NAEC 69th annual convention – Atlantic City

September 24-27^th was the National Association of Elevator Contractors[NAEC] annual convention/exhibition in Atlantic City, NJ.  This is a really cool event that mixes education, trade show and fun.  This last event was my 3^rd year on the Board of Directors and I had the opportunity to serve as the President during this last year.

Monday - The first event was on Monday evening which was the Presidents reception which is an opportunity for everyone to see each other and rekindle old friendships or make new connections.  After the NAEC reception there was an Elevator/Escalator Safety Foundation party which is always a lot of fun.

[Presidents reception]

[A little side action at the Presidents Reception]

Tuesday - The event started off with our general business session and contractor, supplier and associate member sessions which are informational and an opportunity for us to discuss association business.  The afternoon held round table discussions that included How to be a AIA course provider, performance management done right, fall protection & lock out tag out, Home Elevators & Accessbility, encoder position for permanent magnet motors.  Later that day we had a leadership reception, I attended a Alliance Elevator dinner that gave us a teaser of their new program, then to Smartrise’s party, then to GAL/Vantage’s party.

[Round table education on Lock Out Tag Out]

[Round table education on motor drives]

[GAL party]

Wednesday – Exhibits opened.   A few hundred suppliers and thousands of contractors, consultants and inspectors where at the show.  The education for this day had wire rope car, private elevator MRL code changes, cab lighting sales opportunity, oil analysis, and emergency communication.  There also was a demonstration and troubleshooting opportunity with Peelle doors, Maxton Valve and Wurtec.  The evening held a cocktail reception and a Throwback Beach Party.

[Show floor]

[Show floor]

[Adams Elevator Otis pie plate selector replacement]

[Ask me about this and I will tell you]

[Retractable safety lines from Quad City Safety]

[The NAEC's big dinner 50's throw back beach party]

Thursday – Awards Breakfast where the best booth awards where handed out, Presidents Award, William C Strugeon Award and the passing of the torch where the old leadership is pushed out and the new initiated. Exhibits opened and more education; communication with A17 standards, Rust as a Service Improvement, Use of Polymers in Elevators and the “how to fix the problem” with Peelle doors, Maxton Valve and Wurtec. There was an event to honor our 28 year Executive Director Teresa Witham and then to the Dregs Party at the Wild Wild West.

[Awards Breakfast]

[Craig Zomchek giving Ray Zomchek the NAEC's Presidents Award]

[Victolic had a booth]

[Gorman's water/oil separator]

[In the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and 1990's Colley Elevator and Automatic Elevator put in hundreds and hundreds of elevators in Chicago.  Ray[left] was responsible for Colley's and Frank[right] was responsible for Automatic.  Two Chicago elevator legends!]

[Pack it up - show is over]

[NAEC's new president and the old president at the Dregs Party]

[Dregs party at Wild West Casino]

[The old president takes one last right into the sunset]

This was a wonderful event, I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of the NAEC’s board of directors for the last 3 years to work with the NAEC staff, other board members and all the suppliers, contractors, consultants and past presidents.  If you haven’t come to one of these shows, you should take some time and stop by Grand Rapids in 2019.

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.  Join us on Instagram @colleyelevator to see what we are up to.