The Elevator Careers Podcast

Matt Allred
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The Elevator Careers Podcast is dedicated to the people who spend their lives and careers working in the vertical transportation industry. It is produced for the benefit of both elevator companies who are looking to hire great talent and for those who want to continue to grow professionally within the industry. This is an opportunity to create a dialogue with all of these stakeholders, learning from them and hearing the gems they have gleaned in their professions. The "Elevator Careers" podcast” is an opportunity to pay it forward" by sharing knowledge learned in the business and in the trade and helping others who are on similar journeys.

  1. 1 day ago

    Elevators, Codes, and Consequences: Lessons from 55 Years in the Industry | Lee Rigby

    Today's guest is Lee Rigby, an elevator code expert who has spent more than 55 years in the elevator industry as a mechanic, contractor, inspector, instructor, consultant, and now expert witness. In this episode, Lee shares insights from decades of interpreting and teaching elevator codes and explains some of the industry's most common misconceptions about modernization and code compliance. We also discussed what years of expert witness work have taught him about the role safety practices and documentation play when accidents lead to litigation. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction02:17 - Working on aircraft carrier elevators04:04 - The complexity of elevator codes and evolving standards08:28 - A practical definition of modernization10:02 - The importance of proper documentation11:45 - A code puzzle: the Citrus Tower13:50 - Handling old equipment with missing records16:50 - Code interpretations19:13 - Solving code puzzles and continuous learning22:12 - Code puzzle: Fire service upgrade23:38 - Human nature with accidents and litigation25:17 - Mechanics’ mistakes during deposition26:33 - Critical safety checks for door forces30:37 - The significance of documenting and safety measures32:38 - Most memorable expert witness cases37:01 - The risks of skipping safety procedures40:45 - Shortcuts during inspections and maintenance42:36 - What separates excellent documentation44:44 - Case study: documentation gaps46:34 - What the industry still needs to learn about code and safety48:07 - The roles Lee has peformed: lessons from a well-rounded career51:06 - Lee’s ongoing passion for the industryResources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

  2. 10 Aug

    Elevator Traveling Cables: Innovation, Codes, and Reaching New Heights | Dillard Green

    Today's guest is Dillard Green, a manufacturing and engineering expert with over four decades of experience supporting the elevator industry. Throughout his career, Dillard has worked at the intersection of manufacturing, engineering, code compliance, and innovation, helping develop solutions for everyday buildings and iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa and Disney's Tower of Terror. In this episode, we explore the role of elevator traveling cables and the lessons he's learned throughout his career. Chapters: 00:00 Intro01:31 Dillard’s Career Journey03:59 The Importance of Elevator Traveling Cables07:13 Navigating Industry Standards and Regulations09:27 Innovation vs. Code Regulation in Elevator Technology20:46 Audio Visual Code Change21:58 Unique Projects: Burj Khalifa and Disney's Tower of Terror28:46 Advice for New Professionals in the Industry29:45 OutroResources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

  3. 4 Aug

    From Mechanic to Business Owner: Residential Elevator Franchising

    This episode is a live discussion about residential elevators and franchise ownership with Casey Dyon and Alex Martin, owners with Nationwide Lifts. Residential elevators are becoming an increasingly practical accessibility solution, and franchising provides experienced elevator professionals a supported path from technician to business owner. Alex and Casey share their journeys from elevator mechanics to business owners while discussing customer misconceptions, hiring challenges, accessibility solutions, and the value of building a business franchise with the support of an established network. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction  02:13 Journey from Technicians to Business Owners 10:02 The Importance of Residential Elevators 21:08 Educating Homeowners on Elevator Installation 28:05 Homeowner Insights Before Installation 30:53 Modernization and Lifespan of Residential Elevators 34:24 Challenges in Finding Talent for the Elevator Industry 44:34 The Ideal Franchise Owner Profile 50:25 Franchise Ownership vs. Independent Business Ownership Resources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

  4. 27 Jul

    Preparing Your Elevator Business for a Successful Exit | Jessica Hellman

    Today's guest is Jessica Hellman, a business advisor specializing in mergers and acquisitions with Lift Business Advisors, Inc. With a background in applied mathematics and data analysis, Jessica has helped business owners understand what drives value, growth, and successful transitions. In this episode, we discuss private equity, business valuation, trust, and the steps owners can take today to build a stronger company. Chapters: 00:00 Intro01:17 Jessica’s Background02:32 Transitioning into the Elevator Industry06:00 Elevator Business Dynamics08:04 Implementing Change in the Business11:46 People and Relationships: Make or Break the Business14:54 Private Equity and Market Trends20:29 Valuation and Business Saleability22:51 Challenges in Mergers and Acquisitions28:02 Getting into M&A29:39 Advice for Elevator Business Owners32:08 OutroResources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

  5. 20 Jul

    Elevator Expertise & AI: Preserving the Past While Building the Future | Carlos Escobar

