It’s a role I don’t take lightly, and I’m both honored and humbled to accept it. Looking back on the journey that led me here, it’s hard not to acknowledge the role NAEC and its members played in my career. The ability to network and build relationships with the best companies and vendors in our industry provided me with the ability to grow, learn, and successfully chase my dream of opening my own elevator company, South Jersey Elevator, LLC (SJE). Along with the love and support of my family, I wouldn’t be in this position without NAEC.
Starting out young and learning trades first-hand like so many of us, I often accompanied my father, a general contractor, to work where I learned the ins and outs of his business. When it came time to start my own career, I considered finish carpentry. I told my father my plans, and he said, “No, anyone can put two pieces of wood together, become a specialty tradesman… that’s where the money is!” As the saying goes, father knows best. I took his advice and became a licensed electrician and certified welder. These skills opened doors for me at Otis Elevator where I found my passion for the vertical transportation industry. Over my 32 years in VT, I’ve obtained my NJ electrical license and my elevator license in NJ, Delaware, and Florida as well as NEIEP,CETS and QEI certifications. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the as the Chair of the Associated Builders and Contractors NJ Chapter and I even shared my story at the ABC National Conference. Most significantly, in 2013, with the encouragement of my wife, Debbie, I opened South Jersey Elevator, LLC (SJE). Debbie told me, “it’s time to follow your dream, and make a difference”, and I did just that.
With SJE thriving and in my new role as your NAEC president, I can confidently say the best is yet to come. What inspires me today is building the next generation of industry leaders and tradespeople. It’s of paramount importance to me that we ensure education is available for the next generation. It’s a vital component in continuing to move our industry forward. I look forward to working with the NAEC staff, committees, board and of course, my Vice President, Amy DiPaolo, to ensure the future of the elevator industry is bright.
I know that together, we’ll rise to the next level!
Bill McGrath, NAEC President 2025
NAEC Mainline
A quarterly newsletter of the National Association of Elevator Contractors.
President: Bill McGrath
Executive Director: Rená Cozart
Be in Mainline. Know of an event or have an article idea?
Submit your photos and submissions to Rená Cozart at rena@naec.org.
NAEC is committed to providing you with the highest level of customer service. We value your time and respect your online privacy. Please take notice that we will communicate important information via e-mail regarding meetings, conventions and services that might be of interest to you and your company.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER 12-13, 2024
International Elevator & Escalator Symposium (IEES)
Atlantic Paradise Island, Bahamas
DECEMBER 4-6, 2024
Left Expo Italia | Milan, Italy
MARCH 12-13, 2025
New York Build Expo | Javits Center, NY
MARCH 16-19, 2025
NAEC Education Conference
Westin Hilton Head Island Resort
APRIL 9, 2025
ECNY Villa Baronne | Bronx, NY
JUNE 9-12, 2025
CECA – 2025 Niagara Falls Convention Niagara Falls, Canada
JUNE 11-12, 2025
Liftex | London, England
SEPTEMBER 15-18, 2025
NAEC Convention & Expo | Houston, TX
SEPTEMBER 25-16, 2025
NAESA Wisconsin Elevator
Symposium | Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
OCTOBER 15-17, 2025
Interlift | Nuremberg, Germany
Order a Limited Edition Print Copy of NAEC 75
This book celebrates the National Association of Elevator Contractors’ (NAEC) 75th anniversary with a look back at its enduring history in the elevator industry. Industry writers, including ELEVATOR WORLD History Correspondent Dr. Lee Gray, trace the association’s story from its inception to today, highlighting its founders, meetings, fall conventions, spring conferences, education programs and the history of the famous dregs parties.
You don’t want to miss out on this historic 75th anniversary book full of photos of the movers and shakers, friends and family who created and nurtured this great association through the years. Coffee table style book estimated size: 9 x 9 perfect bound in full color. Go to elevatorworldbooks.com or click the link to order.
NAEC 2025 Educational Conference will be held in Hilton Head, South Carolina March 16th – 19th, 2025 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Join us as for dynamic education sessions, numerous networking opportunities, and some of the best golfing anywhere! Sign up for the Official Golf Tournament as well as the No Frills Tournament.
Registration for the Educational Conference will open the first week of December, 2024. For more information including the itinerary, sponsorship opportunities, hotel information, and the education schedule, please visit the Conference Website at www.naec.org/conference.
