THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE DREAMS, IDEAS AND GOALS COME TO FRUITION, IS THE CORE OF WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF THE FREEDOMS THAT ARE OURS IN AMERICA.

- Denise Burnett Stewart

SMALL BUSINESS DRIVES THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. IT THRIVES AND SURVIVES NO MATTER WHAT MAY BE GOING ON IN THE MAIN ECONOMY.

- Dick Gadomski

UNLESS WE PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WE WILL NOT HAVE AN EXCITING BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE IN OUR COUNTRY.

- Allen B. Morgan, Jr.

Robert G. MCENIRY

nexAir
Chairman
Entrepreneur

Bob McEniry is the Chairman of nexAir, a multi-generational Memphis based firm. Bob’s father, R.Q. McEniry, grew up in the industrial and medical gas industry. In 1950, seeing a real opportunity, R.Q. McEniry purchased Standard Welders Supply, a small struggling company, and sought to make Standard a major player in the medical/welding gas and supply industry. In 1963, after graduation from Vanderbilt, young Bob came to work for his father. He was appointed President of the company in 1971. Bob saw the company through tremendous growth, acquisitions, and transitions. In the process, Bob implemented an employee succession plan to ensure that all to the company’s leaders would progress through the ranks under the mentorship of a senior executive. This plan resulted in well-trained and committed employees with very little turnover. In 1996, Bob combined his firm with another Memphis based family-owned company. By merging Standard with Mid-South Oxygen, nexAir became one of the largest privately held distributors of gases and welding supplies in the United States. From 1996 until 2007 McEniry served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of nexAir. In 2007, Bob passed the reigns of CEO to his son Kevin. Bob remains as nexAir’s Chairman. The company operates in seven states.

Bob is active in the Memphis community. He is the past Chair of Christian Brothers University’s Board of Trustees, has served as Chairman of the Board of Junior Achievement, on the boards of United Way, Mid-South Minority Business Council, SCB Computer Technology, and the Memphis Chamber of Commerce Advisors. He was inducted in the Christian Brothers High School Hall of Fame in 2009, and was named Distinguished Alumnus in 2013.

Description of Business:

Supplier of packaged and bulk atmospheric gases for medical, metal fabrication, construction, and research applications. Distributor of gas related equipment including specialized medical equipment, welding equipment, and related supplies

Year Business Founded:

1940

Thoughts on Entrepreneurship:

“Entrepreneurism is the foundation of the free enterprise system and the American dream. Entrepreneurship must be woven into a company’s culture. As a 71-year-old multi-generational business, nexAir is constantly reinventing itself, fostering new ideas to develop new opportunities that are relevant and assure that our company continues to flourish. Nurturing this spirit is the principal responsibility of an effective business leader.”

For More Information: http://www.nexair.com