The History of Otis Refrigeration Service

Otis Refrigeration Service, inc. was founded in 1935 by Otis Longanecker, He dreamed of operating a company that would not only support his family but give them a future as well. Now in Its 4th generation Otis’s dream is alive and well as we remain a family owned and operated business. What started as a small one man operation in the quickly expanding refrigeration industry has steadily grown to the premiere service and sales contractor for the Cincinnati tri-state area. Otis Continued to run the company until 1969 when it passed to his wife Margaret. Mrs. Longanecker ran the business while her Daughter (Anne & Ben) Took over the day to day operations. Under this new leadership Otis hit a growth Spurt

It wasn't long untill Ben and his son John were running service calls together,  more were to follow, hiring new technicians as the company began to grow. These new technicians would build the backbone of the company, many of them vesting 20-40 years in the business. With continual Growth of Otis’s Service department, Margaret along with Ben and Anne saw an opportunity to sell equipment. This began what would be a pioneering endeavor laying the ground work for the way manufacturers react with distributors and dealers. Additionally Otis founded new ways to bring the products to the customer, What started as a small show in the basement where Restaurant owners were invited not only to view Otis’s product but the products of other companies as well, Has now become NAPICS.

In 1994 Ownership of the company passed to Anne & Ben, Now at it's peak Otis had many technicians and multiple salesmen with many distributorships. Otis continued to grow now well into its 3rd generation. Soon John’s son would follow in his father’s food steps, Chris joined the family business as a technician, bringing Otis into its 4th generation. In 1985 Otis Moved into its current facility, while still maintaining an office on eastern avenue, In cincinnati. The years continued to be good and Otis continued to excel in the commercial refrigeration industry. Though in 1990’s  Anne and Ben transitioned the business to over to the children.