A Special Thank You to Our United Partners
Thank you to the 2024 United Partners – CECA, EU and IAEC. Together, we offered a comprehensive education and sales experience for our industry members. United Convention & Expo is the joining of all four conventions of the industry partners and happens once every four years as a service to the industry.
BOARD OFFICERS 2024-25
NAEC President Bill McGrath South Jersey Elevator
NAEC Vice President Amy DiPaolo American Elevator Group
NAEC Secretary Travis Carlisle Murphy Elevator Company
BOARD
NAEC Treasurer Anita Seymour Expert Service Solutions, Inc.
MEMBERS 2024-25 , Wurtec
Matt Hollinshead, Kencor Elevator
Teru Irvin, Executive Elevator
Phil Isaac, Gable Elevator
Dennis Lotter, Jersey Elevator
Jack O’Shea, Start Elevator Company
Evan Petrower, Day Elevator & Lift
Matt Yelland, The Peelle Company Ltd.
Veronica Querales, Kohtler Elevator Ind.
Welcome New Members
Alliance Ever Inc Industry, California allianceeverinc.com
In September, David Smarte, NAEC Global Safety & Education Officer, led a QEI Code Update workshop in New York. This course reviews the code book layout and prepares you for the exam.
New York just passed acceptance on NAEC’s QEI program in the state along with being approved as a Continuing Education provider for renewal of both inspector and mechanic license renewal. A class has already been completed, with more scheduled in the coming months. The eight-hour courses are interactive and intended to teach the newer code material in comparison with the prior code version, technical, and safety. The material targets mechanics and technicians, inspectors and consultants (NEIEP, CET,CAT,QEI). This class covers code changes from the ASME A17,1-2022 B44;22 to the ASME A17.1-2019/CSA B44;19, comparing what will now be required for inspections.
ICab and Doors Inc. Valleys Stream, New York icabsanddoors.com
Morris County Elevator Flanders, New Jersey morriscountyelevator.com
Northwest Elevator Delta, British Columbia northwestelevator.com
O.S Elevator Inc. Yonkers, New York oselevators.com
Southern Elevator Consulting, LLC Roswell, Georgia SouthernElevatorConsulting.com
Summit Elevator LLC Senoia, Georgia summit-elevator.com
Turf Advisory New York, New York turfadvisory.com
Venturi Supply Phoenix, Arizona venturisupply.com
Western Elevator LLC Missoula, Montana westernelevatormontana.com
QUICK POINTS ON CET/CAT RENEWALS
• The Open CET/CAT Renewal email was sent to all active mechanics on September 10th.
• Expiration Date: Dec. 31, 2024
• Required CEU credits: Each CET and CAT must complete at least 10 continuing education credits. Of these, at least one must be a safety credit.
• Only NAEC – approved CET/CAT Continuing Education is eligible for renewal credit (Continuing Education - National Association of Elevator Contractors (naec.org)
Hytec’s High Rise in the Vertical Transportation Industry
Hytec welcomes partnership with NAEC to meet industry needs
Florida based company, Hytec, is making waves in the vertical transportation industry. After 40 successful years in circuit board repairs, the company has made the leap into the VT industry. From the beginning, Hytec leaders were confident in their ability to offer the market a differentiated repair experience, but they knew they’d need the right partners to make an impact. A close working relationship with NAEC has allowed Hytec to gain invaluable insight into the industry, make connections, and gain a deep understanding of customer needs. In just under three years, Hytec has been able to offer impactful solutions to the industry, in no small part due to their active engagement with NAEC and its members. Bruce Nelson, Hytec’s VP of Strategic Initiatives, emphasizes their long term commitment to the VT industry, “We are not here to make a quick dollar but are seeking to be a long-term partner in this industry.” That means engaging with NAEC members, attending conferences, and participating in the membership committee. Building these relationships has been crucial in
Hytec’s quick rise within the VT industry. Hytec has not only been able to address current pain points for manufacturers, independents, and technicians, but to identify future areas of support for industry professionals.
