Jenesky’s business empire grows

Basement Systems’ founder acquires industry rival

SEYMOUR — The basementfinishing business empire of Larry Janesky is continuing to grow, this time with the acquisition of a Knoxville, Tenn.based company with three offices in the Midwest and Southeast.

The financial terms of the deal between Master Service Companies and Janesky’s Contractor Nation were not released Tuesday. Seymourbased Contractor Nation works with independent basement service contractors to help provide them with a variety of services.

Master Service Companies has been in business since 2007 and has nearly 200 employees in Knoxville as well as at its offices in Indianapolis, Ind., and WinstonSalem, N.C.

Janesky said in a written statement that the deal will allow Contractor Nation to rise “to new heights, starting right now.”

“We will be working with existing leadership and team members,” Janesky said. “There is much we can do using our timetested programs and services to improve on the great work Josh Smith and his team have already done.”

Smith founded Master Service in 2007 and said he has had a longterm business relationship with Janesky.

“When I reflect on the most important inspirations for helping me grow this company, I think of my first interaction with Larry,” Smith said in a written statement. “The training I have received has been instrumental in my ability to grow Master Services Companies, and I know Larry is the right person to take the business to the next level.”

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Tuesday that Master Service has almost $30 million in annual revenue. The newspaper also reported that Smith will use proceeds from the sale to create a foundation that will fund criminal justice initiatives.

Contractor Nation coaches basement improvement contractors and offers them products, financing and marketing services. It has eight subsidiary companies, including Basement Systems, which started Janesky’s business empire 32 years ago, when it was known as Connecticut Basement Systems.

“We created this industry — we are the originals,” Janesky said of his original basment waterproofing business.

From there, his company expanded into basement finishing, crawlspace retrofits and other services.

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media CT Basement Systems founder and CEO Larry Janesky during the company’s 30th anniversary grand opening celebration at its newest facility at 33 Progress Ave. in Seymour in 2017.