Founded by G.W. Hillis in 1939, Oregon Equipment quickly became known as the authority on anything and everything related to commercial food service, refrigeration and HVAC in the Central Oregon region. Over the decades, the firm was passed down to the future generations. The second generation was led by L.A. Hillis. The third generation was jointly led by Harvey and Mike Hillis.

In 1983, the firm experienced financial hardship resulting in the company splitting into two separate entities. Oregon Equipment Company (OEC) in The Dalles, continued with different ownership while Oregon Equipment Service Corp (OESC) of Bend forged its own path. The new owners of OESC in Bend were Ron and Dick Allen.

Ron and Dick continued to grow the firm until they both passed away in 1995. That next year, Jeff Baker and Dave Nelson purchased the company. In 2002, Jeff Baker became the sole owner of OESC. Jeff grew the enterprise into a healthy, thriving business. Looking to retire from the business, Jeff sold the company in 2021 to Key Mechanical which was another privately held regional refrigeration/HVAC company. The OESC – Key Mechanical merger strengthened the firm’s offerings to clients in the region.

Today, OESC is stronger than ever. Since our inception, OESC has stood as a leader in service, innovation and quality. We treat our clients, employees, vendors and suppliers with the utmost integrity and respect. Our story is far from over and we look forward to continued growth and innovation. Our future is bright!