WACO, Texas — Mike Bidwell, president and CEO of the home services company Neighborly, died unexpectedly earlier this month. No cause of death was identified.

Bidwell, 65, had been a part of Neighborly for almost 40 years. He began his career in April 1984 when he opened a Rainbow International Carpet Cleaning & Restoration franchise in Tucson, Arizona. In 1987, he became the first multi-concept franchisee and area developer when he started the first Worldwide Refinishing Systems — now known as DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen. He later added a third franchise brand to his portfolio, Mr. Rooter Plumbing, in 1992.

Bidwell was a highly successful multi-unit franchisee, and was named Franchisee of the Year for Rainbow International and Top Gun for each franchise brand he owned.

"We will all miss Mike more than words can express, and we are fortunate to have worked for such an amazing leader who was smart, compassionate, and insightful,” the Neighborly leadership team said in a prepared statement. “He put a strong team together — and in times like this, we stand together to honor him by carrying his vision for Neighborly forward." 

Bidwell’s success as a franchisee led Neighborly to recruit him to its world headquarters in Waco, Texas, in 1995. Before being appointed president and CEO of in January 2014, Bidwell’s had been the company COO and the president of three different franchise brands.

Jon Shell, Neighborly’s CFO since 2015, was named interim president & CEO to succeed Bidwell.