This, the seventh edition of The People Issue, features 17 outstanding vertical-transportation (VT) industry professionals. Paring down the list of nominees was challenging, but we think we ended up with a diverse representation of people. There’s a retired nonagenarian from Massachusetts who now celebrates the retirements of the grandchildren of those he worked alongside during a 70-plus-year career, as well as a young woman from California who unexpectedly joined the family VT business only seven years ago. In that short time, she has grown and expanded her father’s company, hitting new records and launching new products as a certified woman-owned small business. She came from a career in event planning, and others came from outside the VT industry, as well, from careers in graphic design and steel, and a stint in law school, to name a few. Others have been in VT pretty much their whole professional lives, following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. Our 2024 People are independent company branch managers, multinational corporation CEOs, operations directors and those who work behind the scenes as mechanics or financial officers. Some have unexpected backgrounds: Two NYC-area gentlemen have roots in rock-and-roll and classical guitar — playing in a rock band and at NYC’s Carnegie Hall, respectively, before they devoted themselves to VT. These are problem-solvers, innovators and visionaries who exude professional excellence and, even post-retirement, are always willing to pick up the phone and answer a question. Determined and driven, they thrive on challenges and seeing iconic projects through to fruition. This year’s honorees have roots in the U.K., Switzerland and Spain, as well as throughout North America, including British Columbia and Montreal, Canada; and, in the U.S., Georgia, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina. Please join us in congratulating this year’s People Issue honorees. We are already looking forward to next year!
Glenn Barnes
Southern Elevator
At 30 years old, Glenn Barnes was on the hunt for a good job with benefits and was introduced to the elevator industry by his in-laws. Thirty-four years later, he remains an active International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 80 mechanic and has reached Benefits Eligible Supervisor status.
During his years in the field, his favorite workdays were spent working on elevators inside exclusive industrial locations that the public doesn’t usually have the opportunity to see, such as nuclear power plants, paper mills and manufacturing facilities. He thoroughly enjoyed the variety that each day would bring. Barnes shared, “The coolest car top I’ve ever been on was inside the giant sombrero at South of the Border – an unforgettable moment.”
In 2005, Barnes made the transition from the field to the office, and currently serves as the senior branch manager for the Greenville, North Carolina, division of Southern Elevator. He brings a different focus to the operations side of the industry by prioritizing the benefits of his fellow mechanics.
Barnes approaches everything with a teaching perspective and makes himself available to offer support, guidance and encouragement to his coworkers and team of mechanics. He serves on a committee to provide continuing education to his fellow branch managers on the company-wide operations team. He leads a service-focused team and holds the record of 15 consecutive months of 100% contractual preventative-maintenance service completion.
Southern Elevator CEO Christopher Short said, “Glenn possesses the unique ability to multi-manage tasks and team interaction with professional excellence. He provides daily technical expertise and support, creatively problem solves and serves our customers with a positive attitude and spirit. Through his actions, Glenn ensures that customers are valued, heard and supported.”
Southern Elevator shared that Barnes has been instrumental in the company’s growth and success over the past 25 years, and it looks forward to all that he will continue to bring to the Southern Elevator family.
Patrick Bass
CEDES
“A driven visionary and a true market expert who promises to lead the company’s digital transformation” is how CEDES, the Switzerland-based elevator door sensor specialist, described Patrick Bass when it was announced the CEDES CEO role was transitioning to him in summer 2023. With an engineering degree from Marquette University, Bass spent his entire career in the industry, working his way up from a home lift company to running R&D as the global chief technology officer of ThyssenKrupp Elevator, and eventually, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Americas (elevator, automotive, metals). Under Bass’s guidance, what is now TK Elevator (TKE) released the first full SIL-rated software-based safety elevator control platform, bringing the industry years forward in terms of safety. Bass, along with Andreas Schierenbeck, are regarded as the “fathers” of the TKE MAX Internet of Things (IoT) platform which is, by all measures, one of the most successful elevator IoT platforms available today. He was also instrumental in the innovative TKE ACCEL and MULTI concepts.
