Before the clean navy-and-gold signature system, there was a very different presentation layer: NBA Schroder, early web gradients, beveled navigation, and copy that sounded like it had to carry the whole homepage by itself. The point of this archive is not to modernize that history. It is to let it be itself.
That also means preserving the family-story layer underneath the business layer. The current Nelson Brothers Insurance logo now doubles as an easter egg for anyone curious enough to click around the right places.
A historic headquarters, proudly presented in the visual language of the early internet.
About NBA Schroder Insurance
The lovely ladies of NBA Schroder!
Serving the insurance needs of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois always meant more than quoting policies. The agency kept evolving across names, offices, logos, and generations, but the through-line stayed the same: family, persistence, and a willingness to outwork the problem.
Lower rates were good. Attention and follow-through were better. That part of the pitch still holds up.
Nelson Brothers Insurance: Master Historical Timeline
What makes a brothers-run agency different — family at the center of every decision, decade after decade.
1913 – The Schroder Legacy Begins
The foundations of Schroder Insurance are established in the Quad Cities, initiating a legacy of commercial accounts, personal lines, and surety bonds that would later span over a century.
Erwin E. Schroder, whose legacy began the century-long foundation of Schroder Insurance.
Sep. 1982 – Founding of Nelson Brothers Agency (Farmers Era)
Founding members Mike, Greg, and Geoff Nelson establish the agency, opening their very first office at 3915 Marquette Street in Davenport, Iowa, representing Farmers Insurance Group.
Oct. 1986 – Scott Nelson Joins the Agency
The youngest brother, Scott Nelson, officially joins the firm full-time, uniting the brothers to drive aggressive personal and commercial growth.
Scott Nelson, the youngest brother, joins the firm full-time.
July 1988 – First Real Estate Acquisition
The agency purchases its first commercial building at 122 E. 15th Street in Davenport, bringing the entire growing team together under one roof for the first time.
The agency’s first commercial building at 122 E. 15th Street, Davenport.
1992 – The Leap to Independence & Pekin Partnership
Nelson Brothers breaks away from Farmers Insurance to become a fully Independent Agency. They secure critical initial contracts from Milwaukee Insurance, Pekin Insurance, Austin Mutual, and Economy Fire and Casualty—successfully outlasting three of those four initial carriers.
Nelson Brothers Agency’s first print ad, from the early Farmers era.
Jan. 1995 – Blue Grass Satellite Office Opens
The agency opens its first satellite office in Blue Grass, Iowa, operating out of a former Dairy Queen building famously occupied by sparrows. The location is staffed by then-employee Keith Schroeder.
1995 – First Pekin Agency of the Year Award
Reflecting rapid independent growth and strong regional carrier relations, Nelson Brothers wins its very first prestigious Agency of the Year award from Pekin Insurance.
The agency’s first Pekin Insurance Agency of the Year award.
Jan. 1997 – The Historic Schroder Merger & NBA Schroder
Nelson Brothers officially acquires the Schroder Agency in Bettendorf. Owner Neal Schroder joins forces as an active partner, and the firm rebrands to NBA Schroder to leverage the deep Schroder heritage dating back to 1913. This era also marks the team’s first digital website debut.
The historic merger that formed NBA Schroder.
Oct. 1998 – Austin Mutual Book Acquisition
The agency continues expanding its local portfolio by negotiating the purchase of a small book of Austin Mutual business from the Roy Bayers Agency.
Jan. 1999 – Des Moines Expansion
Nelson Brothers plants a flag outside the immediate region by purchasing the Dean Graham Agency from his estate in Des Moines. Rebranded NBA Graham, the office operated largely through the agency's digital presence at nbaschroder.com, partnering with a localized team to build a footprint in the state capital before consolidating back into the core Quad Cities and Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois hubs.
Mar. 1999 – Muscatine Expansion & Keith Schroeder Partnership
The agency expands into Muscatine by purchasing the Lampe Agency from Mike and Carole Vaupel at 218 Walnut Street. Keith Schroeder transitions from Blue Grass to manage this location, purchasing a partnership interest in the company to lead the new territory.
Keith Schroeder purchases a partnership interest to lead the new Muscatine territory.
May 2000 – Berry Insurance Acquisition
Nelson Brothers purchases Berry Insurance in Muscatine. As part of the transaction, Wendy Berry-Ball (now Lizama) is issued company stock, and operations move into their office at 225 East 2nd Street.
Nov. 2000 – Iowa Mutual Book Purchase
The agency absorbs a small Iowa Mutual book of business from Sondrol Financial to augment its regional portfolio.
July 2001 – Strategic Exit from Des Moines
Realizing that the Des Moines location will not yield long-term profitability, the agency strategically sells off the branch to focus 100% on dominating its core Eastern Iowa footprint.