Hytec offers a wide variety of solutions for the VT industry even as they look into expanding their offerings. They boast a quick turnaround time for repairs (three to five business days), a deep commitment to quality control, and offer the unique concept of “board banks”. Hytec provides repair and return of printed circuit boards (PCB), an inventory management and exchange program with PCBs, as well as the repair of electromechanical assemblies, sub-assemblies, and power supplies. They’re also a leader in power protection with an extensive selection of power protection conditioning and UPS backup solutions available. Hytec’s sizable Orlando warehouse is dedicated to service and support with hundreds of test beds and simulations for each OEM they support. Brian Mullaney, Hytec’s Elevator Sales Director, underscores their commitment to quality service: “We are insuring we grow at the right pace to stick to our core guarantees. We might not be able to fix everything at this time - eventually we will - but we are going to make sure that we have the simulator to be able
to support those products with guaranteed processes and simulators. Our goal is to serve the elevator industry with no less than 1% out of the box repair failures.” Finally, their inventory management and advanced exchange program offers customers a bench of pre-repaired boards whose warranties begin when the board is shipped. Customers have access to their online bank and can manage how many boards they have available. Mullaney once again emphasizes the impact this has on elevator companies: “We really do see our catalog of available parts and offerings for the repair of circuit boards and drives increasing for the VT industry. We view this market as being the next big thing for Hytec. It’s just a really nice feeling to be apart of this industry and being able to provide such transformational solutions to the elevator industry.”
As Hytec continues to expand within the VT industry, Nelson reiterates their commitment to NAEC and its broad membership base: “ The things that we do on a daily basis are so innate to us and so ingrained in who we are, but we have found many of these same traits are new to the elevator industry in a lot of ways. We have taken the processes that have made us a leader in PCB repair for more than 40 years and brought them into the VT space… We built that reputation slowly but surely over many, many years, and the commitment to integrity, processes, quality and partners should help us become a leader in this space as well.” Hytec looks forward to serving the VT industry and its continued partnership with NAEC for many years to come.
NAEC Hosts the First Ever Give-Back Event during 75th Anniversary Convention
[Atlantic City, NJ Sept. 23, 2024] – The National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) is proud to announce the successful completion of its inaugural United In Deed convention-wide volunteer event, sponsored by MEI Total Elevator Solutions. Participants collaborated with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), an organization that provides nutrient-rich meals to children battling food insecurity in developing countries. Thanks to the efforts of over 100 convention attendees, a total of 33,696 meals were packed, which will feed 92 children for an entire year.
“As a result of MEI’s generous partnership, the attendees at our United Convention & Expo were able to prepare over 33,000 meals in two hours!” said Rená Cozart, Executive Director of NAEC. “The Vertical Transportation Industry is a tight-knit community who want to give back!” MEI Total Elevator Solutions is a leader in designing and manufacturing custom passenger and freight elevators and has been an active member of NAEC since 1981.
For additional details about the National Association of Elevator Contractors, please contact Rená Cozart, Executive Director NAEC rena@naec.org.
For more information about Feed My Starving Children, go to fmsc.org
CEU Recap: Leveraging AI for Elevator Contractors with Microsoft Copilot
At the recent seminar Leveraging AI for Elevator Contractors: Understanding and Applying Microsoft Copilot, attendees gained valuable insights into how AI is transforming the industry. The session broke down complex AI concepts, clarified common misunderstandings, and explained the infrastructure and business models behind AI technology. A key focus was the strategic partnership between OpenAI and Microsoft, with a deep dive into Microsoft Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to enhance various areas of business operations.
Live demonstrations showcased the practical uses of Microsoft Copilot for sales, service, operations, and accounting teams, highlighting how elevator contractors can drive efficiency and innovation through AI. The seminar concluded with actionable recommendations for incorporating AI into day-to-day operations, followed by an engaging Q&A that allowed attendees to explore AI’s specific impact on their businesses.
For those who couldn’t attend, the session provided a thorough understanding of AI’s role in the industry and practical steps to begin leveraging these technologies. If you missed it, make sure to explore how Microsoft Copilot can benefit your team—AI is the future of contracting. click
QEI/CET Continuing Education Event in Atlanta
Code update course covering OEO Operations, Proper methods of performing 5-Year Full Load Testing and the 9 Safety Absolutes
WHEN: November 19, 2024
WHERE: Staybridge Suites, 3420 Norman Berry Drive, Hapeville, Georgia, USA
TIME: 6:30am – 5:30pm
naesai offers international elevator inspector trainee program
The Elevator Inspector Trainee Program offers on-the-job training to prepare future Qualified Elevator Inspectors for successful careers within the industry.