After a long and successful career at TKE Bass joined CEDES to help it bring its IoT offering to reality. “As CEO, Bass is once again transforming the industry through the introduction of the only independent IoT solution to truly bring value across all manufacturers systems allowing ISPs, package builders, OEMs, consultants, and building management companies/owners to have visibility and true predictive-maintenance power across their complete portfolios, regardless of manufacturer,” says CEDES colleague Steven Friedman. Though he calls the U.S. home, Bass can be found in Switzerland and all over the world to represent CEDES and speak on IoT. CEDES is among those looking to take IoT and data fusion to the next level, thereby improving customer satisfaction and enhancing public and field safety, Bass said. Chances are, with Bass in the lead, CEDES will have no problem reaching its goals. Bass said:
“I am truly humbled and honored to be included in this issue of ELEVATOR WORLD, featuring so many outstanding industry colleagues. This industry is in my blood, and I cannot imagine having any more fun than doing what I am doing now and continuing on with anything and everything to do with elevators.”
Alison Brandsgard
ELPRO, Inc.
With a background in event planning, taking over the helm of her father’s manufacturing company was the last thing Alison Brandsgard thought she would be doing with her career. But in March of 2017 that is exactly what happened. Due to her father’s health issues, Brandsgard abruptly assumed the reins of ELPRO, Inc., a small manufacturing company located in Grover Beach, California, that manufactures elevator rigid, swivel, roller and freight guides along with their replacement parts. What was expected to be temporary has turned into seven years of thriving in an industry she, admittedly, knew very little about when she started.
Through her steely determination and the help of several of ELPRO’s long-term employees — along with long-time vendors and customers that have been with the company since it was founded in 1976 — Brandsgard was able to hit the ground running. She immediately dug into daily operations and was able to stabilize both sales and vendor relationships, all the while receiving vital coaching from her father via daily phone calls.
Fast forward to 2024, and under Brandsgard’s leadership as president and CEO, ELPRO is a thriving certified woman-owned business. The company has expanded its personnel, remodeled its facility, purchased new machinery, is increasing in revenue year over year and has hit record sales the last two years. ELPRO is also a proud member of the National Association of Elevator Contractors. Historically, the company relied on word of mouth and referrals, but Brandsgard has brought a new approach and aggressive marketing plan to the role.
“It has been incredibly challenging dealing with the pandemic, global supply shortage of materials, runaway inflation, fierce competition and the loss of our primary engineer,” Brandsgard said. “Yet, we still never lost our determination to navigate these rough waters and not only survive, but thrive.”
Brandsgard’s vision for ELPRO is to build upon her father’s legacy by continuing to rise as a major parts supplier in the elevator industry and to acquire more government contracts. Additionally, ELPRO plans to launch new products later this year, including a high-speed roller guide.
Anya Codack
Delco Elevator Products
Anya Codack started her first business, a multi-media and graphic design consultancy named Novart, in her mid-20s. A few years later, she merged this business to establish Yfactor Inc., a web design and software and marketing consultancy. Her company grew to become Canada’s premiere economic development marketing agency. Codack sold Yfactor to StarDyne in 2017, and went on to form iideation insights, a management consulting company. She then started an e-commerce business in the eco sector.
An experienced entrepreneur, Codack stepped in to take over as president of her family’s business, Delco Elevator Products, in 2019 to allow her mother, Maike Marnet, the opportunity to move on to new real estate projects. With operations in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Seattle, Washington, Delco provides a comprehensive product selection, including new construction packages, Haider Drive machines, in-stock components and parts, to contractors and OEMs in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. Delco’s strategic locations allow the company to source, stock and ship elevator products to customers with hassle- and border-free delivery. All components and parts sold by Delco are non-proprietary and code-compliant.
