization dedicated to the business education of service contractors. It would be the pioneering best practices organization, the first of its kind.

The men decided early on that the group would be a for-profit corporation and avoid obstacles to their educational mission. But despite the for-profit status, their goal was never to make money for the company. Instead, the organization's aim was—and remains—to operate on a break-even basis, with all fees beyond operational expenses dedicated to contractor education and other member programs.

A subsequent meeting in 1992 produced several landmark accomplishments:

• Election of the first Board of Directors
• Selection of the slogan, "Success Through Education and Sharing" which became the group's guiding principle
• Naming an Executive Director to start-up and staff the organization
• Raising the first seed money from 16 contractors in response to Frank Blau's request to fund the organization’s start up

At the turning point for a new contractor association

The turning point came in June 1992 when the pioneering group of 16 contractors decided to go ahead. They formed a new organization dedicated solely to the service and repair industry: Contractors 2000. In February 1993, George Brazil hosted the group's first ever Super Meeting at the B razil facilities in Santa Ana, California. In that first year the organization had grown from the original 16 to 54 firms. Every single one was represented at Super Meeting One.

Contractors 2000 transforms into Nexstar Network

In 2004, Contractors 2000 went through a metamorphosis that included brand development, training refinements and a new name: Nexstar. This marks the launch point for an organization that remains steadfastly dedicated to its members and maintains the founding core values—integrity, quality, value, member profitability and customer satisfaction—that have taken the organization to such remarkable success. Nexstar is positioned to support members with an array of tools, programs, Internet-delivered information, instructor-led schools, member mentors, business coaches and special events.

There is no organization like Nexstar that can provide the extensive funds necessary to develop and execute a mind-boggling range of contractor programs, education services, training and materials. Nexstar has invested millions to research and develop materials, training and events that are the best in the industry.

Make no small plans.

We are small in the sense that we focus only on members, know them on a first-name basis and maintain an exceptionally lean core staff. But we are also large when you consider that, taken together, Nexstar members populate 45 states, Canada, Australia, Cayman Islands and Guam with more than 7,000 people, putting more than 3,500 service vehicles on the road every day and generating more than $1 billion in total business annually.

Nexstar serves these diverse members with leading edge contractor research, best practices and product/services development. Through Nexstar, members share insights and proven practices with each other. The ultimate aim is to provide each individual member with the right tools, in the right order at the right time to help them realize their dreams—in business and in life.

Nexstar has the contractor business schools, training and education materials to help you become more successful.
Get started now 888-240-STAR.