Organized, Streamlined, Efficient

The Elevator Learning Center sees growth.

As a New York State Authorized Related Instruction Provider for Apprenticeship and Continuing Education, the Elevator Learning Center (ELC) is working to spread the message that its technical training and safety education is for everyone in the elevator industry regardless of one’s career path or affiliation. 

And, as the ELC continues to grow its instructor base and class offerings, this statement is becoming even more true as time goes on. What you may think are just programs offering certification and continuing education (CE) to elevator technicians but not programs for someone in, say, sales (as your author did before speaking with Alissa Saez, ELC education administrator, at the Elevator Conference of New York Supplier Showcase) isn’t accurate anymore, as they now offer an Elevator Sales 101 class focused on elevator-related business solutions and sales safety. 

One of the more expected programs offered by the ELC is CE for those who hold licenses and/or certifications. The ELC operates on a year-round schedule for CE and safety training. Since December 2022, the ELC has added close to 20 more h of approved course content for licensing and certification, bringing the total to more than 100 h.

CE training has been mostly in the tri-state area, as the classes are held in person, but Saez says they have had people fly in from as far away as Florida to complete the training. The ELC has also delivered several regional classes with instructors traveling to Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The ELC will be providing much of this education remotely in the future using the latest delivery methods and educational software to ensure it meets certification and state guidelines. It will allow members and participants to achieve the necessary CE credits without having to travel to New York or other regional areas. 

The ELC also offers candidate training, which uses the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) CET™ (Certified Elevator Technician) certification education program. The ELC delivers this training via semesters: January to June and July to December. There is a yearly subscription for this approximately four-year learning program. This program is available in a live classroom setting and/or via an online portal that allows video conferencing for students to enter the live classroom setting. 

Since July 2022, the number of classroom attendees has doubled, and the center has added four additional instructors – a 50% growth. These instructors bring a lot of industry experience to the course. “The ELC instructor team are dedicated professionals committed to teaching and supporting their students throughout the program,” Saez said. 

The ELC will be providing much of this education remotely in the future using the latest delivery methods and educational software to ensure it meets certification and state guidelines. 

The ELC also provides private training whether the topic is one of the currently offered CE courses or a special request for a tailored session. 

The ELC is located in Queens, NY. This 3,500-ft² facility opened its doors to everyone in the industry in January 2022. The location is home to a classroom, as well as a space with donated equipment and demonstration aids for hands-on training. 

Additionally, ELC staff is finalizing dates for new and existing manufacturers with component updates and new technology to come in and host anywhere from 4- to 8-h training sessions on their equipment. “This kind of training is very relevant in that it comes directly from the people who developed the systems and who are experts in their field,” Saez said. 

Besides the permanent location in Queens, ELC has a Mobile Safety Unit, which uses a fully outfitted and stocked vehicle to take training to those who can’t come to the center. Services include the certificated Safe 9 program, which is one of the center’s biggest programs. It includes 4 h of training on best practices working in and around an elevator. 

The “Keep Safe” program allows delivery of on-site safety audits for companies that may struggle to get timely audits performed on a regular basis. Training can also include job hazard analysis for project supervisors and mechanics to become aware of the specific hazards on their site.

Most of the CE classes are taught by Carl Alongis, the center’s director of education. Additionally, Salvatore Verderame, an employee of Pride and Service, recently joined the ELC to help provide more safety training. He is an approved instructor for the Safe 9 Elevator Safety Training and a CET instructor.

Looking forward to the rest of 2023, Alongis said: 

“I am very excited about the new suppliers scheduled for the remainder of 2023. We have quite a lineup. We are also organizing an open house in the fall and look forward to formally announcing this special event to the industry.”

Saez is excited to see the growth the ELC has shown in a short amount of time, and she’s confident of the benefits the ELC provides for all involved. “There’s a sense of relief our customers have knowing there’s something out there — training, a school, something one-of-a-kind — that can provide services that they desperately need,” she said. “It’s an organized, streamlined, efficient way to get necessary training and meet today’s business demands for a qualified and professional workforce.”