Oregon Cascade's leadership team, from left: Walt Haskins, Josh Welborn and John Welborn. Bottom: putting on a happy face. PHOTOS BY LEAH NASH

Oregon Cascade Plumbing & Heating // No. 1 Medium Company

Family comes first at this Salem-based HVAC and plumbing contractor, which President Josh Welborn bought from his father 10 years ago. So it's no surprise to see multiple generations of employees — fathers, sons, grandsons and a daughter — working side by side.

"It's very important to this company that your family does come first. The reason why you have a job is to support that," says Julie Davis, executive assistant. "So if you've got to take your kids to the doctor or a family outing that you need to attend, you just do it."

Family values, the annual retreat at the corporate beach house, generous benefits and the fact that the company is 25% employee-owned are just a few of the reasons Oregon Cascade's 85 employees are happy.

There is also a playfulness that makes work seem fun. Employees play practical jokes on each other (Welborn is fond of shock pens). Frequent officewide contests award an infamous prize to whoever has the best-decorated office or the ugliest shirt. "It's the most disgusting, ugly Kermit the Frog statue you've ever seen," Davis says. "You really don't want it because you've got to put it in your office. But it's fun." 

-ADRIANNE JEFFRIES

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