Sep. 2001 – Establishing the Bettendorf Headquarters
The agency sells its Davenport property and establishes a modern corporate home base at 940 Lincoln Road in Bettendorf, where the primary headquarters remains rooted today.
The Bettendorf headquarters at 940 Lincoln Road.
Jan. 2002 – Muscatine Real Estate Purchase
The agency purchases the commercial building at 1211 Park Avenue in Muscatine and moves the branch to that permanent location.
The new Muscatine office, expanding the agency’s footprint beyond Davenport.
Sep. 2002 – Blue Grass Office Relocation
The agency upgrades its satellite office by purchasing the building at 203 W. Mayne Street in Blue Grass and moving operations there. With Keith running Muscatine, a dedicated staff member (Tami/Tammy) anchors day-to-day operations.
May 2004 – Carothers Agency Acquisition
The Carothers Agency becomes available, and Nelson Brothers acquires them, seamlessly moving their entire book of business and staff into the main Bettendorf headquarters.
June 2004 – Stock Rebalancing & Physical Expansions
Geoff Nelson leaves the agency to take advantage of an outside business opportunity, selling a portion of his stock to Dana Nelson-Holstein and Jen Weitz. Concurrently in July, a major physical addition is built onto the 1211 Park Avenue office in Muscatine to handle massive growth. (Brother Geoff happily returns to the firm in May 2007, fully restoring the original founding partners).
Mike “Mr. Big” Nelson, one of the four founding brothers.
May 2009 – Illinois Expansion to Moline
The agency crosses the river into Illinois, expanding its footprint by purchasing Insurance Service Q.C. and opening for business at 2604 41st Street, Moline.
Partner Neal Schroder retires after a stellar decade of post-merger leadership. In its boldest corporate move yet, Nelson Brothers negotiates the sale of his stock to Caroline, Chuck, and John Ruhl of Ruhl & Ruhl Residential and Commercial Real Estate, officially becoming the exclusive insurance partner of the expansive Ruhl ecosystem.
The landmark alliance that made Nelson Brothers the exclusive insurance partner of the Ruhl ecosystem.
May 2011 – McFarland Agency Combination
Pat and Lisa McFarland decide the time is right to join forces with Nelson Brothers, combining the two active Moline operations into an integrated office at 1911 52nd Avenue, Moline.
McFarland Budelier Insurance Agency of Rock Island joins Nelson Brothers at the Moline office.
Aug. 2011 – Muscatine Consolidation
The agency finishes a massive regional consolidation project, combining four separate acquired agencies in Muscatine entirely under one roof.
June 2012 – 2012 Pekin Agency of the Year
Nelson Brothers wins the prestigious Agency of the Year award from Pekin Insurance for its high-volume performance and excellence.
June 2013 – 2013 Pekin Agency of the Year (The Repeat)
Demonstrating sustained regional dominance, the agency repeats its victory, winning the Pekin Agency of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
July 2013 – Moline Office Relocation
The rapidly growing Moline branch upgrades and relocates its facility to 1701 52nd Avenue, Moline.
The relocated Moline office at 1701 52nd Avenue.
June 2014 – Historic Pekin “Three-Peat” Award
Nelson Brothers wins the 2014 Pekin Insurance Agency of the Year award. This marks the first time in Pekin Insurance history that a single agency wins the top honor three consecutive years in a row.
Aug. 2014 – First Founder Executive Transition
Co-founding brother Mike Nelson officially retires as President & CEO. Youngest brother Scott Nelson assumes the duties of President & CEO to lead the corporate vision forward.
Mike Nelson retires as President & CEO.Congratulations, Mike!
May 2015 – Karwath Insurance Acquisition
Nelson Brothers expands its local footprint by purchasing Karwath Insurance Inc. (and the John Grothus Insurance portfolios during this growth era), absorbing 89 years of deep community roots following the retirement of Bob Karwath.
Karwath Insurance Inc., absorbing 89 years of community roots.
Dec. 2016 – Keith Schroeder Retires
Following a highly successful multi-decade run spanning from the sparrow-filled Dairy Queen in Blue Grass to an equity partner leading the Muscatine expansion, Keith Schroeder officially retires as a partner.
Celebrating exactly 40 years of continuous operation, co-founding brothers Greg and Geoff Nelson officially retire from active management at the agency.
Greg and Geoff Nelson retire from active management.
2025 – Jeff Kaisler Retires
After nearly 40 years with the agency, Jeff Kaisler retires. Jeff was always “there” for everybody — a best friend of the Nelson brothers and a steady presence through decades of the agency’s growth.
Jeff Kaisler — nearly 40 years with the agency, retiring in 2025.Jeff Kaisler at his 2025 retirement.
2026 – Corporate Rebrand to Nelson Brothers Insurance
Nelson Brothers Agency officially simplifies its name to Nelson Brothers Insurance (nelsonbrothersinsurance.com) to dynamically align its consumer brand with its core focus: insurance.