With enduring core values of care, simplicity, drive, accountability and teamwork, Delco has been family owned and operated since its founding in 1973. Delco Marketing Manager Veronika Vasylieva said:
“Over the past five years, Anya Codack has strategically grown the company, showcasing a clear vision for its future. She conducts in-depth research into the elevator industry, analyzing trends to inform strategic decisions. Anya’s adept leadership has led to impactful changes within the company, ensuring its competitiveness and adaptability.”
As business has expanded into the southern U.S., Delco has made its website available in both English and Spanish and employed bilingual customer service representatives. Codack is involved with the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association and the National Association of Elevator Contractors. Delco proudly supports the work done by the United Way U.S. and United Way Canada. In her spare time, Codack is a mom of three and a sailor.
James F. Comley
Embree Elevator, Inc.
At 93 years old, James “Jim” Comley is still passionate about the industry and giving back. Born on November 9, 1930, Comley graduated from Lexington High School in Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1948. Serving honorably in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Hawkins from 1951 to 1955, Comley transitioned to civilian life, where he honed his skills and deepened his understanding of the elevator industry at Payne Elevator from 1955 to 1968. In 1969, Comley’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish City Elevator, beginning a distinguished business career. Despite the inherent challenges of entrepreneurship, Comley remained steadfast. He divested City Elevator in 1972 and later acquired Embree & White Elevator, rebranding it as Embree Elevator, Inc. in 1974, a company he continues to lead today.
Appointed by the governor to the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety’s Board of Elevator Regulators in 1984, he served for more than two decades, culminating in his appointment as chairman of the board in 2006. In 2011, Comley received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his advocacy for safety regulations in the elevator industry.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Comley’s philanthropic endeavors reflect a deep commitment to community welfare. He meticulously restored the historic Elijah Stearns Mansion alongside his wife, Virginia, preserving it for future generations to appreciate. Comley co-founded The Elevator Museum in Amesbury, Massachusetts, in 2012. His daughter, Bonnie Comley, said:
“James F. Comley’s commitment to his industry peers is exemplary. He attends elevator union retirement celebrations whenever possible, recently celebrating the retirement of grandchildren of men he worked with over his 70-plus-year career! This dedication to his colleagues underscores Comley’s unwavering support for the elevator industry community, cementing his reputation as a respected leader and mentor. His relentless pursuit of enhancing the elevator world and elevating the community has raised industry standards and enriched countless lives.”
Michael Fagan
ATIS Elevator Consulting
Michael Fagan’s nominators agree: He is the epitome of an elevator man. Over the course of his 60-plus-year career, Fagan has served as a mentor whose enthusiasm for the industry has inspired countless individuals, helping them to become successful. At age 83, Fagan is still doing the work that he loves as director, Western, Region at Atis Elevator Consulting.
In 1963, he began his career in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as an electrician, later joining the International Union of Elevator Constructors and taking a job with Westinghouse. Fagan founded an elevator company and two elevator consultancies in the San Franscico Bay Area. ATIS recently purchased his last venture, JSG Elevator Consultants.
In the past, Fagan served as the NY regional manager for Lerch Bates Associates where he consulted on five-star properties including the original World Trade Center. Over the past 20-plus years, Fagan has gained popularity for his litigation support research and expert witness testimony for elevator and escalator legal cases across the country.
ATIS colleague Frank Fletcher describes Fagan as “an eternal optimist who never gives up on anyone and is always willing to lend a hand, offer advice or share his technical expertise.” Frank Gozukizil of JSG Elevator Consultants also spoke to Fagan’s breadth of knowledge, saying:
“While his expertise in elevators is remarkable, it merely scratches the surface of his profound understanding. He possesses a voracious appetite for learning and is as well-versed in a myriad of subjects as anyone I’ve encountered. In a room filled with intellects, Mike stands out as the preeminent figure — the master among many ‘grasshoppers’ who have benefited from his tutelage, and I dare say the ‘smartest bear’ in the room.”
