The Elevator Entrepreneur

🚨 The Make It Happen: 2027 Planning Workshop

🎟️ GRAB YOUR WORKBOOK HERE: https://www.elevatorstrategichub.com/2027-planning-workshop

You already know you should make time for strategic planning.

But when you're running an elevator business, there's always something that needs your attention.

In this episode, Sean talks about his own relationship with strategic planning and what changed when he stopped waiting for the time to show up and started intentionally protecting it.

And if there's something you've been saying you'll make time for in 2027, Sean is putting that time on the calendar for you.

Inside the Make It Happen: 2027 Planning Workshop, bring one of your biggest goals for 2027 and spend 60 minutes working through the strategic groundwork behind it with Sean and your included 2027 Planning Workbook.

Early bird registration is open through October 8.

If your team is busy, revenue is coming in, and you're still relying on a gut feeling or last month's financials to make decisions, it's time for a different approach.

In the Keep It Simple KPI Workshop replay, you’ll identify the essential KPIs across the five core departments of your elevator business, build departmental scorecards, understand leading vs. lagging indicators, and create a framework that gives your leadership team a clear definition of what winning looks like.

🚨 GET THE LIVE WORKSHOP REPLAY

As an elevator business owner, you know your revenue, your profit, and whether you’ve got consistent work coming through the door.

But those numbers only tell you what's already happened. In this episode, I’ll share the turning point that changed the way I managed Madden Elevator. We went from whiteboards and spreadsheets to departmental scorecards and weekly leadership conversations surrounding KPIs.

They became the foundation for better business decisions, stronger accountability, and ultimately helped build a company that sold for more than 2.5x market value. If you've ever wondered why your KPIs didn’t bring the control you had hoped for when you tried to implement them, this episode is for you.

I sat down with Doug Vanden Bosch, President of Total Service, to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in our industry right now — artificial intelligence.

We unpacked how AI is changing the way elevator companies operate, where automation is creating new opportunities, and why systems have to come before technology if you want AI to work for your own business.

Doug also shared where software is heading, how business owners can think about adoption, and why this wave is something you want to ride.

If today’s conversation got you thinking about where your business may be falling behind, my Elevator Business Diagnostic is designed to help you uncover your biggest constraint and build a plan to move forward.

Check it out here: https://www.elevatorstrategichub.com/elevator-business-diagnostic

[00:00] Introduction

[01:00] Doug’s Background

[02:00] AI Disruption

[05:00] Systems First

[07:00] Software Adoption

[09:00] AI Tools

[12:00] “Ellie” & Automation

[14:00] Protecting Roles

[15:00] Entrepreneur Advice

[16:00] Closing

In this episode, I sat down with Jim Fox, CEO of ATIS, to talk about what he’s seeing inside the elevator industry from a different perspective. Jim’s only been in the industry about 15 months, but his background across multiple industries gives him a unique lens on what’s happening right now, especially when it comes to service quality, data, and where things are headed. We got into the challenges I know a lot of you are dealing with today including talent gaps, rising costs, and the pressure to deliver better service with less time. But we also talked about where the opportunity is, and how data, transparency, and better communication can start to close that gap. It was a great conversation that really comes back to doing the basics well like showing up, overcommunicating, and doing what you say you’re going to do. [00:00] – Intro [00:16] – Jim’s Background & Entry into the Industry [01:00] – Why the Elevator Industry Stood Out [02:00] – Technology, AI & Industry Acceleration [04:00] – The Responsibility Behind the Work [08:20] – The Biggest Challenge: Talent & Expertise Gaps [10:30] – Where Service Starts to Break Down [12:00] – Using Data to Work Smarter [15:00] – Transparency, Trust & Industry Friction [18:45] – The Role of Consultants in the Industry [22:30] – Rethinking Maintenance Models [24:15] – Building Trust in Business [26:00] – Closing Thoughts

The majority of communication issues in elevator businesses are coming from a lack of clear expectations, missing structure, and conversations that are happening way too late.

In this episode of the Elevator Entrepreneur, I sat down with Lisa Diaz from Turf Elevate to talk through why breakdowns between owners, the field, and clients tend to show up before cash flow problems do, and why repeating yourself is often a sign the system (not the people), needs fixing.

This conversation reflects exactly what we see inside eGROW: elevator business owners carrying too much because their processes, systems, and early agreement aren’t fully in place yet.

Ready to fix the root issue?

Join the eGROW waitlist to be the first to know when doors open and get access to proven industry frameworks designed to bring control, predictability, and sustainability to your elevator business.

