In this episode, I interviewed Michael Frangias, CEO of New York/New Jersey Elevator Company. Mike grew up in the elevator industry, with his father taking him on the job at an early age. He didn’t like school, but he learned quickly while in the trade and came to love elevators. Mike has worked for several different companies, both large and small, and has gained many valuable insights over the years. Mike believes in employees, even those in Gen Z; he trusts that if he tells them what he expects, they will come through.

Chapters:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:02:07 - Mike's childhood introduction to the elevator industry
0:04:10 - Beginnings of a career
0:08:13 - Mentorship along the way
0:11:09 - Company culture: Trust and respect
0:15:20 - Consulting around the country
0:16:17 - Starting 360 Elevator and purchasing Statewide Elevator
0:17:20 - Bankruptcy
0:18:13 - Mentorship in the next phase of Mike's career
0:22:50 - Client movement and growth
0:27:24 - Company transition challenges
0:31:29 - Biggest lessons learned
0:36:45 - Mike's advice for business owners and industry newcomers

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup

A Message From Our Sponsor:
Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team.  Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights!
To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

In this episode, I interviewed Tom McMahan, the Business Development Manager with Delaware Elevator. Tom started his career at Miami Elevator right after graduating from Florida State University in 1990, and after two years, Tom left the industry for a time to experience international business. After returning to the elevator industry, Tom was able to apply his international experience, opening Lerch Bates' first office in Latin America in 2017. Tom values his friendships, connections and all he has learned in the elevator industry; he believes your name and reputation are like gold that should not be gambled with.

Chapters:
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:06 How Tom got started in the elevator industry
0:05:00 Gaining international experience
0:05:31 Return to the industry 
0:05:49 Opening the first Latin America office for TK Elevator
0:10:00 The difference between elevator industries in the US vs Latin America: opportunities, unnions, consulting, maintenance, and trust
0:14:42 Hard work, integrity, and networking
0:16:31 The pandemic hitting Latin America
0:20:00 Tom discusses settling back in the US after living internationally
0:21:19 Tom's biggest lessons

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup

A Message From Our Sponsor:
Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team.  Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights!
To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Scott Akin, owner of Elevator Sill Solutions by Archi-Tread, a manufacturer and installer of elevator cab and hoistway sills. Scott has been in the elevator industry over 30 years, starting at the bottom and working his way up in manufacturing.  Scott first worked for a family-owned elevator manufacturing business, and after selling, he started his own company. With the intent to reinvent how this industry approaches the challenges with elevator sills both new and existing.  Scott fully understands the value of creating and maintaining relationships and is a firm believer in being honest even though it may not be what the customer wants to hear.

Chapters:
0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:41 Scott Akin's background
0:09:02 Working on the Statue of Liberty elevator modernization projects 
0:11:05 Impact of a family business consultant on Scott's approach
0:13:15 Challenges of multi-generational family businesses
0:16:38 Importance of communication and relationships in business
0:20:01 Transitioning to owning a business
0:22:53 Origins of the Archi-Tread sill overlay system concept
0:27:03 Benefits of the field retrofit approach for sill replacements
0:31:38 Advantages for labor costs and installation time
0:34:32 Solving unique challenges with the overlay system
0:35:04 Scott's most important lesson learned
0:37:06 Advice for those new to the elevator industry

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Sammy Kolker, who represents the fifth generation working at Matot Corporation, her family's dumbwaiter manufacturing business. She discusses growing up in the industry and how she became involved after graduating college. Sammy talks about common family dynamics challenges in multi-generational family businesses. She shares the creativity involved in marketing and events, and her involvement in NexGen, which has helped develop her professionally. Finally, she shares challenges she faced and advice for newcomers to the industry. 

Chapters: 
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Meet Sammy Kolker
01:29 Growing Up in a Family Elevator Business
04:04 Running an Essential Manufacturing Business During the COVID-19 Pandemic
05:27 The 1888 Origins of Matot
08:15 Challenges of Multi-Generational Family Businesses
11:21 Women in Manufacturing Leadership
13:32 The Role of Mentorship in Family Business
18:31 Mentorship and Leadership Inside the Company
20:02 Building a Positive Workplace Culture
24:04 Bringing Creativity Into Manufacturing and Marketing
28:41 The NAEC NexGen Community
33:00 Networking and Building Industry Relationships
35:10 Challenges of Entering the Elevator Industry
36:29 Finding Your Unique Value in the Business
38:45 Advice for New Professionals in the Industry
40:57 Final Thoughts

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Sean Madden, Innovation Manager at Southern Elevator, former founder of Madden Elevator, and current President of the National Association of Elevator Contractors. Sean shares his journey growing up in the elevator industry, studying engineering, and eventually building his own elevator company. After starting Madden Elevator from his basement in 2010 with his wife, Sean grew the company into a successful independent elevator business before selling it and moving into industry leadership and innovation. Today, Sean focuses on advancing elevator technology and service strategies, including new approaches to predictive maintenance and data-driven service models in his role at Southern Elevator.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:08 Sean's career progression
15:00 Starting his own company and using strategic planning frameworks
22:18 Getting involved with Southern Elevator developing their "InTelevator" service model
25:00 Selling Madden Elevator
33:54 Sean's book, "Empowering Elevator Business Owners", and the Elevator Strategic Hub
42:51 Highlights of Sean's biggest career lessons
49:48 Advice for people new to the elevator industry

Matt Allred interviews Chris Strawn about his career in the elevator industry. Chris is the owner of Elevator Safety Training Services (ESTS). He started in the industry as an apprentice, after serving two tours in the US Navy. After 10 years in the field, Chris joined his brother and another partner, building a firm which included inspection, consulting, and education. Chris loves to teach and is passionate about safety and about helping people take responsibility for their own learning.