His daughter, Jill Sweeney, credits him with showing her what honesty and integrity look like both personally and professionally:
“He puts people first, giving the customers what they acturally need for a code-compliant safe ride. He presents them with fair and alternative solutions that are not money-driven, but rather motivated by ethical correctness.”
Don Gelestino
Champion Elevator Corp.
Send an email to Champion Elevator President and CEO Don Gelestino, and chances are very high he will respond — thoroughly and enthusiastically — within the next 5 min. That professional energy and enthusiasm points to why Gelestino has evolved from a couch-surfing aspiring rockstar to owner of one of NYC’s most-successful independent elevator companies.
Gelestino’s will to succeed extends much further back than early adulthood, however: In third grade while growing up on Long Island, NY, he took it upon himself to secure part-time jobs delivering newspapers and helping out at a local greenhouse, all while trapping and selling minnows to a local bait shop on the side. The Gelestino family moved to Maine when Don was in the 11th grade. By that time, Gelestino had become heavily involved in playing bass guitar, devoting his life to music, driving to NYC with nothing but the clothes on his back (and his guitar) and sleeping on the couch of a pair of Irish brothers who worked at a nightclub, but whose father owned DECO Elevator. The brothers’ edict that Gelestino needed to work at DECO to pay for his room and board was the start of a long and fruitful vertical-transportation (VT) career.
He stayed at DECO seven years, going on to launch his first company, Ver-Tech Elevator, which he sold to United Technologies (UT) in 2010. Gelestino spent several years working for UT, but the corporate structure was not for him. So, after a five-year noncompete agreement was up, he started Champion Elevator in 2015.
Without any college or financial training, Gelestino relied on the help of colleagues and learned on the job, growing Champion into a regional powerhouse through both organic and acquisitive growth. Ever since he was a child, Gelestino has “paid it forward”; when he’s not at work, he can often be found at one of the many charity events around the city. His nominator, Champion Human Resources Director Valerie Maestrallis, said Gelestino is a boss “passionate about life, family, friends, people, safety and the elevator industry.”
Eduard Gomis
USDE
Born and raised in Spain into a family business that grew into the largest mono-product manufacturer of automatic elevator doors and spare parts in the world, Eduard Gomis is now focused on the North American elevator market. He has overseen the growth of Fermator Group operations in Asia, Europe and the Americas, having responsibility for every facet of the business. Gomis now brings his 20-plus years of industry experience to US Door Equipment Corp. (USDE), which includes a massive greenfield investment and fully autonomous entity that partnered with U.S.-based Columbia Elevator to open a 140,000-ft2 factory in Oxford, Connecticut, in 2021. As managing partner of USDE, Gomis works alongside Columbia President CEO Louis “L.J.” Blaiotta to introduce elevator door products — including three new ones — to the U.S. market tailored for the modernization, new-installation and home elevator markets. During the pandemic, Gomis worked with Blaiotta to carefully tailor European products for North America, enabling Columbia, for the first time, to be able to offer a complete elevator door system thanks to its alliance with USDE. USDE’s operations are bolstered by Gomis’ global supply-chain expertise. Roles he has held in the industry include electro-mechanical and electronics R&D, supply-chain and logistics management and corporate development. An industrial engineer who studied at Polytechnic of Catalonia, Gomis speaks four languages: Spanish, English, French and Italian. Since 2018, he has led Romeo Investment Corp. — a company that builds relationships and delivers top-level consulting services to the elevator industry in multidisciplinary areas including, but not limited to, strategy, finance, marketing, production and logistics, as needed. Blaiotta said:
“Eduard is an innovator whose business expertise is unsurpassed. For someone who is relatively young, his accomplishments are more like those of someone who has been in the industry for half a century. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for both Eduard and his continued contributions to our industry.”
