Build
Family Owned and Family Run
Kennedy Fuel Heating and Air Conditioning
Story by Valerie Coulman
Photography provided by Kennedy Fuel
When Kennedy Fuel in White City was founded in 1929, they specialized in servicing oil furnaces and oil heating systems (hence the name) and at that time, says Brandi Camarena, co-owner and current President of Kennedy Fuel, they were one of only three companies offering these services to Southern Oregon. Now, with significantly more businesses present in the HVAC sector, Kennedy Fuel still stands as a name with strong ties to family and to the community over the past almost one hundred years.
Camarena’s family story intersected with the company’s history when her parents, Barry and Gloria Bloomberg, purchased the company in early 1972. “The early years of ownership were challenging,” says Camarena, “especially as the Rogue Valley experienced a difficult recession in the late 1970s and early 1980s.” Despite the challenges, their hard work, perseverance, and a strong sense of values brought them through that season to become the thriving company they are today. As co-owner with her mother, and with a current team of fourteen employees that includes her husband, Tommy, and two daughters, Bella and Sophia, Camarena adds, “I am extremely fortunate.”
“We started with oil furnaces and now we have become a full-service heating and cooling company with high-efficiency systems for both residential and commercial properties, ductless systems, air purification systems, and smart thermostats,” says Camarena. “Technology has changed, but our values haven’t. Our focus remains committed to new energy-efficient technologies and investing in our employees so we can provide the highest level of service in the coming years.”
While their company has grown and changed with the times over the last century, their focus has not. “The history of Kennedy Fuel means a great deal to us and is something we are extremely proud of,” Camarena continues. “For nearly a century, we’ve worked hard to earn the confidence of the communities we serve, and we take every customer relationship personally.” It’s a practice she saw her father model repeatedly and consistently over the years.
That habit of honest service, strong customer relationships, and taking care of both employees and customers established the values that continue to guide Kennedy Fuel nearly a century after it was founded and has given their business a stable presence in Southern Oregon. “We have many longtime customers who know they can count on us to be honest, dependable, and responsive. We believe that’s what keeps them coming back. We’re honored that so much of our business continues to come from repeat customers and referrals, and we never take that trust for granted.”
That stability, she also believes, benefits both their business and their customers. “For our customers, our history provides peace of mind. When you’ve been in business for multiple generations, people know that if we install a system or service their equipment, we’ll stand behind our work. They know we’re here not just today, but for the long term.”
Long-term also described Camarena’s connection to the company. “I started working at Kennedy Fuel in the summers during high school, then after graduation I worked for the company full time.” Camarena has worked alongside her family for thirty-four years now. “Initially, I was just answering phones, scheduling service calls and helping customers. I then started learning the accounting program, being taught accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll. Things quickly changed for me when the long-time bookkeeper left unexpectedly, leaving me to take over all her responsibilities.”
Things also changed quickly for the Kennedy Fuel family when her father, Barry, passed away suddenly four years ago. “He and I worked together every day for over thirty years,” recalls Camarena. “Every part of life included him.” It is a loss they still feel, even as they move forward as a business and as a family. ”We learned under him for so long, we have a good foundation.”
In this next chapter of their story, that foundation of family still holds true as their family skills have meshed well in their daily operations. Along with their long-time employees, daughter Bella came on board after college, and Sophia has joined them in the office as well. “Bella has a natural ability for all things technical, mechanical and detailed oriented.” She quickly demonstrated that by crawling ductwork, doing installations and service, and also now works with her dad, Tommy, in sales. Sophia, who excels at marketing, numbers and calculations, assists with the accounting, marketing, and customer relations in an arrangement that Camarena describes as very complementary. “The dynamic of us three working together is just like me and my dad,” she says.
Their product partnership as Daikin and Goodman HVAC systems dealers also lets them stay true to their commitment to both supply the latest in energy-efficient systems and to provide the best customer service possible. Daikin equipment is at the top of the game and is assembled in Texas, which provides a very customizable and consistent approach for their customers—settiing them apart from those that prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” approach to those that want remote access and control from wherever they may be. Each quarter, her crew takes part in updated training that means they are always current on the latest technology and equipment upgrades and the right system for any situation. As they point out, “With nearly a century’s worth of experience, there’s no HVAC project we haven’t handled.”
From their long-time customer base to their community involvement and support, Kennedy Fuel still stands as a resource deeply connected to Southern Oregon. “We are extremely grateful to the Southern Oregon community. It is why we have been in business for as long as we have,” says Camarena. “The fact that a locally owned, family operated business has operated in this valley for as long as we have is something we never take for granted. Our customers are a part of our extended family, experiencing both the best and hardest of times together. We are honored every time someone trusts us with their comfort for either their home or business.”