The year long program provides trainees the chance to work alongside their hiring authority to receive structured training on elevator codes and standards. A combination of online courses hosted every two weeks and on-the-job training events equip trainees with the necessary skills and knowledge to conquer any challenge QEIs face. The program fulfills QEI code level training for future elevator inspectors and offers unparalleled mentorship.
The next training opportunity begins January 21, 2025. Class size is limited to 20 trainees.
Additional Course Information: QEI Code Update Course* NAEC-54-001-070124 This ten-hour basic course is to provide continuing education for certified elevator inspectors and mechanics, which will include the following:
(Currently, these are the only approved states for this course) click to register
• Proper Methods of a Traction 5-year test QEI CEU – 0.3, CET – 3 hrs
• Safety Training QEI CEU – 0.1, CET Safety 1 hr.
• State Licenses: AR, DE, GA, IL, KY, MS, NJ, PA, VA WV
For more information about NAESA programs and activities, contact NAESAI at 360.292.4968 or naesai.org
click to learn more
Five Lifetime Honorary Members
During the 75th Anniversary Convention and Expo, NAEC installed 5 Lifetime Honorary Members. Each represents the backbone of this industry and association, paving the way by creating a legacy of excellence. Their commitment to NAEC and service to this wonderful industry has set the standard for leadership. NAEC is proud to honor their service to the industry.
The Sturgeon Distinguished Service
During the NAEC 75th Celebration, John Dodds from Kencor was selected as the Sturgeon Award Distinguished Service Award Honoree. This award is presented annually to the individual who has given of his or her time and energies to the benefit of the Association and the industry. John has been a long-time volunteer leader, instrumental in the creation of NAEC’s QEI program. John’s acceptance speech, partially aimed at his family, left the entire room captivated, with not a dry eye in the house.
Robert Schaeffer Retired Ray Downs TEI Group
Ed DeFilippis Retired Rick Kennedy Richard Kennedy & Associates, LLC
Bobby “Dee” Defrancesco Benfield Electric
ATLANTIC CITY 2024
The 2024 United Convention & Expo was an historic success! With nearly 4,000 registrants and 223 exhibitors, this year’s event shattered all previous attendance records. Attendees enjoyed 18 educational programs and fun on the golf course with 143 golfers.
Attendees experienced another first this year, with the inaugural United In Deed give-back event, made possible by a generous partnership with MEI. In just under two hours, 100 convention attendees packed 33,696 meals which will feed 92 children for a full year. The event was a response to NAEC member requests for an activity that made a real difference in our communities.
The United Coalition is comprised of four groups: The National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC), the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA), Elevator University (EU), and the International Association of Elevator Contractors (IAEC). Beginning in 2005, the Coalition was conceived to provide a united focal point for the north American elevator industry. The partners host a collaborative trade show once every four years and provide unsurpassed education programs. This approach decreases industry travel and enhances industry cohesion.
Special thanks to everyone who participated and made the 2024 United event such a success!
Special Edition United 2024 Highlights
MosaicONE VMS & insights
MosaicONE Digital Signage
Fast 1
Cab Shell
Special Edition United 2024 Highlights
GL171 GEARED TO GEARLESS
A cost-effective, gearless
solution
n 28 pole motor for smooth, quiet operation
n Speeds up to 350 FPM and loads up to 3,500 lbs or 400 FPM up to 2,500 lbs with 50% counterweight
n Available with 15 in (381 mm) sheaves for ⅜ in ropes, 15.75 in (400 mm) sheaves for ⅜ in and 10 mm ropes, and 20 in (508 mm) sheaves for ropes up to ½ in
n Maintenance-free sealed bearings
n Available for both overhead and basement applications
n Designed to fit through standard 27 inch doors fully assembled
Special Edition United 2024 Highlights
Special Edition United 2024 Highlights
KLEEMANN, one of the major elevator manufacturers with a presence in over 100 countries, is dedicated to ensuring high standards in reliability, safety, and advanced technology.
This passion for quality excellence has inspired us to create the Lift Tester App, a powerful lift performance tool, measuring acceleration, speed, jerk, and noise. With advanced algorithms, our app provides real-time insights into ride quality, enabling you to identify issues and optimize performance e ortlessly.
