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Keith and Melisa Nellesen Keith with KVN Corona, the Champion 3-Year-Old Colt
company, APX Alarm by entering the smart home industry that includes home automation, security and solar energy sectors.
Keith also founded McColee Partners, a family-owned venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. One of the companies under McColee’s umbrella was NUVI, a software company, where Keith served twice as CEO during the mid-2010s. In 2017, NUVI sponsored Utah Valley University’s (UVU) 14,500 square foot NUVI Basketball Center, which hosts the UVU Wolverines.
Keith also co-founded and served as chairman and CEO of MoneyReef, a mobile app that offers financial tools to help consumers manage their personal financial information, and SnapPower, a home automation company that converts electrical outlets and switch-cover plates into smart-home controls.
His Philanthropic Motivation
His business success has allowed Keith to delve into various philanthropic endeavors in his community, particularly those involved with autism — as two of his children are autistic — and education.
He and Melisa contributed the initial donation for the Cole Nellesen Building
at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, home of the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism. The Center’s goals are to promote autism awareness and respect, recommend services, and build positive educational experiences for those with autism.
Since 2013, Keith has also served as an entrepreneurship founder on the advisory board of BYU’s Marriott School of Business.
McColee Land & Livestock
Keith met Lance, who along with his wife, Marla, operates Fairholme Farms in Spanish Fork, Utah, through a mutual friend about 15 years ago. At the time, Lance was involved in the Thoroughbred race industry.
“We got to be really good friends,”
Keith says. “We did the Thoroughbreds for two or three years, but when it came to the
Keith and Melisa with Preslee & McKenzie Nellesen and Kyle & Marissa Van Noy. The NFL Linebacker Kyle Van Noy is the namesake for KVN Corona.
Los Alamitos
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Los Alamitos