Celebrating 50 Years of Industrial Commercial
Raymond “Ray” Gielarowski began his career in the elevator industry in 1955 when he joined the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local #6 in Pittsburgh, PA. With his unparalleled technical skills, relentless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to customer service, Ray quickly built a reputation as one of the finest elevator mechanics in the region. His ability to troubleshoot complex mechanical issues and foster lasting client relationships laid the foundation for what would become one of the region’s most respected elevator companies.
CALL FOR SPEAKERS:
Share Your Expertise at the Sept. Convention in Houston
We invite you to volunteer for a speaking opportunity and share your expertise with the industry. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or bringing fresh insights, your voice can make a difference! Sign up today to become an industry speaker for the Fall Convention and help drive the conversation forward.
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THE BIRTH OF A BUSINESS
In 1975, Ray took a bold step to leave a major elevator company to start his own. Armed with nothing but a truck, a set of tools, a loyal apprentice, and a wealth of confidence, Ray founded Industrial Commercial Elevator (ICE). His guiding principle was simple: always prioritize customer satisfaction. This approach resonated with clients, and his loyal customer base quickly followed him. Ray’s philosophy formed the cornerstone of a company that has continued to grow and thrive for five decades.
As ICE celebrates its 50th anniversary in May 2025, Ray’s original motto—“Geared to Serve Your Needs”—remains as relevant today as it was when he first coined it. It is a testament to the core values that still drive the company: technical excellence, unmatched customer service, and a steadfast commitment to quality.
A FAMILY TRADITION: THE NEXT GENERATION
Ray’s sons, JR and Steve Gielarowski, grew up immersed in the elevator industry and joined the IUEC in 1979 and 1980, respectively. JR entered the field directly out of high school, working tirelessly to gain extensive hands-on experience. Always eager to learn, JR accumulated a wealth of knowledge on a wide array of elevator and escalator systems. JR continues to work closely with mechanics and apprentices, sharing his knowledge and ensuring that ICE maintains its high standards of service and reliability. With a reputation as one of the foremost experts in the business, JR can solve any elevator and escalator issue he encounters. JR’s ability to solve customers’ problems quickly and efficiently has made him a respected figure in the industry. Steve pursued a degree in Electrical Engineering at WVU from 1977 to 1980, later earning a Bachelor of Science in Business from Robert Morris University in 1992. Steve spent years working in the field as an apprentice then mechanic before transitioning to the business side of ICE. His blend of technical skills and business acumen enabled ICE to expand beyond maintenance and repair into modernization and new construction, and his leadership has been instrumental in ICE’s continued growth and stability.
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Steve’s industry expertise led to his appointment to the Elevator Safety Board of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry in 2019. A QEI-certified elevator inspector since 2000, Steve also served on the board of the National Association of Elevator
NAEC Mainline
A quarterly newsletter of the National Association of Elevator Contractors.
President: Bill McGrath
Executive Director: Rená Cozart
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SAVEthe DATE!
UPCOMING EVENTS
APRIL 9, 2025
ECNY Villa Baronne | Bronx, NY
APRIL 11-12, 2025
NAESA Western Region Spring Workshop | Las Vegas, NV
MAY 8, 2025
NAEC New York State Code Course Bronx, NY
MAY 20-22, 2025
IAEC Forum 2025 | New Orleans, LA
JUNE 9-12, 2025
CECA – 2025 Niagara Falls Convention Niagara Falls, Canada
JUNE 9, 2025
NAEC QEI Prep Course Niagara Falls Convention Center
JUNE 11-12, 2025
Liftex | London, England
SEPTEMBER 15-18, 2025
NAEC Convention & Expo | Houston, TX
SEPTEMBER 25-26, 2025
NAESA Wisconsin Elevator Symposium | Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
OCTOBER 15-17, 2025
Interlift | Nuremberg, Germany
A Legacy of Excellance… continued from page 1
Contractors from 2020 to 2022. With Ray Sr. retiring in 1999, JR and Steve took ownership of the company and continued to build upon their father’s legacy. Today, JR serves as Vice President and Steve as President of ICE. Together, with a talented and respected team, they have solidified ICE’s position as a leader in the elevator industry.
ADAPTING TO CHANGE
Over the years, ICE has grown and adapted to change. While coal mines, steel mills and power plants were the core of the business, the company quickly adapted to meet the needs of commercial buildings, hospitals, universities, shopping malls & high-rise living. ICE was on the move, growing & establishing themselves as a full-service company in both industrial & commercial areas.
As cities grew and older buildings underwent renovations, the demand for state-of-the-art elevator systems increased, and ICE was ready to meet this challenge. In addition to service and maintenance, ICE expanded into modernization and new construction. Today, ICE’s technical expertise and reliability has positioned itself as a leader in the modernization and installation of elevator systems.