👉 Join the eGROW Waitlist

00:00 – Welcome 00:35 – Lisa’s background and path into infrastructure

01:30 – The Grand Central “aha” moment

03:50 – Why elevators became the focus

06:20 – Payment cycles and cash flow challenges

08:25 – Why early conversations matter

11:35 – Technology, clarity, and expectations

13:30 – RFPs, relationships, and choosing the right work

16:30 – Trust, clients, and getting paid faster

19:20 – Leadership responsibility and communication

20:30 – Ideal customer profiles and alignment

22:10 – Final thoughts

In this episode of The Elevator Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Hanson, owner of Genesis Elevator Services in Lewisville, Texas, to talk about one of the toughest parts of running a company: finding and keeping the right people.

With nearly 40 years in the elevator industry and experience across multiple OEMs, Jeff brings a seasoned perspective on what it takes to build a dependable team in today’s market.

Together, me and Jeff unpack what hiring really looks like for elevator companies:

[00:01:00] Jeff’s 38-year journey in the elevator industry
[00:03:00] The challenges of ownership and people management
[00:05:00] Why hiring the right fit matters more than filling the seat
[00:08:00] Practical interview strategies for elevator leaders
[00:12:00] Lessons from Sean’s own hiring process
[00:15:00] The reality of HR and retention in small companies
[00:17:00] Jeff’s golden nugget: Don’t panic

Ready to grow your elevator business? Join me inside eGROW, a 6-month group coaching experience built to help elevator company owners streamline their operations, strengthen their teams, and scale sustainably.

In this episode of The Elevator Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with industry veteran John Koshak, founder of EMCP and long-time advocate for elevator safety and education.

John shares how he went from wiring hydros at Westinghouse to creating one of the most trusted maintenance control programs in the industry. His decades of experience offer a rare perspective on how training, safety, and accountability have evolved in the elevator world.

We dive into the gap between older and newer generations of mechanics. That includes the decline of hands-on troubleshooting skills and the importance of proper training on both vintage and modern systems.

John also discusses why companies must invest in better education to protect both workers and the riding public.

[00:01:00] From electrician to elevator mechanic
[00:03:00] The creation of EMCP
[00:05:00] The evolution of safety standards
[00:09:00] Training gaps and generational knowledge loss
[00:12:00] Relay logic vs. modern control systems
[00:18:00] Troubleshooting, accountability, and safety in the field
[00:22:00] How to build a stronger, safer company culture

In this episode of The Elevator Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Chris Gutkes, President of Island Elevator, to talk about the realities of leadership, growth, and tough decision-making as an elevator business owner.

Despite the numerous tech hiccups, me and Chris got to discuss some tough topics in our industry.

Chris shares his journey from fourth-generation elevator mechanic to company president, the lessons he learned after suddenly stepping into leadership, and how education helped him fill the gaps no one else could ever prepare him for.

We discuss the balance between growth and hiring (and firing), and how performance systems—like scorecards—create accountability and clarity for everyone involved.

Chris also opens up about the broader challenges facing the elevator industry, from consolidation to the lack of shared standards, and how we should prioritize education, collaboration, and connection among independent companies

➡️ If you’re ready to get the same clarity and structure Chris talks about in this episode, check out eGROW—The 6-month accelerator built to give Elevator Entrepreneurs the structure, cashflow strategies, and mentorship they need to scale sustainably.

Click here to get the details—Now enrolling

[00:01:00] Fourth-generation beginnings
[00:03:00] Becoming president overnight
[00:05:00] Balancing growth and hiring
[00:07:00] Making tough calls
[00:08:00] Scorecards and accountability
[00:09:30] Creating growth pathways
[00:10:30] Progress over perfection
[00:11:30] The state of the industry
[00:13:30] The roll-up cycle
[00:14:00] Real advice for every role
[00:16:00] Leading through connection

 In this solo episode, I’m opening up about one of the hardest years of my career — the year I lost nearly $1M in my elevator business.

I’ll walk you through the mistakes that cost me big, the mindset that kept me from giving up, and the plan I built that pulled our business (and our family) back stronger than ever.

It’s real and my hope is that it shows you these setbacks don’t define us. What defines us is how we respond to them. 

In this solo episode, I walk through the system I use to run my week: find your prime time (morning/evening/midday) and split your time into thirds—in the business, on the business, and personal.

I’ll also share how short weekly 1:1s and a simple scorecard keep me out of micromanagement and focused on momentum. If you’re still stuck fighting daily fires, this will give you a rhythm you can keep.

Want the tools I mention? Opt in here to Elevator Strategic Hub (esHUB) for the exact frameworks I've used to structure my days in the elevator industry.