Julian
Scadden
President & CEO, Nexstar Network
Nexstar wasn't built just to maximize revenue. It was built to serve people like my past self — the high school dropout who went from digging ditches to owning their own plumbing company and who knew there had to be a better way. Our mission is to help the world's best tradespeople become the world's best businesspeople.
Why Julian Scadden
Is The Expert
Julian Scadden is the President and CEO of Nexstar Network, the largest member-owned training, coaching, and business development organization serving the residential home services trades in North America. Under Julian's leadership, Nexstar serves more than 1,000 member companies across the United States, Canada, and Australia — businesses that collectively employ more than 250,000 people in the plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and related home services industries.
Julian's journey to leading Nexstar is itself one of the most compelling stories in the home services industry. A self-described high school dropout, he entered the trades as a ditch digger and worked his way up through two different Nexstar member companies before starting his own Nexstar member plumbing business. He joined the Nexstar staff over eleven years ago as an implementation coach, then managed the training and events team, spent three years as Vice President of Operations, and in 2020 succeeded founding CEO Jack Tester to lead the organization.
Nexstar Network was founded in 1992 as Contractors 2000 by legendary contractors Frank Blau Jr., George Brazil, and other forward-thinking home service business owners who recognized they could elevate the industry and succeed together through education and sharing. More than three decades later, Nexstar has grown into a comprehensive platform with over 130 employees offering professional coaching, expert training, transformative events including the annual Super Meeting, and valuable business resources. The organization also founded Explore The Trades (2005) to prepare the next generation of industry professionals, and developed NexTech Academy for online technical training.
One of Julian's most defining leadership decisions came in 2025 when he proactively cut ties with all private equity-backed member companies — representing roughly one-third of Nexstar's membership and an estimated 33% or more of revenue. The decision, which he detailed publicly, was rooted in Nexstar's founding principle that the organization exists to serve independent, contractor-owned businesses, not institutional capital. The move reinforced Nexstar's identity and was widely covered in industry media as a bold stand for mission-driven leadership.
Julian is also leading Nexstar's embrace of AI and technology for independent contractors, bringing in consultants and member case studies to help the trades adopt emerging tools. He recently announced an expanded partnership with SkillCat to enhance technical training delivery through mobile-first learning platforms, adding access to 300,000+ active job seekers, essential certifications (EPA 608/609, NATE, OSHA-10/30), and over 500 additional hours of training content.
Julian is based in Minnesota and is a frequent keynote speaker, podcast guest, and industry commentator on leadership, workforce development, business coaching, and the future of independent contracting in the home services trades.
- President & CEO, Nexstar Network (2020–Present)
- Former Vice President of Operations, Nexstar Network
- Former Implementation Coach & Training/Events Manager, Nexstar
- Former Owner, Nexstar Member Plumbing Company
- 20+ Years in the Home Services Trades
- Leads 1,000+ Member Companies Employing 250,000+ People
- 130+ Nexstar Employees Across North America
- Proactively Removed All PE-Backed Members to Protect Mission (2025)
- Expanded Partnership with SkillCat for Technical Training
- Frequent Keynote Speaker & Industry Commentator
- Based in Minnesota
Domain
Mastery
Scores
Power100's evaluation of Julian Scadden's depth of expertise across the disciplines that define elite leadership in home improvement. Scored 1–10 based on verified performance, track record, and peer recognition.
Achievements &
Milestones
President & CEO of Nexstar Network — Largest Member-Owned Home Services Organization
Serves 1,000+ Member Companies Employing 250,000+ People
High School Dropout to CEO — From Digging Ditches to Leading the Industry
Proactively Cut All PE-Backed Members to Protect Nexstar's Mission (2025)
Founded by Frank Blau Jr. & George Brazil in 1992 — 33+ Year Legacy
Members Across the United States, Canada & Australia
Leading AI & Technology Adoption for Independent Contractors
Expanded SkillCat Partnership — 300K+ Job Seekers, 500+ Hours Training
Frequent Keynote Speaker on Leadership, Coaching & Workforce Development
Mission: Help the World's Best Tradespeople Become the World's Best Businesspeople
Julian Scadden is one of the most influential voices in the residential home services industry — a leader whose personal journey from high school dropout and ditch digger to CEO of the largest member-owned contractor network in North America embodies the transformative power of the trades. His bold decision to prioritize mission over revenue by removing PE-backed members has made him a lightning rod for conversation about the future of independent contracting.
His contributions on business coaching for contractors, leadership development, workforce pipeline building, AI adoption in the trades, and the ongoing debate around private equity's role in home services offer Power100 readers insights from someone who has lived every stage of the contractor journey.
Ready to control
your narrative?
Join the ranks of industry leaders who are shaping the future of home improvement.