    Today’s guest is Carlos Escobar, Traction Elevator Aficionado with Hyperion Solutions. Carlos grew up in a machine shop surrounded by craftsmen who could turn raw metal into solutions and that mindset still drives everything he does today. Carlos has spent his career tackling the toughest elevator modernization challenges and preserving century-old machines. More recently, he has been thinking deeply about where AI, training, and the future of the trades are headed next. Chapters: 00:00 From Machine Shop to Mastery04:58 The Allure of Legacy Equipment07:32 Lessons from the Old Machines09:56 Complex Challenges in Modernization12:45 The Importance of Technical Expertise15:42 AI: The Future of Training18:24 Training the Next Generation20:50 Mentorship and Industry ConnectionsResources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

  6. 13 Jul

    The Voice of the Elevator: Smart Maintenance & Connected Buildings | Robert Schram

    In this episode, I sat down with Robert Schram from Cedes to talk about how technology is reshaping the elevator industry. Robert’s path into elevators started in construction, laying flooring to fund surfing trips, before eventually working his way from field repair into some of the most advanced conversations happening around IoT, predictive maintenance, and smart buildings. We discussed the evolution of elevator safety, what it means to “unleash the voice of the elevator,” and how new technology could transform the way elevators are maintained. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:40 Journey into the Elevator Industry 05:52 Innovations in Elevator Safety Technology 07:49 The Future of Elevator Maintenance 10:14 Data-Driven Decision Making in Elevators 13:35 The Role of IoT in Elevators 15:45 Challenges in Adopting New Technologies 19:22 The Importance of Transparency in Elevator Services 27:41 Smart Behavior and Future Innovations 31:36 Elevators in the Connected Building of the Future 34:38 Advice for the Next Generation in the Industry 35:55 Outro Resources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

  7. 7 Jul

    Building the Next Generation of Elevator Professionals (ABC Apprentice Program): LIVE BROADCAST

    In this live episode, I met with Nick Tucker and Brian Thibault. Nick has been in the elevator industry for over 10 years and is a licensed elevator mechanic with experience in service, repair, modernization, and commercial operations. He currently serves as the Commercial Operations Manager at South Jersey Elevator. In addition to his operational role, Nick is a CET instructor. Brian is the Vice President of Education and Training at Associated Builders and Contractors New Jersey. Since entering the construction industry in 2002, he has advanced through nearly every level of the profession. Now, as a licensed electrician, secretary, and instructor for the New Jersey Electrical Group, Brian is dedicated to developing the future of the skilled trades. In this conversation, we dove into one of America's only non-union elevator apprenticeship programs, and how it can give young people more access to the elevator trade. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction00:03 The Workforce Crisis in Construction02:00 Misconceptions About Skilled Trades04:48 The Importance of Apprenticeship Programs07:59 Corporate Investment in Workforce Development10:41 Nick's Career Journey in Elevators14:00 Brian's Career Path and ABC's Mission16:51 The Role of ABC in Workforce Development19:40 Finding Opportunities in Skilled Trades22:41 Elevator Apprenticeship Program Development25:52 Training Structure and Safety Protocols29:52 Skills for Modern Apprentices33:50 Opportunities After Completing Apprenticeship36:59 Starting an Elevator Apprenticeship Program39:53 Innovation in the Elevator Industry40:46 Recruiting for Apprenticeship Programs42:46 Apprenticeship Enrollment Process45:54 Middle School Construction Camps46:51 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights51:46 Future of Workforce Development and ApprenticeshipsResources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

  8. 29 Jun

    Reflecting on 46 Years in the Elevator Industry | Michael Ryan

    Today's guest is Michael Ryan, vice president of business development with the Peelle company. Mike is a long-time elevator industry leader whose career spans more than 46 years. From being hired over the phone into the wrong role to becoming one of the industry's most recognized experts in freight elevator doors, Mike has seen decades of change across the elevator world. As he prepares for retirement, Mike joined me to reflect on the lessons, relationships, and experiences that have helped define his remarkable career. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Mike Ryan's Journey04:56 The Evolution of the Elevator Industry07:36 Understanding the Collaborative Nature of Elevators09:31 Challenges and Misconceptions in the Elevator Industry12:13 Lessons Learned and Advice for the Next Generation15:03 The Importance of Community and Relationships17:56 Looking Back: Reflections on a Career20:06 Preparing for the Future of the Elevator IndustryResources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroup A Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

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The Elevator Careers Podcast is dedicated to the people who spend their lives and careers working in the vertical transportation industry. It is produced for the benefit of both elevator companies who are looking to hire great talent and for those who want to continue to grow professionally within the industry. This is an opportunity to create a dialogue with all of these stakeholders, learning from them and hearing the gems they have gleaned in their professions. The "Elevator Careers" podcast” is an opportunity to pay it forward" by sharing knowledge learned in the business and in the trade and helping others who are on similar journeys.

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