WELCOMING THE THIRD GENERATION
In 2014, Steve’s son, Stephen Jr., joined ICE’s Management Training Program, allowing him to hone his technical skills while gaining knowledge in business management. Stephen earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from WVU in 2016 and, following family tradition, proudly joined the IUEC. Stephen sees no limit to the possibilities for ICE. His formal education, paired with valuable hands-on experience working in the trade, has made him an integral part of ICE’s growing modernization division as well its expansion into new geographical markets. Stephen Jr. is actively involved in industry organizations, serving as a member of NAEC NextGen, Vice President of IUEC Local 6 board, and as a member of the Board of Directors for BOMA Pittsburgh.
JR’s son, Zachery, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Robert Morris University in 2017. Zach is currently an elevator apprentice with ICE, and he is looking forward to taking the IUEC exam in March to become an elevator mechanic. While working, Zach is also pursuing a certificate in Electrical/Mechanical Training from George Brown College. Zach’s goal is to continue to gain experience and specialize in the areas of elevator troubleshooting and adjusting, ensuring the company’s legacy of technical excellence. As he continues to build on his strong technical foundation, Zach will make significant contributions to ICE’s ongoing growth and success.
A FUTURE FULL OF PROMISE
As one of the area’s most trusted elevator service providers, ICE celebrates its 50th anniversary in May 2025, and the company’s commitment to quality, customer service and innovation remains stronger than ever. What started out with 2 employees has grown to a team of over 40 of the most skilled professionals in the industry. Many of its employees have spent their entire careers with ICE and several are family members. Those who are not family are thought of as family, reinforcing the strong culture that Ray Sr. established from day one.
Although Ray Sr. passed away in 2005, his vision and values continue to guide ICE. Built on Ray’s initial courage and commitment, ICE is poised for continued success as it expands its reach into new markets, including north into Erie, PA, and into Ohio, while continuing to serve clients throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland.
ICE is a force to be reckoned with in the elevator industry. As it moves into the next 50 years, ICE is ready to meet the challenges of the future while honoring the traditions of its past. ICE is & always will be “Geared to Serve Your Needs.”
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
NAEC Treasurer Anita Seymour Expert Service Solutions, Inc.
BOARD MEMBERS 2024-25
Blake Pilgrim, 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
Akc Elevator Company Kansas City MO
Andrews Elevator, LLC Naples FL andrewselevator.com
Ascent Elevators, LLC Middletown DE myelevator.us
Blue Steel Construction Group LLC
Myerstown, PA bluesteelcg.com
BrandSafway Industries, LLC Lester, PA brandsafway.com
Diversified Elevator Products, LLC
Wyckoff, NJ diversifiedelevatorproducts.net
DMV Elevator LLC Forestville, MD dmvelevator.com
Excel Elevator Secaucus, NY excelelevator.com
Fairway Elevator Jefferson, GA fairwayelevator.com
Gotham Elevator Brooklyn, NY gothamelevator.com
Independent Elevator Serivce Burlington, NC independentelevatorservice.com
Inovance Technology USA Inc inovance.com
Köhler Elevator San Diego, CA koehlerelevator.de
Modern Elevator Innovations Burlington, ON modernelevator.com
Next Level Cabs FL Div LLC Plantation, FL nextlevelcabs.com
NextDayAccess Westchester Bedford Hills, NY nextdayaccess.com
Peninsula Elevator Company Pacifica, CA Peninsulaelevator.com
Rise Elevator LLC. Middleton, ID riseelevator.com
Southern Commercial Services LLC Dallas, GA
Southern Elevator Company Frederick, MD southernelevator.com
With an easy access format, the new site offers great information on all things NAEC.
New features include:
• Automatic connectivity to the LMS and YM systems for members
• Glossary of Industry Acronyms
• Simplified scrolling for ‘at your fingertips’ information on Education and Safety
• Automatic Link to the Elevator Industry Safety Partners (EISP) page, hosted by NAEC
• Easy Link to registration for upcoming Convention and Expo
An Industry Brand Powerhouse
Meet the marketing leaders that are making a splash on both sides of the pond
At first glance, it’s tempting to label Curzon Creative as just another marketing agency. However, in reality this small yet influential team has played a key part in the overall business success to a wide range of household industry names – in ways that reach far beyond the typical marketing efforts.
How it all began
Curzon Creative was established in 2020 when John Curzon joined forces with Åsa Magnusson to build a business service package specifically tailored to the elevator industry. Since then, the organization has grown in size and today proudly showcases more than 20 clients, in North America and internationally. “Curzon Creative was born out of a passion for communications and a drive to help independent industry businesses thrive and grow,” says John Curzon. “We noticed that many manufacturers and service companies lacked a solid strategy for market presence and engagement with customers and employees. We immediately knew we could make a real difference for them.”
