Our Town Hall virtual event series is brought to you by the NAEC Member Services Committee. Upcoming Town Hall events include:
- August 23, 2022, 2pm ET
- November 15, 2022, 2pm ET
Next Town Hall event:
Description: The price of steel on global markets has soared. Fuel cost increases and parts delays are a part of the norm this year as we balance customer expectations as well as our own balance sheets. What can we expect in the intermediate future when it comes to these challenges presented by global events effecting the supply chain that we depend on?
Our featured speaker is Jon Holztrager, Director of Supply Chain Partnerships and an adjunct faculty member with the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee. He is an accomplished supply-chain professional with expertise in total delivered cost reduction, operating asset strategy, supply chain transformation and best-in-class supply-chain results. Jon now teaches supply chain operations with an emphasis on practical aspects of leading manufacturing, purchasing, distribution, and transportation teams. He also works closely with UT Supply Chain Forum members and other companies who are engaged in recruiting, organization development, and operations improvement. Additionally he serves as a Customer Emeritus Board member for Dallas-based ISNetworld.
To join us at the time of the event, click THIS LINK to enter the Zoom meeting. No advance registration is required.
Recent Town Hall descriptions and recordings:
Town Hall: Managing Sales Teams
Date: May 17, 2022
Description: Strong sales teams emerge from environments that are transparent and oriented on key sales metrics. When you put the right people together in a supportive environment, it drives the entire organization up and to the right. But how do you hire the right people people with drive and determination while creating an environment that is encouraging, transparent, and oriented on key sales metrics?
Our panelists included:
- Sandy Barr, Delaware Elevator Inc.
- Freddy Flores, Vantage Elevation
- Eric Lazear, American Elevator Group
Town Hall: Staying Power: Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Qualified Labor
Date: February 15, 2022
Description: Employee turnover is expensive. The Society for Human Resource Professionals (SHRM) found direct replacement costs (recruiting and training) can reach as high as 50–60 percent of an employee’s annual salary, and the total cost of turnover can range from 90–200 percent of annual salary. You spend a lot of time and effort to recruit and hire the right people for the right job—only to have them leave after a couple of months. Or perhaps you lose long-term employees who take great skills and knowledge with them. Either way, turnover is expensive and frustrating. Employee retention relies on a combination of factors, including flexible work arrangements, benefits, professional development opportunities, advancement opportunities, company culture, and more. Retention is also a key sign of employee sentiment and engagement — it can even be a competitive advantage. Our panel of experts included professionals in the vertical transportation industry as well as human resources to discuss the reasons that employees leave and strategies for retaining and supporting your most valuable company asset: your employees.
Our panelists included:
- Jay Arntzen, President, Genesis Elevator Company
- Sheryl Ellis, PHRca, SHRM-CP, DLMS, ADAC, Senior HR Consultant, The Hopkins Group (View her presentation HERE, view General Suggestions to Recruit Candidates HERE, view handout HERE, and view The Hopkins Group flyer HERE)
- Michelle Williams, Vice President of People and Culture, Vantage (View her presentation HERE)
Town Hall: Technology, IoT, and Alternative Testing
Date: November 9, 2021
Description: Technology is at the core of the service that the vertical transportation industry offers, and the various technologies are always changing. In this session, independent contractors will discuss tech solutions they have utilized to increase efficiency and profitability within their operation. Tapping into IoT (Internet of Things) innovations with sensor technology can reduce expenses, increase safety, and provide data to better forecast maintenance programs. This session covered how elevator contractors like YOU can utilize alternative testing to increase safety and better prepare clients for future alterations.
Panelists include:
• Guneet Bedi, relayr
• Chris Dodds, Liberty Elevator Experts (View his PowerPoint presentation HERE)
• Sean Madden, Madden Elevator (View his PowerPoint presentation HERE)
Town Hall: Creating a Culture of Safety
Date: August 31, 2021
Description: The topic of safety has grown over time, creating whole sub-industries dedicated to safety and training. However, even with all the information and resources at your fingertips, what can you do at your company to instill a company value of safety that is as strong as your work ethic? This panel of elevator and lift safety experts go over some of the best ways to bring safety home.
Panelists include:
• Patrick Bothwell, Draka EHC
• Sandra A. Boudloche, OSHA Region VI
• Lou DeLoreto, Elevate Safety Systems
• Dave Smarte, NAEC
Town Hall: 2019 Code Update and AHJ Interpretations
Date: May 25, 2021
Description: Public and worker safety in elevator use is of critical importance, and the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) over elevator safety are on the front lines of oversight of the code enforcement. With the changes that came with the 2019 Code Update, how are the local authorities responding and what do industry professionals need to know about the local interpretations of the update?
Panelists include:
• Carl Burch, Vantage
• Don Holloway, Kings III (View the PowerPoint presentation from Don and Dave of Kings III HERE)
• Dave Mann, Kings III
• Chris Strawn, Elevator Safety and Technical Services
Town Hall: Marketing New Products
Date: February 23, 2021
Description: In this competitive industry, what are the best ways to bring new products and innovations to customers? This panel discussion will explore some examples of companies in the elevator sector introducing new products to the market and what you can do to maximize your new product launch!
Panelists include:
• Donald Gelestino, President, Champion Elevator Corp. (View his PowerPoint presentation HERE)
• Sanjay Kamani, President & COO, KP Property Advisors, LLC
• Bill Page, Director of Product Management,
Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc.
• Steve Wurth, CEO/President, Wurtec