Posts by Matt Allred

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Sean Madden, Innovation Manager at Southern Elevator, former founder of Madden Elevator, and current President of the National Association of Elevator Contractors. Sean shares his journey growing up in the elevator industry, studying engineering, and eventually building his own elevator company. After starting Madden Elevator from his basement in…

Matt Allred interviews Chris Strawn about his career in the elevator industry. Chris is the owner of Elevator Safety Training Services (ESTS). He started in the industry as an apprentice, after serving two tours in the US Navy. After 10 years in the field, Chris joined his brother and another partner, building a firm which…

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Amber Catlin-Kolodziej, the Executive Director of the Elevator escalator Safety Foundation. The EESF’s mission is to educate the general public on the proper and safe use of elevators and escalators. Amber’s goal is to further enable the EESF to keep our friends and family safe when they are using…

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Scott Drummond, president and founder of Emi’s Elevator and founder of Nokes Mountain Benefit Corporation. Scott has has over 20 years in the trade as an elevator mechanic and has seen the disparity of dilapidated elevators through the country. He decided to tackle this problem head-on by creating a…

Matt Allred and Bill Appelbaum sit down to discuss Bill’s elevator industry career over the past 30+ years. They discussed his beginnings as a truck driver and his subsequent journey through various roles such as sales, management, and vice president. Bill expressed his passion for modernization in his current role of sales and project management…

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews Rena Cozart to discuss her experience of becoming the Executive Director of the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC). Although Rena was surprised to have been sought out for this opportunity, she was quickly impressed with the honesty and authenticity of those who she would be working with, and…

In this episode, Matt Allred interviewed Chris Pearce, co-owner of Skytec Elevator in Austin, Texas. Chris started his career as a union apprentice with Omni Elevator at age 19, but after a few years he left to finish his degree and also work as a technician in the high tech industry. After returning to the…

In this episode, Matt Allred interviews JT Peelle, President and CEO of Peelle Company, about his career path from truck driving to sales, accounting, and management in the elevator industry. Peelle Company is a 5th generation family business that manufactures elevator doors. JT discusses how he got involved in the business, the importance of treating…

T. Bruce MacKinnon is the CEO of Elevator World Magazine. T has been with Elevator World for 27 years; 3 years as CEO. Elevator World is a family business that was started by T’s Grandpa, Bill Sturgeon in 1953; this year being the 70th anniversary. Although he was initially hesitant to join the business, T…

Bob Sinram has been working in the elevator industry for 23 years on his second time around. Bob’s first exposure to elevators was from 1980-1984 as a weapons elevator technician on an aircraft carrier for the US Navy. After the military, Bob chose to work in industrial maintenance, which he did for 16 years. Eventually…