What Curzon Creative Offers
By drawing from their respective decades of industry and leadership experience, the Curzon Creative team has developed a process for deploying market strategy, driving growth, and enhancing the value of a business. With their unique insight into what makes the elevator industry tick, the team knows what is
needed to help their customers maximize their success potential. Their services include brand strategy, communications development, marketing execution, and business improvement consulting. This end-to-end approach ensures clients receive not just creative solutions, but strategic results that reach the bottom line.
“We have been described as ‘the best-kept secret’ in elevator industry marketing,” John says. “Our triedand-tested seven-step process gets businesses on track to deploy impactful brands, professional communications, and profitable engagement strategies.”
A Partnership with Purpose
Having established themselves as a trusted marketing partner for several household names, Curzon Creative are now excited to welcome a new generation of clients and continue writing the next chapter of their success story through their relationship with the NAEC community.
Supporting the Elevator Industry Nationwide
The Elevator Agency specializes in providing digital marketing solutions for the elevator industry. As the exclusive agency authorized to sell banner ads on the NAEC website, we are uniquely positioned to effectively offer services that connect the industry to targeted audiences.
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC MARKETING SOLUTIONS
Visibility and trust are essential to growth. The Elevator Agency understands these challenges and offers tailored digital marketing services, including:
• Retargeting campaigns that utilize Elevator World’s and NAEC’s audience.
• SEO-optimized websites to improve search rankings.
• Google Ads and SEM for targeted exposure.
Our services are backed by decades of industry experience and a deep understanding of the elevator sector.
BACKED BY A LEGACY OF EXPERTISE
The Elevator Agency benefits from the resources and reputation of Elevator World, a publishing and media company with over 71 years in the elevator industry. This partnership allows us to bring a level of knowledge and insight that is rare in digital marketing.
With this foundation, we work closely with the NAEC to provide solutions like banner ad placement on their website and retargeting campaigns tailored to the needs of the elevator industry. As the authorized partner for these initiatives, we are strategically positioned to enhance your company’s visibility and engagement.
CONTACT US
The Elevator Agency is here to support the elevator industry and grow your business. For more information on how we can help you, visit TheElevatorAgency.com or contact Scott Brown at sbrown@elevatorworld.com.
TRY BEFORE HIRECONTRACT TO HIRE SERVICE
First ever for NAEC! An elevator industry focused recruiting firm, Elevator Services Group, is thrilled to introduce the launch of our latest offering: Try Before Hire-Contract to Hire Services. This new service adopts a “try before you hire” approach, enhancing the hiring process and helping our members hire with confidence!
How It Works:
• For a fixed hourly bill rate, we manage the entire recruiting and selection process from start to finish.
• During the trial period, the contract to hire employee is on our payroll.
• We handle payroll processing & cover all associated costs, reducing the initial hiring expenses.
• Employers save on benefits, compli- ance, recruiting & onboarding costs.
• The streamlined process accelerates hiring, providing a significant advantage.
The new service is also ideal for shortterm projects, interim and ongoing virtual and remote support, offering flexibility in hiring solutions. If a contract to hire employee doesn’t meet expectations, replacements can be made at any time. Successful candidates can transition to permanent hires after proving their fit during the trial period. The introduction of our contract to hire services showcases our commitment to providing adaptable recruiting solutions for our exciting industry, further enhancing our service portfolio.
For inquiries about this new service, contact: services@elevatorservicesgroup.com or call 813-778-4391
Cedes Corporation of America is Celebrating its 25th Anniversary
Having started out in July 2000 with a small local team in North Carolina and later moving to Minneapolis, the CEDES Corporation of America (CCA) has grown steadily over the past 25 years. Today, it incorporates global functions, employs remote team members across the States and contributes one third of the overall Group revenue.
Initially founded as a CEDES sales subsidiary for the North American market, CCA used to solely focus on sales and technical support, order processing and customer care, as well as packaging and warehousing. Today, global functions in R&D and product management round up the company’s versatile profile, which will be further expanded this year with its first full production line for the CEDES
APS code tape. On top of that, the team has taken over the responsibility for CEDES’ business in Latin America with the support of selected channel partners.
CEDES is known for its cutting-edge sensing, safety and control solutions for elevators, escalators, industrial doors, and warehouse automation. Recently, they have made a huge step into the world of IoT, leveraging sensor data to provide actionable insights on elevator maintenance and traffic, thus creating measurable business value for their customers. Striving to find even better ways to serve the industry, CEDES has opened up its IoT platform to strategic partners such as 2N, Langer & Laumann and FIELDBOSS. You can discover the resulting solutions and meet the team at the NAEC Convention in Houston in September or reach out to your local CEDES contact today.
