Elevator Careers

Today I am joined by veteran mechanic and Regional Vice President of American Elevator Group, Chuck Sharp. We discuss the difference between elevators that have been running for 100 years and those that are replaced after five. Chuck explains the changes that have happened, whether or not building owners are getting what they’re paying for, and why the cheapest elevator option can become the most...

Today's guest is Erin Lukowicz Regional Sales Manager at Rath Janus. Erin joined the elevator industry following a career in graphic design and banking, and has gained valuable perspective from working on both the contractor and supplier sides. In this conversation, we discuss collaboration with competitors, changes in the industry's generational knowledge gap, and the traits that make e...

Today's guest is Jeremy Wooden, Business Manager of IUEC Local 93 in Nashville, Tennessee. Jeremy's life took a devastating turn after a tree trimming accident that left him a double amputee. Through faith, determination, and the unwavering support of his elevator union brothers, Jeremy found a way to get back to work and to a life he's proud to live. In this episode, we discussed h...

Today's guest is Johnny LaSalle, COO of Mod Pros Elevator, and an industry leader with experience both in the field and in management. In this interview, we dove into current issues surrounding preventative maintenance, from overloaded service routes and growing financial pressures to why some modern elevators require modernization so soon. We also discussed essential steps to strengthen the...

In this episode, Monika Stypulkowska proves that you don't need decades in an industry to make an impact. Monika arrived in the United States with no prior elevator knowledge and just six years later founded Alfa Elevators. With curiosity, relentless persistence, and a commitment to serving customers, she overcame obstacles, earned trust in a male-dominated field, and built a respectable busi...

If implemented, ISO 8100 elevator code could have a major impact on the future of elevator standards and regulation in North America. But what exactly is being proposed, and what could it mean? In this livestream, I met with Don Gelestino, John Koshak, and David Guerin. We discussed ISO 8100 and A17.1, the differences between the two standards and the questions surrounding this potential change. W...

Today’s guest is general contractor Zane Andersson, who's spent decades coordinating projects that depend on successful elevator installations. In this conversation, he offers an external view of elevator projects: what general contractors appreciate from elevator companies, where projects often go wrong, and how communication can prevent costly mistakes. This conversation shares valuable way...

AI is changing how businesses operate, and the elevator industry isn't immune. In this live conversation, I met with Jonathan Taub, President of Fieldboss, who has over twenty years of experience in software strategy, implementation, and customer success running high-performing operations. We discussed what AI means for elevator professionals and companies, what opportunities and concerns are...

Today, I’m joined by Evelyn Adams, General Manager of Texacone, whose career is a great example of what can happen when you’re willing to learn, step up, and do whatever needs to be done. Evelyn began her career as an accounts payable clerk and, through hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to take on new challenges, eventually worked her way into leadership.  In this conversation, we talk about...

Today’s guest is Bernard Lee, a longtime property manager who has spent more than thirty years working with elevator service companies. He's seen the value of having technicians who know a building inside and out, and he's also seen what happens when that continuity disappears. In this conversation, we discuss trends he’s seen in elevator service over the years, why technician turnover m...

Today's guest is Lee Gray, an architectural historian whose career took an unexpected turn when a graduate school research paper sparked a lifelong fascination with elevators. More than forty years later, he has become one of the world's leading authorities on the history of vertical transportation. His research has been featured by National Geographic, CBS Sunday Morning, and the Histor...

Today's guest is Lee Rigby, an elevator code expert who has spent more than 55 years in the elevator industry as a mechanic, contractor, inspector, instructor, consultant, and now expert witness. In this episode, Lee shares insights from decades of interpreting and teaching elevator codes and explains some of the industry's most common misconceptions about modernization and code complian...

Today's guest is Dillard Green, a manufacturing and engineering expert with over four decades of experience supporting the elevator industry. Throughout his career, Dillard has worked at the intersection of manufacturing, engineering, code compliance, and innovation, helping develop solutions for everyday buildings and iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa and Disney's Tower of Terror. I...