William “Bill” MacLachlan
Hill Hiker, Inc.
The stars and circumstances aligned for William “Bill” MacLachlan to take a “leap of faith” and launch Hill Hiker, Inc., a company that has earned a reputation as the go-to manufacturer of custom, high-end inclined elevators, on Valentine’s Day 1997. If you ask him why he does what he does, the answer is, “to feed my family.” A fun-loving, outspoken man whose family means everything to him, MacLachlan grew up spending summers living and working at his grandparents” farm in Wisconsin, where he gained an appreciation for machinery and equipment, later going on to a career in sales of everything from farm insurance, inground pools and, eventually, inclined elevators. A mobility company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, hired MacLachlan to lead its newly established inclined elevator division, and he had great ideas about how to make the product more robust and, most importantly, safer. When those ideas were rejected, MacLachlan left that employer, moving on to positions selling manufacturing equipment — a passion for inclined elevators always in the back of his mind. So, with a US$5,000 investment from his father, Jim MacLachlan, and the support of his father-in-law and wife, Laurel, he started Hill Hiker. Father-in-law Noel Davis was an engineering expert — a graduate of MIT and holder of many patents — and he was instrumental in formulating the now multi-award-winning Hill Hiker® inclined elevator system.
MacLachlan’s father, meanwhile, lent his marketing and business expertise to the nascent company. MacLachlan’s philosophy is to “do it right and keep it simple,” one that has helped result in Hill Hiker installing nearly 600 systems and developing many innovations over the past 27 years. Hill Hiker was the recipient of ELEVATOR WORLD’s first-ever Project of the Year award in the Inclined Elevators category in 1998, and has received many PoY awards since. “From Alaska to New Zealand, and Nova Scotia to the U.A.E., Bill has dotted the world with his elevators. He has, indeed, fed his family,” according to his nomination form. — submitted with love by his family
Ken McDonald
Otis
Ken McDonald, Regional Field Operations manager, New Equipment and Modernization, joined Otis in 1989 and has been a dedicated and vital part of the Otis team, particularly for Canada’s New Equipment operations. For McDonald, the elevator industry is part of the family: His father was president of the International Union of Elevator Constructors for many years and became the business agent for Local 50 Toronto; on top of that, two of his brothers also work in the field: one as director for vertical transportation (VT) for a construction business and one at Otis. “My dad pushed me forward into this direction, and I’m so glad he did,” McDonald said. “With my younger brother here at Otis, it’s a unique gift to be able to mentor one another in our careers.”
McDonald has been involved in numerous iconic projects, playing a critical role in their completion during a challenging past five years. These include Place Ville Marie in Montreal, Eglinton Light Rail Transit in the Greater Toronto Area and various Amazon sites in Hamilton. His favorite project was working as superintendent on the 60-story Trump Tower in Toronto. “The project included numerous elevators, a lot of stops, plus high-speed/high-challenge elements,” he said. Over his 35-year career, he has become a go-to source for knowledge and has developed a passion for mentorship. He said:
“I have great pride in seeing a finished building that I work in. But I find greater pride in working with a brand-new hire out of school and taking him/her out on the site to show them what I know. That’s where I’m confident I can create impact and influence others’ trajectories. At the end of the day, I feel like I can go home and look in the mirror and be proud of the community that I’m helping to build.”
In looking at the VT industry, McDonald had this to say:
“People ask why elevators? Besides the inspiration from my dad, it really is nice to be part of building a physical skyline that you can see in your everyday routine. You can have pride in your work. It’s a great topic to talk about in your everyday conversations. Everyone has ridden in an elevator before, but not many people appreciate all of the fun facts and insider knowledge of how they work. It never gets old to share the fun facts of our industry, like how fast elevators can travel a second.”
Yakov Mikhlin
Gillespie Corp.
