The Elevator Careers Podcast

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. In this episode, we explore the role of elevator traveling cables and the lessons he's learned throughout his career.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:31 Dillard’s Career Journey
• 03:59 The Importance of Elevator Traveling Cables
• 07:13 Navigating Industry Standards and Regulations
• 09:27 Innovation vs. Code Regulation in Elevator Technology
• 20:46 Audio Visual Code Change
• 21:58 Unique Projects: Burj Khalifa and Disney's Tower of Terror
• 28:46 Advice for New Professionals in the Industry
• 29:45 Outro

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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

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 mechanics to business owners while discussing customer misconceptions, hiring challenges, accessibility solutions, and the value of building a business franchise with the support of an established network.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction 
02:13 Journey from Technicians to Business Owners
10:02 The Importance of Residential Elevators
21:08 Educating Homeowners on Elevator Installation
28:05 Homeowner Insights Before Installation
30:53 Modernization and Lifespan of Residential Elevators
34:24 Challenges in Finding Talent for the Elevator Industry
44:34 The Ideal Franchise Owner Profile
50:25 Franchise Ownership vs. Independent Business Ownership

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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

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 to build a stronger company.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:17 Jessica’s Background
• 02:32 Transitioning into the Elevator Industry
• 06:00 Elevator Business Dynamics
• 08:04 Implementing Change in the Business
• 11:46 People and Relationships: Make or Break the Business
• 14:54 Private Equity and Market Trends
• 20:29 Valuation and Business Saleability
• 22:51 Challenges in Mergers and Acquisitions
• 28:02 Getting into M&A
• 29:39 Advice for Elevator Business Owners
• 32:08 Outro

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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

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 deeply about where AI, training, and the future of the trades are headed next.

Chapters:

• 00:00 From Machine Shop to Mastery
• 04:58 The Allure of Legacy Equipment
• 07:32 Lessons from the Old Machines
• 09:56 Complex Challenges in Modernization
• 12:45 The Importance of Technical Expertise
• 15:42 AI: The Future of Training
• 18:24 Training the Next Generation
• 20:50 Mentorship and Industry Connections

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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 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 evolution of elevator safety, what it means to “unleash the voice of the elevator,” and how new technology could transform the way elevators are maintained.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:40 Journey into the Elevator Industry

05:52 Innovations in Elevator Safety Technology

07:49 The Future of Elevator Maintenance

10:14 Data-Driven Decision Making in Elevators

13:35 The Role of IoT in Elevators

15:45 Challenges in Adopting New Technologies

19:22 The Importance of Transparency in Elevator Services

27:41 Smart Behavior and Future Innovations

31:36 Elevators in the Connected Building of the Future

34:38 Advice for the Next Generation in the Industry

35:55 Outro

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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 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 President of Education and Training at Associated Builders and Contractors New Jersey. Since entering the construction industry in 2002, he has advanced through nearly every level of the profession. Now, as a licensed electrician, secretary, and instructor for the New Jersey Electrical Group, Brian is dedicated to developing the future of the skilled trades. In this conversation, we dove into one of America's only non-union elevator apprenticeship programs, and how it can give young people more access to the elevator trade.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:03 The Workforce Crisis in Construction
• 02:00 Misconceptions About Skilled Trades
• 04:48 The Importance of Apprenticeship Programs
• 07:59 Corporate Investment in Workforce Development
• 10:41 Nick's Career Journey in Elevators
• 14:00 Brian's Career Path and ABC's Mission
• 16:51 The Role of ABC in Workforce Development
• 19:40 Finding Opportunities in Skilled Trades
• 22:41 Elevator Apprenticeship Program Development
• 25:52 Training Structure and Safety Protocols
• 29:52 Skills for Modern Apprentices
• 33:50 Opportunities After Completing Apprenticeship
• 36:59 Starting an Elevator Apprenticeship Program
• 39:53 Innovation in the Elevator Industry
• 40:46 Recruiting for Apprenticeship Programs
• 42:46 Apprenticeship Enrollment Process
• 45:54 Middle School Construction Camps
• 46:51 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights
• 51:46 Future of Workforce Development and Apprenticeships

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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

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 for retirement, Mike joined me to reflect on the lessons, relationships, and experiences that have helped define his remarkable career.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Mike Ryan's Journey
• 04:56 The Evolution of the Elevator Industry
• 07:36 Understanding the Collaborative Nature of Elevators
• 09:31 Challenges and Misconceptions in the Elevator Industry
• 12:13 Lessons Learned and Advice for the Next Generation
• 15:03 The Importance of Community and Relationships
• 17:56 Looking Back: Reflections on a Career
• 20:06 Preparing for the Future of the Elevator Industry

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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 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's perspective is shaped by decades of hands-on industry experience and a strong belief that understanding both people and field operations is key to long-term success.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Ricky's Current Role and Responsibilities
• 05:09 Lessons from Early Career in Engineering
• 07:39 Technology Evolution in the Industry
• 10:32 Predictive Maintenance and Its Challenges
• 13:23 Understanding Elevator Modernization
• 16:31 Transitioning from Engineering to Sales
• 18:13 Pros and Cons of Industry Consolidation
• 20:36 Leadership Lessons and Team Collaboration
• 23:30 The Future of Vertical Transportation Technology
• 26:20 Reflections and Advice for the Future

Resources:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ 
• Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ 
• 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

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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 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 Industry
• 03:23 The Importance of Safety in the Elevator Industry
• 05:15 Transitioning to Safety Leadership
• 06:38 Individual Responsibility for Safety
• 09:19 Unique Challenges of Safety in the Elevator Industry
• 12:06 Level of Acceptable Risk
• 17:34 Complacency and its Dangers
• 24:43 Building a Safety Culture
• 28:00 Safety Resources for Smaller Companies
• 30:45 Mental Health & Safety in the Workforce
• 36:21 Final Thoughts on Safety and Community

Resources:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
• Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
• 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: http://allredgroup.com

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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

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, talent, and why the future of the elevator business is still full of opportunity.

Chapters:

00:00 Mark's Journey into the Elevator Industry

09:34 Building American Elevator Group

12:20 The Value of Experience in the Industry

16:27 Surprises in the Elevator Industry

20:14 Commitment to Elevators and Career Reflections

21:51 Navigating Career Transitions

24:00 Lessons from Starting Oracle Elevator

28:09 Key Insights on Team Dynamics

31:43 Future of the Elevator Industry

36:33 Advice for Newcomers in the Industry

Resources:

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/

Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/

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

Resources:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/
Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/
Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/AllredGroup
Join our Newsletter - Episodes, Elevator Jobs, Insights, and more: https://eepurl.com/jnVaOM

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