The 2023 Ellies Awards Winners

ELEVATOR WORLD presents the winning companies of the sixth annual competition for excellence in the North American elevator industry. 

photos courtesy of NAEC

Everyone’s favorite “popularity contest,” the annual Ellies Awards, filled all the seats in an educational pavilion at the 74th Annual National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) Convention & Exposition at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada, mid-morning on September 13 as 40 hopeful teams waited to hear whether they were a runner up or winner in their respective categories. While contenders always launch spirited “vote for us” campaigns worthy of Tracy Flick in the 1999 movie Election, we should remember that, prior to voting, companies are nominated by members of the vertical-transportation community, company employees and their customers. Nomination forms reveal what makes these companies stand out: treating employees like family and consistently meeting or exceeding customer expectations are often mentioned. So, these companies are more than just pretty faces and skilled self-promoters. They are strong companies that have earned the respect of their peers and associates for their hard work and performance. The first year of the Ellies Awards — 2018 — winners were announced via a simple press release. The fanfare has steadily grown since then. Even during the recent pandemic years, when announcements were made via Zoom, the excitement was palpable. The NAEC convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2022 marked the first year EW President T. Bruce MacKinnon announced the winners live on the tradeshow floor, and this year followed that lively tradition. More than 40 companies were nominated in 20 different categories this year, and there were an astonishing 48,932 votes over the two-week voting period, indicating the enduring popularity of the competition. A hearty congratulations to all of this year’s winners and runners-up!

ATIS

Best Consultancy
Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri

Runner-Up: GUNN Consultants
Headquarters: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Richmond Elevator

Best Contractor, Canada
Headquarters: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Runner-Up: March Elevator Ltd.
Headquarters: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Champion Elevator

Best Contractor-East
Headquarters: NYC

Runner-Up: Dynasty Elevator
Headquarters: NYC

Midwest Elevator Co., Inc.

Best Contractor-North
Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri

Runner-Up: MEI-Total Elevator Solutions
Headquarters: Mankato, Minnesota

A&A Elevator

Best Contractor-South
Headquarters: Pompano Beach, Florida

Runner-Up: Southern Elevator
Headquarters: Greensboro, North Carolina

PEAK Elevator

Best Contractor-West
Headquarters: Arvada, Colorado

Runner-Up: Centric Elevator
Headquarters: Denver, Colorado

A&A Elevator

Best Family-Owned Business
Headquarters: Miami, Florida

Runner-Up: Wurtec
Headquarters: Toledo, Ohio

Kohtler Elevator Industries, Inc.

Best Minority/Woman/Veteran-Owned Business
Headquarters: Opa-locka, Florida

Runner-Up: Matot
Headquarters: Bellwood, Illinois

Savaria

Best Supplier-Accessibility
Headquarters: Laval, Quebec, Canada

Runner-Up: Garaventa Lift
Headquarters: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

FabACab

Best Supplier-Cabs/Interiors/Finishes
Headquarters: Anderson, Indiana

Runner-Up: Kohtler Elevator Industries, Inc.
Headquarters: Opa-locka, Florida

Ooma

Best Supplier-Communication Systems
Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California

Runner-Up: Kings III Emergency Communications
Headquarters: Coppell, Texas

MEI-Total Elevator Solutions

Best Supplier-Complete Elevator Systems
Headquarters: Mankato, Minnesota

Runner-Up: Otis
Headquarters: Farmington, Connecticut

Claddaugh Electronics Ltd.

Best Supplier-Controllers
Headquarters: Queens, NY

Runner-Up: Elevator Controls
Headquarters: Sacramento, California

GAL Manufacturing Co./Vantage Elevation

Best Supplier-Doors/Door Operators
Headquarters: Bronx, NY

Runner-Up: The Peelle Co.
Headquarters: Brampton, Ontario

Hollister-Whitney/Vantage Elevation

Best Supplier-Motors
Headquarters: Quincy, Illinois, and Bronx, NY

Runner-Up: Torin Drive North America
Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee

Unitec Parts Co.

Best Supplier-Other
Headquarters: Bloomfield, Connecticut

Runner-Up: CEDES
Headquarters (North America): Hickory, North Carolina

Usha Martin (Americas)

Best Supplier-Ropes/Traveling Cables
Headquarters: Houston, Texas

Runner-Up: Draka EHC
Headquarters: Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Draka EHC

Best Supplier-Safety Products
Headquarters, Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Runner-Up: Schmersal USA
Headquarters: Hawthorne, New York

MAD Elevator

Best Supplier-Software
Headquarters: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Runner-Up: CloudMonitoring
Headquarters: Long Island City, NY

PVE Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators

Best Supplier-Special Application Lifts
Headquarters: Miami, Florida

Runner-Up: Gillespie Corp.
Headquarters: Ware, Massachusetts