ECNY

Growing organization promotes education and outreach in NYC.

History

The Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY) was established in 1993 by Nick Kassetas. Entering the New York City (NYC) marketplace as manager of Adams Elevator Equipment Co.’s NYC branch, he wondered why such a large market was devoid of its own regional elevator-industry organization. In 1991, Kassetas spoke with Jip Chun, an elevator engineer, about forming such an association. Chun referred him to James Moran of Universal Elevator and Jim McDermott of Millar Industries. An exploratory meeting was set up in 1992. In addition to these four men, it was attended by Joe Altamuro and William “Bill” McLean of NYC Transit, Tom Olenick of VDA (Van Deusen & Associates), Larry Clarke of P S Marcato Elevator Co., Nick Montesano of DTM Elevator Consulting Inc., Herb Liebowitz of GAL Manufacturing Co., Charles Buckman of National Inspection Services, and Richard Dalvano of Barist Elevator Co. Attendees voted to continue the process of organizing an NYC elevator association.

ECNY’s name was accepted in 1993. Original officers and directors were also affirmed: Kassetas (president), Moran (vice president), Buckman (secretary), McDermott (treasurer), Dalvano, McLean, Patricia Daub of Middle Department Inspection Agency, Dennis Sullivan of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and Mike Spataro of Titan Machine Corp. The busy year included drafting of the organization’s bylaws. They were quickly accepted, and ECNY was officially registered and incorporated with the State of New York.

Growth and Activities

ECNY has grown from humble origins of 20 individual members to its current membership base of 190 corporate, 54 individual and four association/honorary members, including contractors, suppliers and consultants. The conference attributes its growth to its continuing-education programs, outreach to the NYC Department of Buildings and industry events that have gained national recognition. These affairs include an annual dinner dance, holiday party and, since 2011, the ECNY Supplier Showcase. The latter event (described by one participant as “the best value going”) has grown to feature more than 70 exhibitors and 650 attendees, a number that grows substantially each year.

ECNY has endowed an annual scholarship program for its membership since 2003. Third-party educators review scholarship applications from members’ children and select the winners. The organization awards US$2,500 or US$5,000 to each winner, based on academic achievement and the number of applications received. In 2014, it gave out US$40,000 for this purpose. ECNY also continues to support the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation with contributions and its annual participation in National Elevator Escalator Safety Week to educate the local riding public.

The conference holds approximately six educational seminars each year. It is gearing up for the next Supplier Showcase on April 8 and dinner dance on May 15. For more details and other upcoming events, visit www.elevatorworld.com/directory/event and ecnyweb.com.

Board of Directors

Kenneth V. “Ken” Breglio, president, currently serves as President of BP Elevator Co. Breglio began his career in the elevator industry in 1969 with Knudson Elevator. He joined the ECNY board in 1999 and was elected treasurer in 2000 and vice president in 2006. Breglio was the 2003 recipient of the Francis B. Riley Award for outstanding service to ECNY.

Bobby “Dee” DeFrancesco, vice president, started his career in electrical supply in June 1982 when he opened Central Elevator & Electrical Supply Co., Inc., selling exclusively to the elevator industry. He has been an ECNY board member and chair of its Dinner Dance Committee since 1997, when he sold Central to Benfield Electric Supply Co., Inc. He remains the company’s president and continues to sell elevator products, supplies and cable to the Northeast. DeFrancesco was a board member of the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) from 1993 to 1997 and NAEC Convention exhibit chairman for 10 years (including World Expo chairman for two years). In 2001, he was awarded NAEC’s prestigious President’s Award; in 2003, he was named “Man of the Year” at the Pop Frohlinger/Joe Marchese Golf Outing; in 2005, he was awarded the William C. Sturgeon Distinguished Service Award; and he was presented the ECNY Francis B. Reilly Award in 2007.

Andrea Magaziner, treasurer, is employed by GAL Manufacturing Corp. in the Bronx. She began her career at Elevator Products Corp. and held a variety of positions in accounting, human resources and sales, serving as vice president of Sales and Marketing until she joined O. Thompson Co. in 2002. Magaziner was elected to the NAEC Board of Directors in 1999 and served as that organization’s treasurer in 2000 and 2001. She has served on ECNY’s board since 2003 and has been treasurer since 2006. She is chair of its Finance Committee and a member of its Website Committee.

Douglas “Doug” Gilman, secretary, is president of Elite Elevator Cab Remodeling, Inc., which was established in 1979. Gilman began in the elevator industry at Parkline in 1977. He is a co-chair of the committee that organizes the annual Pop Frohlinger/Joe Marchese Golf Outing, which benefits the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation. Gilman received the ECNY Safety Award in 2006 for his work on this committee. He was elected to the ECNY Board in 2005 and currently chairs the Planning Committee.

Brad Hunt is employed by The Peelle Co., which he joined in 1980 as a sales engineer. Hunt worked for Dover Elevator Co. in West Babylon, New York, from 1995 until 1999, when he returned to Peelle as its National Modernization Sales Manager, a position he still holds. Hunt was elected to ECNY’s board in December 2009 and currently serves on its Website Committee. 

Jack Morgan serves as the president of Morgan Elevator Company Ltd., established in 1973 by himself and his late father, John. The company is a member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local No. 3. Morgan is a licensed elevator inspector and director. He was elected to the ECNY board in 2005 and has been a member of NAEC since 1989, and is a member of the Joint Employment Office Board of Directors and the Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee. He is involved with his town’s Boys Club of America. 

James “Jim” Duffy is president of Richmond Elevator, established in 1990. Duffy began his career in the elevator industry in 1971 with Mainco Elevator. He joined the ECNY board in 2000 as secretary to fulfill a vacancy, then sat as secretary until 2003. Duffy has been involved with the following ECNY committees: Technical Presentations (2001-2003), NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Elevator Advisory Committee (2001-2003), NYC DOB Elevator Code Committee (2003-present), NYC DOB Committee (2004-present) and Website Committee (2004-present). He is an electrical engineer and licensed NYC private elevator inspector director and QEI. Duffy is a member of the ASME A17 Sidewalk and Hand Elevator Committee and a member of the NYC Code Revision, Elevators & Conveyors Technical Committee. He is also a part-time member of the faculty of the College of Staten Island Engineering Science Program.

Robert “Rob” Cuzzi joined VDA (Van Deusen & Associates) in 1998 as manager of Operations after serving as Operations manager of P S Marcato Elevator Co. since 1992. He is a mechanical engineer and licensed QEI with experience in construction and transportation. After joining the ECNY board in 2003, he was elected secretary in 2004, and is involved in code and technical seminars. He was awarded the ECNY Francis B. Reilly Award in 2010.

Brayan Casas is the Operations manager for DTM Elevator Consulting Inc. He joined DTM in 2001 as an assistant and has since worked for the firm in several elevator-consulting capacities and as its lead traffic-analysis expert. Casas graduated from Iona College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He is an alternate to the ASME Sidewalk Elevator Code Committee and is Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Green Associate accredited. Casas was elected to ECNY’s board in December 2013.