Today’s guest is Bernard Lee, a longtime property manager who has spent more than thirty years working with elevator service companies. He's seen the value of having technicians who know a building inside and out, and he's also seen what happens when that continuity disappears. In this conversation, we discuss trends he’s seen in elevator service over the years, why technician turnover matters so much to customers, and how mentorship can strengthen the industry as a whole.

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:13 - How Elevator Service Has Changed Over 30 Years
• 02:37 - The Customer Impact of Technician Turnover
• 04:04 - Why Long-Term Technicians Know a Building Differently
• 07:25 - What Constant Turnover Signals to Customers
• 09:01 - When Turnover Creates Costly Problems
• 10:19 - Why Mentorship Is Critical to the Elevator Industry
• 12:33 - What Makes a Great Mentor?
• 16:34 - What the Elevator Industry Loses When Experience Walks Away
• 19:27 - Hands-On Learning
• 22:33 - How Elevator Companies Can Rebuild Customer Relationships
• 24:21 - Building the Next Generation of Elevator Technicians

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

Today's guest is Lee Gray, an architectural historian whose career took an unexpected turn when a graduate school research paper sparked a lifelong fascination with elevators. More than forty years later, he has become one of the world's leading authorities on the history of vertical transportation. His research has been featured by National Geographic, CBS Sunday Morning, and the History Channel, and today he joins us to explore how elevators transformed cities, real estate, and everyday transportation.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro
• 1:19 Lee’s Journey to Becoming an Elevator Historian
• 6:15 Impact on Life and Career
• 8:25 The Impact of Elevators on Urban Development
• 10:05 The Relationship Between Skyscrapers and the Modern Elevator
• 13:55 The Economic Shift in Real Estate
• 17:39 The Importance of Safety Devices in Elevators
• 23:00 Evolution of Elevator Safety Systems
• 26:27 Innovations in Elevator Technology
• 28:45 Global Elevator Revolution
• 33:02 Cultural Perspectives on Elevator Design
• 35:28 The Shift in Elevator Industry Leadership
• 39:00 The Success of Early Elevator Pioneers
• 40:03 Today’s Societal Issues with Elevators
• 41:39 Essential Takeaways from Early Elevators
• 44:27 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

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 - Introduction
• 02:17 - Working on aircraft carrier elevators
• 04:04 - The complexity of elevator codes and evolving standards
• 08:28 - A practical definition of modernization
• 10:02 - The importance of proper documentation
• 11:45 - A code puzzle: the Citrus Tower
• 13:50 - Handling old equipment with missing records
• 16:50 - Code interpretations
• 19:13 - Solving code puzzles and continuous learning
• 22:12 - Code puzzle: Fire service upgrade
• 23:38 - Human nature with accidents and litigation
• 25:17 - Mechanics’ mistakes during deposition
• 26:33 - Critical safety checks for door forces
• 30:37 - The significance of documenting and safety measures
• 32:38 - Most memorable expert witness cases
• 37:01 - The risks of skipping safety procedures
• 40:45 - Shortcuts during inspections and maintenance
• 42:36 - What separates excellent documentation
• 44:44 - Case study: documentation gaps
• 46:34 - What the industry still needs to learn about code and safety
• 48:07 - The roles Lee has peformed: lessons from a well-rounded career
• 51:06 - Lee’s ongoing passion for the industry

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