Posts by Matt Allred

Interview Part 2: Elevator Consulting In this episode, I interviewed Michael Caputa, Regional Vice President with Blackstone Elevator Consulting in Florida. Michael started his career with Thyssenkrupp elevator as an Account Manager in Atlanta and has grown in several different roles and companies. Michael is an endurance athlete and has proven over and over the…

Interview Part 1: Elevator Career Journey In this episode, I interviewed Michael Caputa, Regional Vice President with Blackstone Elevator Consulting in Florida. Michael started his career with Thyssenkrupp elevator as an Account Manager in Atlanta and has grown in several different roles and companies. Michael is an endurance athlete and has proven over and over…

Introduction: In this episode, I interviewed Mike Balsamo, Senior Vice President with VDA in New York City. Mike started his career with PS Marcato working summers as a helper and he credits his early time in the trade to being foundational to the work he does does today. Mike says responsiveness to customers is critical…

Interview part 2: Discussing the challenges and lessons of starting a new business. In this episode, I interviewed Ed Stachowiak, the Chief Operating Officer at Axxiom Elevator. Ed started his career as a sales rep with Otis Elevator in Syracuse, New York where he learned and grew rapidly. In 2023, Ed became one of the…

Interview Part 1: Ed’s career journey with Otis In this episode, I interviewed Ed Stachowiak, the Chief Operating Officer at Axxiom Elevator. Ed started his career as a sales rep with Otis Elevator in Syracuse, New York where he learned and grew rapidly. In 2023, Ed became one of the founders of Axxiom Elevator with…

In this episode, I interviewed Kendra Glenn, Managing Partner of BTS Elevator Packages. Kendra grew up in the industry, but wasn’t sure she wanted to be part of the family business. After Graduating from college and working in hospitality for a few years, Kendra realized she wasn’t being challenged or feeling fulfilled. Kendra decided to…

In this episode, I interviewed Michael Frangias, CEO of New York/New Jersey Elevator Company. Mike grew up in the elevator industry, with his father taking him on the job at an early age. He didn’t like school, but he learned quickly while in the trade and came to love elevators. Mike has worked for several…

In this episode, I interviewed Tom McMahan, the Business Development Manager with Delaware Elevator. Tom started his career at Miami Elevator right after graduating from Florida State University in 1990, and after two years, Tom left the industry for a time to experience international business. After returning to the elevator industry, Tom was able to…

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Scott Akin, owner of Elevator Sill Solutions by Archi-Tread, a manufacturer and installer of elevator cab and hoistway sills. Scott has been in the elevator industry over 30 years, starting at the bottom and working his way up in manufacturing. Scott first worked for a family-owned elevator manufacturing business,…

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Sammy Kolker, who represents the fifth generation working at Matot Corporation, her family’s dumbwaiter manufacturing business. She discusses growing up in the industry and how she became involved after graduating college. Sammy talks about common family dynamics challenges in multi-generational family businesses. She shares the creativity involved in marketing…