Chapters: 
0:00 Intro
1:33 Early career in the elevator industry
9:30 Big elevator code changes
21:40 The importance of safety and skilled personnel
27:54 What do you love most about the industry?
33:50 Bringing new generations into the industry
38:00 Never take safety for granted

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Amber Catlin-Kolodziej, the Executive Director of the Elevator escalator Safety Foundation. The EESF’s mission is to educate the general public on the proper and safe use of elevators and escalators. Amber’s goal is to further enable the EESF to keep our friends and family safe when they are using vertical transportation.  Amber has a background working with non-profits and finds the elevator industry to be the warmest and most welcoming she has ever been involved with.

The EESF can be found at: https://www.eesf.org/

Chapters:
0:00:00 Introduction from unknown speaker about EESF's mission of safety
0:00:36 Continued introduction about preventing accidents everywhere
0:00:41 Matthew Allred welcomes listeners and introduces Amber Catlin-Kolodziej as today's guest
0:01:41 Matthew asks Amber how she got started in the elevator industry
0:01:56 Amber explains finding the EESF job posting and applying
0:03:21 Amber mentions being at EESF for 6 months
0:04:05 Matthew asks about Amber's impressions of the elevator industry
0:04:05 Amber says it's the warmest industry she's been part of
0:05:00 Matthew comments on the industry feeling like a community or family
0:05:13 Matthew asks what Amber has learned about the industry
0:05:13 Amber discusses learning about the intricacies and parts involved
0:06:07 Matthew asks about the history of how EESF came to be
0:06:20 Amber explains the origins at a United event bridge builders meeting
0:06:47 Amber continues explaining the formation of EESF to educate the public
0:07:31 Amber provides more details on EESF's incorporation in 1991
0:08:10 Amber mentions the founding groups that helped establish EESF
0:08:50 Amber discusses EESF's current board and other supporting organizations
0:09:21 Matthew asks about public injuries that led to the need for education
0:09:31 Amber discusses safety issues for children on escalators and elevators
0:10:00 Amber continues giving examples of safety issues
0:10:41 Amber wraps up examples of common safety incidents
0:10:57 Matthew asks about the focus on second graders
0:11:07 Amber explains the former safety cat costume program for classrooms
0:11:32 Amber discusses challenges with COVID for in-person classroom programs
0:11:48 Amber mentions alternatives like gym teachers and first responders
0:12:33 Matthew asks about volunteer roles to spread EESF's message
0:12:46 Amber discusses sharing on social media and the safety writers website
0:13:05 Amber says to contact EESF about needs and suggested improvements
0:13:39 Matthew asks about upcoming Elevator Safety Week
0:14:16 Amber provides details on Elevator Safety Week in November
0:14:47 Amber discusses the planned 52 Weeks of Safety launch in January
0:15:31 Amber wraps up discussing 52 Weeks of Safety collaboration
0:17:57 Matthew thanks Amber for the interview
0:19:22 Amber's closing message about EESF's mission to prevent all accidents
0:19:36 Amber congratulates Laurie Dueitt on her promotion at EESF
0:20:00 Matthew thanks Amber and wraps up the episode

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Scott Drummond, president and founder of Emi's Elevator and founder of Nokes Mountain Benefit Corporation. Scott has has over 20 years in the trade as an elevator mechanic and has seen the disparity of dilapidated elevators through the country. He decided to tackle this problem head-on by creating a public-private partnership. Scott has the vision and vehicle to bring about modernizing elevator infrastructure in public facilities throughout America. He sees this effort advancing every sector of the elevator industry and creating jobs using American equipment.

Chapters:
0:01 Scott's passion for the elevator industry and solution to failing elevators in public facilities
9:59 Public-private partnerships for elevator infrastructure projects
16:07 Founding an elevator company
20:54 Scott's plan to modernize the elevator fleet
31:28 Envisioning a future where elevators benefit communities across the country
37:38 The importance of collaboration and embracing change in the industry
42:46 Scott's passion for modernizing dilapidated elevators throughout America
53:42 Determination to create jobs and use American equipment

Matt Allred and Bill Appelbaum sit down to discuss Bill's elevator industry career over the past 30+ years. They discussed his beginnings as a truck driver and his subsequent journey through various roles such as sales, management, and vice president. Bill expressed his passion for modernization in his current role of sales and project management with LCD elevator. Bill emphasized his satisfaction with working in a smaller company without layers of management, and highlighted the importance of owning one's own business.

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Rena Cozart to discuss her experience of becoming the Executive Director of the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC). Although Rena was surprised to have been sought out for this opportunity, she was quickly impressed with the honesty and authenticity of those who she would be working with, and decided she wanted to learn more. Rena brings to the NAEC vast experience working with high-performing boards of non-profit organizations.  Although Rena claims that she will never be an elevator expert, she loves helping the NAEC board bring about the visions of stakeholders of the organization. Rena highlighted the importance of asking for help and reaching out to others, noting how welcoming and supportive the industry is. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from industry experts.