Steven Freedman, President Americas and Group CRO, sees the recipe for CCA’s lasting success in relentless customer focus: “It’s not enough for us to deliver the best quality product that solves our customers’ challenges in impactful ways. We also need to provide world-class service and support in order to enable our customers and partners to grow together with us”. Here’s to long-lasting relationships and shaping the future of the industry together!
CECA 51st Annual Convention
Join us for CECA’s 51st Annual Convention June 9-12, 2025, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, hosted by Alcor Elevator.
Connect with industry professionals, explore exhibitor booths, and take part in exciting networking events all at the foot of the Falls!
Highlights include:
• QEI Prep Course (offered by NAEC’s David Smarte) and other education
• CECA Golf Tournament
• Exhibits Days: June 11-12
Lots of Food and Networking opportunities including our Hospitality Suite, Breakfasts, Lunches, our Presidents Dinner Party, the Powerful Power Plant Party, and Thursday “wine”down!
Special Meetings & Events for the 19-39 group; Elle-levator (women’s group); and Construction Hoist.
Come join us for a barrel of fun! Early registration ends March 31st.
The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation
Making A Difference
The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation continues its mission to promote safety awareness with exciting updates for 2025.
One of the biggest developments is that our SafeTRider app is now available in both the Apple and Google Play stores. While currently designed for classroom use, industry professionals can access it using the Universal Classroom code: IU7IT1. This app serves as a vital educational tool in promoting safe practices when using elevators and escalators.
February 9-11, 2025, EESF successfully hosted a three-day Membership Experience in Tampa, FL; featuring a Super Bowl party, Golf Outing presented by Elevator World, and a productive membership meeting. It was a fantastic opportunity for networking, collaboration, and advancing our shared commitment to safety.
Looking ahead, we are excited to host our second Membership Experience of the year during the NAEC Fall Conference in Houston. We encourage members and industry professionals to join us for another engaging and informative event.
Additionally, we would like to congratulate and welcome our new board members, Dominik Sachsenheimer and Sean Madden, and our new executive officers: Joseph McAnulty, Chair and Greg DeCola, Vice Chair.
Stay tuned for more information on membership meetings and opportunities to establish EESF Chapters in your area. We appreciate the continued support of our members and look forward to another impactful year in elevator and escalator rider safety education.
For updates and further details, be sure to visit our website at www.eesf.org or reach out to us directly at Amber@eesf.org!
BEING WITH NAEC IS LIKE A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY.
The comradery is solid. Anywhere you go in the country, you will be taken care of – with great connections and support. People just don’t realize how wonderful these people are in the industry!”
– “BOBBY D” ROBERT DEFRANCESCO, Benfield Electric Member since 1993
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION FOR 2025
NAEC staff and volunteers will be partnering and providing education at the following industry events in 2025.
April 11-12 | Las Vegas, NV
NAESA Western Region Spring Workshop
April 25-26 | Des Plaines, IL
NAESA Central Region Spring Workshop F.E.S.H. Update*
May 8 | Bronx, NY
NAEC NY State Code Course
May 20-22 | New Orleans, LA IAEC Forum
June 9 | Ontario, Canada CECA 2025 Niagara Falls Convention QEI Code Prep Course
*Field Employee Safety Handbook
QUICK POINTS ON CET/CAT RENEWALS
Reminder for CAT & CET Certification Holders: If you missed the 24/25 certification renewal deadline on December 31, 2024, your certification was archived as of April 1, 2025. You can still regain good standing—contact the Certification Department at certification@naec.org for assistance. Please note, certifications lapsed for over a year require reapplication.
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Quick Points on CET/CAT Renewals
• If you missed the 24/25 renewal deadline (December 31, 2024), our certification was archived as of April 1, 2025.
• You can still regain good standing contact the Certification Department at certification@naec.org for assistance.
• Certifications lapsed for over a year require reapplication.
The new GL171X from Hollister-Whitney is a modern solution to your modernization challenge— going from geared to gearless traction machines. It’s a cost-effective solution designed for powerful, energy-efficient performance.
General Design Criteria:
Speed: Up to 500 fpm
Capacity: Up to 3,500 lbs. at 50% CW
Roping: 1 to 1, Single Wrap
Grooving: up to (8) – 3/8" or (7) – ½" ropes
Sheave Shaft Load: 25,700 lbs.
Machine weight: 2,560 lbs. Fits through 30" door
naec board of directors thanks you for a great spring conference!
