Promotions, retirements and additions abound in busy time for the industry.

Nastri Promoted to Unitec Manager

Unitec Elevator Parts Co. has promoted David Nastri to Business Development manager. Nastri will be responsible for enhancing both new and existing customer relationships, while identifying business opportunities through new product offerings. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the elevator industry. He has been with Unitec since March 2007 following his transfer from Otis, where he worked since 1997 as an Operations coordinator promoting the sales of elevator rotating equipment, motors and machines. After six years, he then began working for the Otis Modernization department as a Sales analyst responsible for managing and estimating elevator modernization projects.

In his most recent position, Nastri was an account manager responsible for the Western U.S., as well as managing various transit customers throughout the country. He has also facilitated the marketing of Unitec’s elevator products through customer visits, in addition to cultivating the introduction of multiple new modernization product offerings. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Post University and a master’s degree in Management from Saint Joseph College.  

Mortman Retires

Jackie Mortman retired on April 29 as vice president of HUB International Northeast, Ltd.’s JM Associates/Burnham + Co., based in Fort Lee, New Jersey, after an insurance career spanning more than 45 years. Specializing in insurance for the elevator industry, Mortman became a familiar face at many industry events as a presenter and participant. She was the recipient of the William C. Sturgeon Distinguished Service Award at the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) conference in Boston in 2015, and her agency received the NAEC Contractor’s Choice Award in 2010. Upon retirement, Mortman tells ELEVATOR WORLD she and her husband, Jean Pierre St. Louis, plan to spend more time at their Florida home and take a trip to Disney World in Orlando. 

NAEC’s Carter-Powell Retiring

Faye Carter-Powell, deputy director of the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) for the past 16 years, is retiring, effective August 16. She will continue as NAEC’s chief financial officer, primarily working remotely. Carter-Powell told EW she plans to spend a lot of time at the beach near her home in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Columbia Elevator Adds Further Positions

Columbia Elevator Products Co. Inc. has announced the filling of new positions as part of its ongoing expansion (in addition to other positions outlined in EW, February and May 2016). Miguel Muñoz, based in Bridgeport, Connecticut (where the company is headquartered), is assuming the position of plant manager, while Jacob “Jake” Brown, based at Columbia’s Winfield, Kansas, facility, is assuming the title of plant supervisor.

Muñoz began his career at Columbia in 2000 as a press break helper. Over the course of his tenure, he has held positions of increasing responsibility, including computer numerical control programmer, compliance administration, and quality control. He was one of a few employees involved in Columbia’s transition of its headquarters from New York to its current location. He has subsequently played a major role in site preparation and ramp-up, addressing both equipment layout and employment growth. His grassroots beginnings, understanding of production processes and evolution into a leadership position have contributed to his advancement.   

Brown launched his Columbia career in November 1998 as a welder. Over time, he worked in all departments, gaining the knowledge and understanding of plant operations that have led to his supervisor role. As his role evolved, his responsibilities grew to include shop loading; manager hiring; and the coordination of sales, engineering and purchasing functions to ensure customer requirements are met. Brown’s leadership qualities and expanded role in the company were major factors in his promotion.

Gallagher to Help Build NY Area Sales for Peelle

John Gallagher has joined the sales team for The Peelle Co., focusing on maintaining and building the freight elevator and passenger door businesses in the New York area. Gallagher comes from a four-year career as a sales executive for Fujitec America in Clifton, New Jersey, where he was recognized for his success securing maintenance, repair and modernization work. He studied Business Management at Bergen Community College and Finance and Economics at William Patterson University.

McGrath Joins McDonough Elevators

Patrick McGrath has joined McDonough Elevators as Eastern Regional Sales manager. McGrath will be based in McDonough’s Baltimore office and focus on construction-hoist rental sales in the eastern U.S., as well as the Atlanta area. He has more than six years of industrial-equipment sales experience, and McDonough observed that his “personality and experience are assets that will complement and enhance the company’s ability to meet the needs of our customers.”

Brugg Promotes Dreps to Quality Leadership Role

Brugg Wire Rope has promoted Patrick Dreps to vice president of Quality Management. In this role, he is responsible for implementing lean manufacturing at Brugg’s production plant in Rome, Georgia, and is the company’s Quality representative. He reports directly to President and General Manager Joseph Thompson. Dreps has worked in diverse industries and managed facilities’ technical operations, products, manufacturing and engineering. He holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of West Georgia.

Turner, Groenwoldt Promoted by Lerch Bates

Lerch Bates Inc. has promoted industry veterans Jim Turner and Derek Groenwoldt. Turner is now vice president of Modernization for the company’s Elevator Consulting Group. He joined Lerch Bates in 2014 as project manager for the Great Lakes Region, headquartered in Chicago (EW, July 2014). Described by Lerch Bates President Bart Stephan as a respected leader in the industry who has been instrumental in the company’s growth, Turner has more than 24 years of industry experience and will report directly to Stephan.

Groenwoldt has been promoted from project to regional manager in the Chicago office of the Elevator Consulting Group. Groenwoldt joined the company in 2012 and has more than 13 years of industry experience. Vice President of the Northeast Area Eric Rupe, to whom Groenwoldt will report, said Groenwoldt has played a prominent role in the modernization market in Chicago and has been instrumental in regional growth. In Groenwoldt’s new role, he is overseeing new construction, modernization and maintenance management.