Yakov Mikhlin’s vast knowledge of engineering principles, elevator code and safety, combined with his ability to “think outside the box,” make him Gillespie Corp.’s go-to person whenever the company is faced with a challenge. Mikhlin started working at Gillespie as a project engineer in 1991, later being promoted to senior project engineer. Throughout his years at Gillespie, he has excelled as a creative and inspiring engineer, says his nominator, Gary West. Mikhlin has worked on several hundred diverse Gillespie projects, many of them one of a kind. A number of these projects have resulted in Project of the Year (PoY) awards from ELEVATOR WORLD. Following Mikhlin being a key player for a project in Washington, D.C., to design and manufacture a virtually invisible, handicapped-accessible lift for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, the Architect of the Capital came back to Gillespie in 2021 when it needed accessibility on the floor of the U.S. Senate. The challenges were essentially the same, but a different design was required. Mikhlin embraced and spearheaded this project, resulting in another EW PoY, this time in 2023. In 2022, material lifts Mikhlin designed for the NYC Housing Authority also earned an EW PoY award.
The lifts had to be customized for the existing space, and, as Mikhlin is adept at rising to challenges, he helped fit a 10-lb lift into a 5-lb hoistway. When he originally worked with the Architect of the Capitol, Mikhlin designed a lift system that bridges two separate sets of steps and rises out of the floor, with the lifts having platforms with carpet exactly matching the House floor.
Mikhlin enjoys solving the problems that architects, consultants and elevator contractors present, as well as learning new things as the elevator industry changes. He has been the key person with respect to integrating new technologies and new software at Gillespie, West notes. Mikhlin also enjoys teaching and passing his knowledge on to the next generation of design engineers. “His unwavering commitment to perfection is one of the many qualities that have earned him the respect of our fabricators, machinists and the entire Gillespie team,” West says. “From the day Yakov started in 1991, he has been a key component to the success of Gillespie Corp.”
Adil Tanwir Raja
Otis
Hundreds of millions of people a year rely on the work of Adil Tanwir Raja, Operations director, Infrastructure, Otis, and his team to support vital transportation infrastructure in London — without even realizing it. Whether they’re using the escalators on the transformative Elizabeth line, or in the rebuilt Bank station at the heart of the City of London, or the lift and escalator right across the London Underground network — they’re counting on the Otis teams that Raja leads to make their journeys safe, smooth and timely.
Raja has many years of experience in the infrastructure sector with Otis, having managed several Crossrail (which later became the Elizabeth Line) and London Underground projects. He now leads the PanTFL (Transport for London) construction and service operations for Otis in the U.K., including accelerating business growth and enhancing operational performance. His leadership continues the proud association with Otis’ escalators and London’s underground railways that started in 1911 — and was recognized with a 2024 ELEVATOR WORLD Project of the Year Award for Escalators, New Construction, for the Elizabeth Line in London.
Raja worked for Tata Steel for six years before deciding to explore new career opportunties in project management. He applied for a project manager role at Otis on a whim, but said this “life-changing decision” has led to more than a decade of “fulfilling work in this fascinating field.” “I thrive on the relentless pace and multitude of challenges,” he said. “From rail stations to airports and stadiums, every day presents new challenges and opportunities. In reflecting on his impact on London’s vertical transportation (VT), Raja said:
“To have such a significant impact on VT in London is both humbling and exhilarating. Being part of shaping the way people move safely within this vibrant city is a responsibility I don’t take lightly. Whether it’s improving accessibility in iconic landmarks or enhancing the bustling London Underground network, knowing that my work and the work of my team contributes to the heartbeat of London fills me with immense pride and gratitude.”
John Reese Jr.
Schindler Elevator Corp.
John Reese Jr. has had a fascinating journey in the elevator industry. Starting as an apprentice with KONE, he later worked in various roles for Murphy Elevator, Schindler Elevator Corp., and TK Elevator before returning to Schindler in 2013. He is presently a Team One engineer with Schindler’s modernization team focused on adjustments and troubleshooting.
