Amy Hardesty honors father’s legacy by carrying on family business into 30th yearMAECO connects clients with the parts they need at prices they can afford

When Mike Hatley founded MAECO (the Mike, Amy and Eileen Company of Oregon) in 1996, he had a vision of using his years of experience and connections in manufacturing to serve small and medium sized businesses in need of an affordable source for parts. 

While MAECO specializes in sourcing manufacturers for agricultural and industrial components, like pressure gauges, they can manufacture anything. 

Now 30 years later, Hatley's daughter — Amy Hatley-Hardesty — keeps his legacy alive. 

Hatley-Hardesty started shadowing her father in 2016, learning the ins and outs of the business. Thankfully she not only grew up watching Hatley work, but she also inherited his heart for people.

As a community minded company, MAECO designates 5% of all of their sales to the Hatley Legacy Fund, which benefits local charities and other community organizations. 

“My dad always said ‘put people first and business will come,’” Hatley-Hardesty said. “He's had the same customers for 15 years and they've all stayed on. The relationships my dad established are ones we still carry. We can negotiate prices better than people can on their own because of these longtime relationships. And we pass those savings on to our customers.” 

Hatley was so well respected that when he passed, people from all over the country came to see him one last time. 

“He had a passion for all of it,” Hatley-Hardesty said. “When Dad was diagnosed in 2015 with Parkinson's, I felt the importance of carrying on what he had grown. I could see the importance to him to leave behind something he'd grown.”

In 2025, MAECO hired their first employee, who Hatley-Hardesty is mentoring and “teaching what my dad taught me.” 

“In a lot of ways, it has taught me what I have learned,” she explained. “And also what I still have to learn.” 

Hatley-Hardesty is also hoping this year will mean further growth for MAECO, through relationships with other local businesses and new customers. 

“My heart is to grow this company and do good things and leave it to my kids like my dad left it for me,” she said. “I want MAECO to have the reputation of being good and kind and giving.”

For more information, or to connect with MAECO, visit maecoor.com.