This episode is a live discussion about residential elevators and franchise ownership with Casey Dyon and Alex Martin, owners with Nationwide Lifts. Residential elevators are becoming an increasingly practical accessibility solution, and franchising provides experienced elevator professionals a supported path from technician to business owner. Alex and Casey share their journeys from elevator mech...

Today's guest is Jessica Hellman, a business advisor specializing in mergers and acquisitions with Lift Business Advisors, Inc. With a background in applied mathematics and data analysis, Jessica has helped business owners understand what drives value, growth, and successful transitions. In this episode, we discuss private equity, business valuation, trust, and the steps owners can take today...

Today’s guest is Carlos Escobar, Traction Elevator Aficionado with Hyperion Solutions. Carlos grew up in a machine shop surrounded by craftsmen who could turn raw metal into solutions and that mindset still drives everything he does today. Carlos has spent his career tackling the toughest elevator modernization challenges and preserving century-old machines. More recently, he has been thinking dee...

In this episode, I sat down with Robert Schram from Cedes to talk about how technology is reshaping the elevator industry. Robert’s path into elevators started in construction, laying flooring to fund surfing trips, before eventually working his way from field repair into some of the most advanced conversations happening around IoT, predictive maintenance, and smart buildings. We discussed the evo...

In this live episode, I met with Nick Tucker and Brian Thibault. Nick has been in the elevator industry for over 10 years and is a licensed elevator mechanic with experience in service, repair, modernization, and commercial operations. He currently serves as the Commercial Operations Manager at South Jersey Elevator. In addition to his operational role, Nick is a CET instructor. Brian is the Vice...

Today's guest is Michael Ryan, vice president of business development with the Peelle company. Mike is a long-time elevator industry leader whose career spans more than 46 years. From being hired over the phone into the wrong role to becoming one of the industry's most recognized experts in freight elevator doors, Mike has seen decades of change across the elevator world. As he prepares...

In this episode, I sat down with Ricky Williams, a seasoned elevator industry leader whose career spans engineering, sales, business development, and executive leadership. Ricky is currently serving as vice president of business development and sales at ESI. Over the years, he's built a reputation for combining technical knowledge with a practical people-centered leadership style. Ricky'...

In this episode, I sat down with Mike Luraschi, VP of Safety and Risk Management at TEI Group, to talk about safety in the elevator industry: how it’s evolved over the years, why complacency creates the biggest risks, safety resources for small companies, and why mental health support is essential for making sure everyone gets home safely. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:07 Getting into the Elevator Indu...

Today's guest is Mark Boelhouwer, a respected industry leader whose career spans Otis, Oracle Elevator, Vantage, and the founding of American Elevator Group. Mark has helped shape the modern elevator landscape through hundreds of acquisitions, decades of leadership, and a front row seat to the industry's biggest shifts. In this conversation, he shares lessons on growth, leadership, talen...

In this live episode, I met with Matt Jackson and Jose Perez from Blackstone Elevator Consulting, a rapidly growing firm focused on helping building owners, property managers, investors navigate some of the most complex and expensive challenges in vertical transportation. Matt, the company's founder, brings more than 16 years of experience in elevator consulting, modernization planning,  main...

In this episode, I sat down with Michael Carter, a partner of MR Elevator in West Texas, to discuss his career journey. Michael shared the process of learning empathy, resilience, self-investment, and leadership on his way from apprentice to business owner. We also discussed the importance of continuous learning and the positive impact that it can have both within the elevator industry and in our...

In this episode, I sat down with Jared Giblin from Draper Elevator Interiors. We talked about how their business evolved into a highly specialized niche, what goes into designing and installing custom elevator cabs, why interiors require such attention to detail, and what’s next for this area of the elevator industry. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:41 The Evolution of Draper and Its Niche in Elevators 0...