Talking Up the Trade

On my most recent trip to NYC, I heard several times that while the industry is short on technicians, it is now going to get a lot worse. According to Associated Builders and Contractors, about one-fifth of construction workers are older than 55 and are often the most skilled workers or supervisors on a jobsite. As older, higher-skilled workers retire or leave for other jobs, many contractors haven’t been able to quickly replace them with younger workers with the same skill levels. A recent industry survey ELEVATOR WORLD conducted confirms this as the No. 1 issue.

Today’s job hunters want a career. They want a company that will help them upskill and will give them training opportunities. They could go to college and end up with a lot of debt and a job market whose focus has shifted. The elevator industry is now very high tech — to a greater degree than almost any other construction trade. It is a professional career with high pay. We have excelled at developing training programs for all levels of ability and growth. Our associations need to join forces to “elevate” the industry in the eyes of the next generation. We need grassroots efforts to recruit and train the vertical-transportation (VT) industry of the future. Young people should know what a great industry this is in which to work. Our issue this month focuses on Education and Training Programs, but it is also the People Issue. What a great combination. Most of the folks highlighted in this issue have been in the industry for 20 or more years. They are the ones who will be training the next generation of technicians, inspectors and adjustors. We have five articles on education and training:

• NAESA International by Jack Day. The association’s education director highlights the day-to-day education efforts of the 50-year-old safety and codes organization.

• Safety by Example by Kathleen Farrell. TEI Group in Long Island City, NY, weighs in on safety training. Ray Downs, senior vice president of Environmental Health & Safety, says the overarching theme is “your family depends on you.”

• From Good to Great by Kaija Wilkinson. The National Association of Elevator Contractor’s new Qualified Elevator Inspector program joins two others in the industry and provides its members a one-stop shop for education programs at every level.

• Elevating Education by Alan Bennink. With 100 students enrolled, Canada’s Mohawk College is one of two trade schools in Ontario teaching future technicians to meet VT industry needs.

• Organized, Streamlined, Efficient by Lindsay Fletcher. The Elevator Learning Center in Queens, NY, has shown tremendous growth in just one-and-a-half years, doubling attendees and adding four more teachers.

The leading feature is the People Issue spread. These are people nominated from the industry and then winnowed down to 14, after which our writers must call up the nominators and get the full information to publish. I’m excited every year to see who is selected. This month, we also have four other features:

• Viva VT! by Julie Brandt. Otis provides VT for the first ground-up resort built on the Las Vegas Strip in a decade. Built on the old Stardust property, the resort includes the high stage lift on our cover.

• In the Round by Farid Waleh. A custom elevator company overcomes design challenges for a showpiece round, glass elevator in a Southern California residence.

• Accessibility for a “Cultural Crown Jewel” submitted by Syska Hennessey Group. The Mitsubishi Electric US team provided quiet, efficient elevators for a fascinating new building on the campus of Los Angeles’ Wilshire Boulevard Jewish temple.

• We are pleased to present Asansör Istanbul Attendance Exceeds Expectations by Bülent Yılmaz. Despite the recent devastating earthquakes, the fair had more than 300 booths and welcomed almost 25,000 visitors. Panel discussions included vocational training and seismic conditions.

Once again, it is a packed issue. We hope you enjoy it. If so — or not — let me know at ricia@elevatorworld.com.