Keith Nellesen

Keith Nellesen (born 1967) is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder of Vivint, Inc., a home automation, security and solar energy company. Vivint, Inc. was acquired in late 2012 for $2.2 Billion by the Blackstone Group.^[1] Following the sale of Vivint to the Blackstone Group, Nellesen became the founder of NUVI where he is currently the CEO. Nellesen has been a part of NUVI since its founding and previously served as the CEO of the company from May 2014 to October 2015, before recently resuming the CEO position in late 2016. He also previously served as Chairman and CEO at MoneyReef.^[2][3]

Biography

Keith Nellesen grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he attended Idaho Falls High School. He later attended BYU, where he obtained a Masters of Accountancy in 1992. Following BYU, he was contacted by his old High School friend Todd Pedersen, and the two embarked on establishing the company now known as Vivint (formerly APX Alarm). Under Nellesen’s and Pedersen’s directorship, the firm branched into other venues such as Vivint Solar Energy.^[4] After obtaining the buy-out of Vivint by Blackstone, Nellesen embarked on his current business venture, NUVI. Nellesen is the also a founding partner of McColee Partners, a venture capital investment firm specializing in early stage investments. McColee Land & Livestock is one of the country’s premier commercial breeder of Quarter Horse race horses, which is Nellesen’s true love and passion. Nellesen is an avid BYU sports fan and is involved in various charities and philanthropic endeavors throughout the Utah County community focused on autism and education. He has a special interest in the Book of Mormon and collects early editions.^[5] Nellesen, along with his wife Melisa, also contributed the initial donation for the Cole Nellesen Building. This will house the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism at UVU. The University broke ground on the Cole Nellesen Building in April 2016.^[6] In June, 2016 Nellesen made a lead donation for the 14,500-square-foot Utah Valley University $3.5 million practice and conditioning facility to house its men’s and women’s basketball teams, to be known as the NUVI Basketball Center.^[6]

Innovations and awards

Nellesen, along with co-founder Todd Pedersen, advanced various innovations in employee relations, making their workforce of approximately 7,000 full-time and part-time employees extremely loyal and energetic. Those innovations include a First Class restaurant^[7] at the Vivint corporate headquarters in Provo where daily meals are provided to employees, a free medical clinic,^[8] and various recreational outlets including a University-Class basketball court and a weight room.^[8]

References