A New Start

Immigrant who arrived from Ireland in 1984 with US$200 grows Bronx-based Start Elevator into major employer.

When the Bronx Chamber of Commerce honored Start Elevator founder and President Jack O’Shea during its celebration of Irish heritage in March, O’Shea, in his thick Irish brogue, said his company “looks forward to continuing to support the chamber and their member community for many years to come.” The company — providing new-construction services, modernization, maintenance, repair, inspection and violation resolution for elevators throughout New York and New Jersey — has grown from a staff of two, O’Shea and his wife, Laura O’Shea, to an employer of more than 130 in just over three decades. Located in a 9,000-ft2 low-rise building along an industrial thoroughfare in the Bronx’s Wakefield neighborhood, the company continues to expand and is actively hiring qualified elevator mechanics, licensed NYC elevator inspectors and office staff. To find and recruit new employees, the company utilizes a combination of local advertising, employee referrals and a contractual relationship with an employment agency to source candidates as needed.

Start Elevator was named for the “fresh start” O’Shea made when he emigrated to the U.S. from Ireland in 1984 with only US$200 in his pocket. He began his elevator industry career as a mechanic’s helper, gaining expertise before he and Laura O’Shea launched the company eight years later in 1992. Laura O’Shea’s role in the business has evolved from treasurer in the early days to now serving as a consultant on special projects. Over the years, the company has grown into an industry leader with a commitment to customer service and safety, O’Shea says. He credits Laura O’Shea for “being the first one to sacrifice everything to support the company, build a better future for our family and pursue the American Dream.”

The company first began to expand around 1999, serving clients throughout NYC’s five boroughs, as well as in Westchester County, Rockland County, Long Island and New Jersey. It initially focused on elevators in low-rise buildings, but later expanded to servicing elevators at residential and commercial buildings of all heights, “without limitations.” The tallest property in which Start has worked so far is 50 plus stories. “Start tailors packages to fit clients’ budgets and timelines, delivering customized solutions that leverage decades of localized experience,” O’Shea says.

Start has more than 3,000 elevators under service and maintenance contracts.

O’Shea says safety and education, including continuing education (CE), are priorities for Start Elevator. He observes that safety and communication are the pillars of the family business, and that consistency is the key to success. “The company believes in maintaining strong communication with all our customers, keeping promises, delivering results above customer expectations and exceeding industry standards,” he says.

Weathering the Pandemic

Like most small businesses, Start felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. By late March 2020, NYC became the worst-affected area in the nation with more than 30,000 cases confirmed and more than 2,000 deaths.[1] O’Shea says Start’s top priority during those tough times was to keep all its employees working and avoid furloughs or layoffs. That was accomplished, he says, observing:

“Some modernization and residential construction jobs were temporarily shut down, but Start Elevator accommodated affected employees by shifting them to different schedules to ensure everyone continued receiving 40 hours of work and full benefits each week. To support employees further, we paid out vacation time in advance to provide extra money for families where spouses may have been laid off from other jobs.”

The company also adhered strictly to NYC safety rules and guidelines to help ensure a safe working environment for employees in both the field and office, O’Shea says, adding that another challenge was the general economic uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. Today, “Start Elevator has fully recovered from the pandemic, with no lasting effects,” he says.

Realizing the American Dream

The most rewarding aspects of running a family business include providing opportunities, making friendships and setting an example for the O’Sheas’ three children that the American Dream is achievable and that “hard work pays off in the end.” The O’Sheas’ kids are now ages 27, 30 and 32 and all work in finance in the NYC area.

Start Elevator has some employees who have been with the company for 25 years or more, and that, O’Shea says, indicates he and Laura O’Shea are providing an excellent work environment. “I’ve hired and trained young people, and then I get to see them progress, see them get married and, in some cases, see their children come in here and work,” O’Shea says. “It’s also very rewarding that the customers we have dealt with for many years are still collaborating with us.”

Challenges and the Future

Running a family business is not without its challenges, O’Shea says, stating:

“Immense time and personal sacrifices are required. I missed out on attending my children’s football games and other important events in their lives because I had to devote that time to the company. Running your own business means taking on the obligation to provide the best possible services and solutions to your clients. It is important to us to always fulfill those obligations to the highest possible standards. No one understands this like my wife, Laura, who has shared the hard work with me for 31 years.”

Over the next five-10 years, Jack and Laura O’Shea see Start Elevator continuing on its path of growth and development, with a primary focus on organic growth across the tri-state area. However, O’Shea says, “we are always open to the possibility of acquiring different companies if the right opportunities arise that align with our growth strategy and vision.”

Reference

[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_York_City