Reese finds the modernization side of the industry to be a learning curve, but he embraces the challenge. “I enjoy the diversity of tasks, balancing the maintenance of existing systems while also installing and commissioning new ones,” he said. His work often happens behind the scenes, and he actively works to develop field technicians so they can operate independently.
Beyond elevators, Reese is a classically trained musician. He is an avid guitar player and even performed at NYC’s Carnegie Hall on the stand-up bass. He balances his professional life with personal pursuits, including being a husband and father of five. Currently, he’s pursuing an electrical engineering degree online at Arizona State University, demonstrating his commitment to lifelong learning.
Reese’s passion for education extends to his colleagues. He believes that everyone can learn from one another and encourages stepping out of one’s comfort zone to gain knowledge from diverse sources. Reese was nominated for the People Issue by National Process and Training Manager, Modernization, Marc Svendsen, who said:
“Reese is regarded as one of the most well-rounded and intelligent individuals in the elevator industry — a person others aspire to emulate professionally and personally.”
Ed Rivera
TKE
Based in the NYC-metro area, Ed Rivera is the Northeast Region modernization trainer at TK Elevator (TKE), where he leverages his Project Management Professional (PMP) knowledge and 20-plus years of vertical-transportation (VT) industry expertise to train and support all departmental teams in the region. In this role, Rivera designs and delivers operational excellence programs on modernization projects, coordinating with all stakeholders to optimize the quality and efficiency of the modernization process.
Known as “Your Elevator Pal” to his several thousand LinkedIn followers, Rivera’s content — which is equally educational and motivational — covers topics such as safety, career and family. His posts are inspired by conversations and real-life experiences, and they often include photos taken on various jobsites. His nominator, TKE Vice President Modernization, North America, Marty Walker, said:
“Ed Rivera, without a doubt, brings the most positive attitude, teambuilding and employee-development skillset to our industry that I’ve seen in my 40-plus years of industry experience. After working with Ed on a regular basis, I can say he’s the real deal. His main, and what appears to be his only, mission is to develop and raise up our industry, mechanics, apprentices, sales and management. He posts regularly on LinkedIn and has several thousand followers locally and globally. His posts are real and from the heart and sweat of the job.”
Rivera’s motto is “Build elevators, build escalators, but above all … build each other!” In addition to his work with modernizations, Rivera spends time providing elevator and escalator safety education to local NYC schools on a routine basis. He also makes himself available to train and educate TKE employees who come from other fields and have little VT industry experience.
Rivera holds Elevator Inspector and Certified Welder credentials from the NYC Department of Buildings, as well as NAESA’s Qualified Elevator Inspector and Project Management Institute’s PMP certifications. Rivera has been a member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One since 2007.
Joseph Thompson
Brugg Lifting
As the face of Brugg Lifting, Joseph Thompson has focused on growing the business of this multi-national company, while educating the vertical-transportation industry at large. Ten years ago, Thompson was contacted by Brugg with an opportunity to lead its North American operation as general manager/president North America. Previously, he worked in the heavy equipment industry in both manufacturing engineering and operation management for more than 20 years. With this experience, Thompson was able to help guide the team at Brugg to a profitable position and to sustain profitable growth. He said:
“With skills I learned going through the CNH’s WCM program (Case-New Holland’s World Class Manufacturing program, which is similar to the more well-known Toyota Production System), as well as skills obtained when I achieved my Six-Sigma Blackbelt from the American Society for Quality, we were able to realize improvements in all aspects of the operation.”
Noticing a need for further education on the effects of today’s elevator designs on suspension means (conventional wire rope, belts and coated-wire ropes), Thompson has been presenting on the topic with increasing frequency over the past five years. Thompson explains that, as sheaves get smaller and drive sheave grooves for conventional wire ropes become more aggressive with larger undercuts and tighter V-grooves, the effect on the rope is tremendous. He shares the tools available to calculate these effects that can help suppliers set proper expectations for customers or, in the best case, make the necessary adjustments to the system to achieve long-term best results for all.
