Blazer Industries was started in 1976 by Marv and Shirl Shetler because the State of Oregon passed a law in 1975 requiring full flush toilets and warm hand-washing facilities for construction jobs valued at $500,000 or more. At the time Marv worked for Shirl’s dad in a portable toilet company called Cascade Toilets, Inc. Cascade Toilets was started in 1959 by Shirl’s uncle, Dick Foster, who lived in Silverton, Oregon. In 1962 Dick invited Shirl’s dad Art Diller to become a partner with him in the business. Art lived in southern California and agreed to move his family to Oregon to join the business. In 1966 Dick decided he wanted out of the business. Art agreed to buy him out and asked his son-in-law, Marv to go to work for him.
Knowing Cascade would need to supply mobile restroom trailers to contractors, Art and Marv started investigating possible sources for the trailers. Not satisfied with what was available and having a desire to be self-employed, Marv decided to start a separate company dedicated to building mobile restroom trailers that would be sold to Cascade who in turn would rent them to contractors. The new business was financed with $3,500 received from selling a boat. Cascade had a 3,400 square foot building located on the west side of Silverton which at one time had been a bowling alley. This is where Blazer started building the restroom trailers, although the first trailer was framed in a farm shop located just east of Sublimity, then towed to Silverton where it was completed.
It didn’t take long to outgrow the 3,400 square foot shop. Land was available as were some airplane hangars close by. Blazer kept growing and eventually needed to be relocated. In 1993 a move was made to Aumsville when the former 70,000 square feet Moduline Mobile Home facility was purchased. The current factory now consists of four separate buildings totaling 150,000 square feet which makes it the largest commercial modular building facility in the Pacific Northwest.
Today, Blazer employs more than 160 team members and has completed over 21,000 modular building projects, including medical buildings, classrooms, offices, and park restrooms built to the International Building Code. Their work spans 43 states and six countries, with notable international impact such as assembling a 12‑person team to install a modular two‑story school in Beijing, China in 1994. [blazermodular.com], [business.s…hamber.org]
At its heart, Blazer is—and always has been—a family business. Rock, Kendra and Paetra Shetler grew up helping on job sites and in the shop, eventually stepping into leadership roles. Paetra became President in 2021, Rock leads engineering, and Kendra oversees business development. Their leadership reflects the deep pride their parents instilled. As Paetra notes, watching multi‑generational involvement in the company is one of the most rewarding aspects of the work. Shirl goes to the office almost every day and shares that her favorite part of the business has always been “working with my family every day.”
A Legacy of Community Support
Beyond their industry leadership, Blazer has built an equally strong legacy of community involvement. Their team actively participates in local events, supports youth programs, and engages in volunteer efforts throughout the region. As a family‑run company rooted deeply in the Willamette Valley, they have long prioritized giving back to the communities that have supported them since their earliest days.
Blazer has also been a steadfast supporter of the Santiam Hospital & Clinics Foundation, contributing through event participation, employee engagement, and ongoing generosity that strengthens local healthcare campaigns. Their commitment reflects the same values that guide their business: integrity, service, family, and community.
Building More Than Structures
With decades of expertise, a passion for innovation, and a strong dedication to family and community, Blazer continues to shape both the modular construction industry and the region it calls home. Their influence reaches far beyond the buildings they create—it lives in the people they employ, the communities they uplift, and the partnerships they nurture.
We are honored to recognize Blazer Modular Construction for their leadership, craftsmanship, and unwavering support of the Santiam Hospital & Clinics Foundation.