Ken Austin is co-founder and co-owner of A-dec. He and his wife, Joan, founded the company in 1964 with an idea to build an air-operated oral evacuator to market in Oregon. In the process, Ken improved upon the design and created the A.V.S. – the air vacuum system. With this device and subsequent innovations and using the A-dec Way, Joan and Ken altered the course of dentistry. Their work together, over the last Forty-nine years, has grown A-dec to be one of the largest independent dental equipment manufacturers in the world. With Joan’s recent passing, Ken continues to support his Son-in-Law Scott as the company moves to and through the next generation of success.
A-dec’s primary focus is to create equipment innovations that help doctors perform healthier, more efficient dentistry. That guiding focus, coupled with the Austins’ personal philosophy of management principles, is the foundation of A-dec’s success in the marketplace.
Scott Parrish is President and CEO of A-dec, Inc., one of the largest dental equipment manufacturers in the World.
Parrish began his career with A-dec over 25 years ago when he started a two-year management training program. The program is designed to provide experience in every aspect of the dental company. After his promotion to Vice President of Product Development, he directed the creation of several major product lines including the flagship A-dec 500 line of dental equipment.
While General Manager and President, Parrish selected his management team and set new challenges and goals while maintaining the core values of A-dec and the foundation of the family owned business. The result has been an energized team of Vice Presidents and management throughout A-dec.
Parrish holds a degree in Business Marketing from Oregon State University and is an active member of the Oregon State University College of Business Dean’s Circle of Excellence, Newberg Rotary Club and Excell Oregon, a peer- mentoring group that brings together company leaders, of family-owned businesses to take on their most confidential and impacting issues and opportunities.