Bobby Schaeffer: Work Hard and Educate Yourself
Bobby Schaeffer is the President of D&D Elevator and Senior Vice President of American Elevator Group. Bobby started in the elevator industry as a helper with Flynn Hill Elevator in 1981. In 1982, Bobby started with D&D elevator, eventually becoming its President for 28 years. Bobby served as the President of the NAEC from 1999…
Watch the interview on videoEric Burket: Hard Work is the Key to Success
Eric Burket started in the elevator industry in 1997 with General Elevator, working in Hagerstown, Maryland. Eric quickly found his passion for the industry and has spent 25 years in various sales roles and locations, including Regional Vice President with TK in New York City. Today, Eric is the President of ELEV8 Elevator Consulting. Eric…
Watch the interview on videoRick Milefchik: Don’t Burn Bridges
Rick Milefchik is the Chief Operating Officer of Access Elevator Supply in San Francisco and Quality Elevator Products in Chicago. Rick started in the industry in 1981 with Montgomery Elevator as a 16 year old high school student, and grew from there. He spent 32 years with Montgomery/Kone and 8 more with ECS Corporation before…
Watch the interview on videoJeff Smith: Communication is Key!
Jeff Smith started his career in new installation and modernization sales with, then, Thyssenkrupp Elevator, in Richmond Virginia. Over the past 20 years, Jeff has held various sales and sales leadership roles, and has also spent time P&L. Jeff is currently the Regional Business Development Manager with Smartrise Engineering for much of the Northeast. Jeff…
Watch the interview on videoJoel Frohlinger: I Just Love This Industry
Joel Frohlinger grew up in an elevator family in New York City and is a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Joel has worked in the elevator industry for over 56 years; he started as a helper, ran his own business for about 34 years and still works as a consultant. Joel loves the…
Watch the interview on videoJoey Austin: It is an Amazing Industry
Joey Austin is the president of Atlantic Elevators, a residential elevator contractor in North Carolina. Joey started as a helper in 2003 and quickly moved up to being a foreman. In 2009, Joey moved to the Bay area of CA and in 2012, he moved to Virginia, where he continued to perfect his skills. In…
Watch the interview on videoLoannie Reyes, the “Elevator Chic:” Knowledge is Power
Loannie Reyes, also knows as the “Elevator Chic,” is the CEO of Authentic Elevator Services, headquartered in New York City. Loannie and her husband Quinn are originally from Puerto Rico and came to New York with the dream of learning the business and starting an elevator company in Puerto Rico. In addition to being the…
Watch the interview on videoAmy DiPaolo: The Sky is the Limit in this Industry
Amy DiPaolo is the Chief Sales Officer and an equity partner with Champion Elevator, headquartered in New York City. Amy started her career at Dover elevator at age 18 working a temp job in the office and she has never looked back. Amy is an ambitious learner and has performed every job possible and learned…
Watch the interview on videoJohn Koshak: Safety, Honesty and Tenacity
John Koshak joined the elevator industry when he was working as an electrician in San Francisco in 1980. John worked in all areas of the field, many office roles and also in manufacturing and design. John is passionate about safety and honesty in the organization, and he has the tenacity to fight for what he…
Watch the interview on videoNick Gretsuk: To Succeed, You Have to be Willing to Fail!
Nick Gretsuk is Executive Vice President of CEC Elevator Cab Corp and Sterylift. Nick joined the elevator industry almost 30 years ago, and has worked in a variety of roles, both in the field and manufacturing cabs. In 2020, Nick invented Sterylift to clean the indoor air of elevators, and to help make the world…
Watch the interview on video