“I believe people are eager to gain knowledge when it comes to the various suspension means,” he said. “If people have the knowledge, they can set their own proper expectations and also expectations for their customers. For me, we should always look at the supplier/customer relationship as a true partnership.”
Thompson is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers A17 Mechanical Design Committee and serves on various task groups.
John Tolar
Retired (United Elevator Service)
One of the oldest and most recognizable pictures from John Tolar’s childhood is when he was five years old in 1963 with his family in the lobby of the new Dover Elevator Co. facility in Horn Lake, Mississippi. The following day was his father’s, Reg Tolar’s, first day as credit manager, so Tolar was not born into the industry but said it has provided for him and his family for 61 years.
Tolar attended three semesters of law school before moving on, and his father set it up where he could work in construction in Houston while looking for a “real” job. He started as a draftsman/coordinator and then went on to work in new equipment sales, modernization, sales manager and district manager roles, for Dover, ThyssenKrupp and Schindler before becoming a manager for United Elevator Services (UES) in 2006.
While working at UES, he became involved in the National Association of Elevator Contractors, joining the board and finally serving as president in 2022-2023. Along the way, Tolar has “sold and managed some great projects over the years,” but said the one he is most proud of is the Shell Plaza modernization in Houston (which has since been modernized again).
Overall, he said what keeps him in the industry and what he is most proud of are the people he has worked with — in the companies he worked for and outside of them. “I have been very successful as a salesman and a manager, not just off my hard work but because of the other people in the industry who have invested their time and effort in me,” he said. Tolar retired from his general manager role at UES in Tennessee in 2024 but still works as a consultant. He said:
“As I found out at the NAEC Spring Conference, retiring from this industry is very hard because of the tremendous relationships and folks still asking for input on products and projects.”
He said, “When my phone rings, I help people,” adding that he hopes to have “the opportunity to consult, advise, encourage and be a part of this wonderful group of people for years to come.”
Susan Warr
DTM Drafting & Consulting Services, Inc.
For more than 35 years, Susan Warr has been focused on making sure Manhattan-headquartered consultancy DTM remains profitable and able to grow. As chief financial officer (CFO)/treasurer, she has been instrumental in the company’s success over the years, observes her brother, DTM President Nick Montesano. “Without her financial oversight and strategic planning, DTM would not have achieved what it has,” he says. For Warr, business and family go hand-in-hand: Her husband is DTM consultant William Warr, and her son-in-law is DTM Senior Vice President Brayan Casas. Hers (and Nick’s) parents, of course, are DTM founders Joseph and Domenica T. “Minnie” Montesano, from whom the company gets its name. Her nominator (and niece by marriage) Annemarie Montesano said she chose to nominate Warr because she felt that, often, the people highlighted are client-facing professionals. Although Warr operates in the background, her role is critical, Annemarie says. Growing up in an elevator family has only helped. “She continues to immerse herself in the industry to make sure we are taking advantage of every opportunity available to us.” Not only does Warr make sure business runs smoothly, but she also devotes time to making sure employee morale remains high, never missing an anniversary or birthday and organizing company events. Warr is a proud supporter of the Bronx Zoo and Alzheimer’s Foundation. She loves all animals, traveling and her grandchildren. “We are beyond lucky to have her,” Annemarie says. “Working in the back office is similar to the hidden mechanism within an elevator,” she says. “While they may not draw attention, their contribution is indispensable. Like the gears and cables silently propelling the elevator upward, Susan ensures the smooth functioning of operations, supporting the grand spectacle without seeking recognition. Casas adds:
“Susan makes it look easy. The love she has for her family isn’t just her drive; it is DTM’s steadying force. Incredible things are possible when you are fortunate enough to work alongside someone as supportive as Susan.”
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