Colley Elevator’s 11th annual QEI education training – Keep on learning!

 

Each year for the last 11 years, Colley Elevator has been hosting inspectors from across the Chicago area as well as mechanics from Colley and other companies to attend QEI/Elevator code continuing education.  This year we had people from Colley Elevator, Elevator Inspection Services, Kone, Suburban Elevator, VDA and a few other organizations.  I got to sit in a room where a few of the guys had more years in the business than I am alive, these guys know something and have seen some things, we are lucky to have them.

This year we again had Joe Donnelly – PE conduct the training. Joe D has had a pretty incredible career starting out by working for Westinghouse Elevator as an apprentice, then field engineer, moving to Lerch Bates to start his consulting career and now at Donnelly & Associates doing elevator consulting and training.  He has had experience working on the State of Illinois Board as the technical advisor and currently is the Chair of the City of Chicago code committee and helped bring the City from a 2001 code to 2016.

The last year we have had some different activity and interpretations from the State of Illinois and we talked a lot about those items.  While we might not be happy with FAID or no Temp inspections, this is the environment we are living in currently.  Maybe it changes or time lines are extended, but for now, that is where we are at.

This year we reviewed – City – State code update, 2016 & 2019 A17.1 major code update, 2019 A17.1 Part 2 code update, 2019 A17.1 Part 3 code update, A17.1 Part 6 code update, A17.1 part 8.6 code update, FEO service review, A17.3 code review, NEC code update, A117.1 class, A17.2 routine inspection review, A17.2 periodic test review, City of Chicago 2018 code A17.1, City of Chicago 2018 code A17.3. Next year ready for 2022 code?

Take away – When I was 17 I knew everything, when I was 24 and had a few years in the business I thought I was on a path to quickly know everything, when I was 30 I was pretty sure I was an oracle.  At 44 I learn new things every day and have learned to listen because everything is not always black and white and the clarity of challenges evolve and become clearer with more time and information, it takes a team.   These two days a year are very long, we work all day and come to sit for 5 hours to (re)learn elevator code.  I learn so much from these two days, even if it is similar material, I get different things out of it each time I hear it. This year we had a lot of discussion on the code topics which was really great. We always have to keep learning and keep growing.

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.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

NAEC 74th Annual Convention – Reno, NV

 

We had the opportunity to attend the NAEC’s 74^th annual convention September 10^th to September 13th.  It was great to get back and see some of our old friends, meet new friends, sit through education, be involved with talking points and walk around and see about 200 different vendors. 

What did I get out of it?  On a regular basis I’m asked what do I get out of going to the convention or other NAEC events.  I had a list of items from the office to look into while I was at the convention where you can talk face to face with suppliers. Meeting people face to face is much different than trading emails or even phone calls.  Challenges that occur over the year can be discussed and resolved in a matter of minutes.  The networking is wonderful, seeing friendly faces and talking to people that you email on a regular basis cannot be beat.  What I get the most out of is seeing my peers from independent contractors and seeing what is going on in their area and what they are doing and what challenges they are facing.   

Day 1 – Monday – We had a great key note speaker about working in a business environment; Create value, leave a positive wake and do you solve problems.  We went to the general business session and got an update on the NAEC.  Then to the contractor forum which was very quiet.   Education sessions in the afternoon where plenty we saw “what you need to know about Hydraulic MRLs, 2^nd Generation 2 way visual communications, Vertical transportation industry safety and education update.  There was a bit of a break and we went out with our new friends from Unitec for dinner then off to the Smartrise Engineering Party at the Reno Art Center.  

[Opening breakfast and speakers]

[Thank you to our sponsors]

[Always energetic Travis Hall from Alliance Elevator - MRL Hydros]

[2 way visual communciations - Rath]

[Safety committee - Best forum of the day]

Day 2 – Tuesday – The show opened and the convention floor was flooded with contractors going to suppliers booths from around the world.   You can spend the whole day visiting the people you email or talk to on the phone as well as seeing new vendors you haven’t met before.  The NAEC had a great slate of continuing education going on at all times during the convention. The NAEC hosted a reception after the floor closed which got a little wild.  A ton of people a ton of fun.

 

[The convention floor opens]

[Controller - Alpha Elevator Traction]

[Controller - Elevator Systems Traction]

[Controller - MCE Traction]

[Imperials answer to the Kone MRL motor]

[Canton's new power unit]

[4 drink minimum(at a time) - let it rip at the reception]

Day 3 – Wednesday – The awards breakfast was first.  The best of show awards were given out for best single, multiple, island and spirit of the show.  Congratulations to those who won!  Our personal friend Gary Schutte of Midwest Elevator – St. Louis, MO won the highest award in the NAEC, The Sturgeon Award.  And we saw the passing of the baton from John Tolar of United Elevator Services, LLC to Sean Madden of Southwest Elevator.  We did a bit more floor time then it was time to go back on the air plane to head home.  We did miss the Dregs Party which is always a good time!

[Awards Breakfast]

[Sturgeon winner Gary Schutte - Midwest Elevator]

[Controller - Smartrise Engineering Traction]

[New GAL clutch with gate interlock - No more facia?]

[MEI - new muffler with no maintenance]

[Love this group!  Colley has been working with them since 1963]

Emphasis on safety – The NAEC is doing a great job with their thorough safety program and working with OSHA.  Dave Smarte who is now on NAEC staff is an incredible resource for our industry.  From my time with Dave on the Board of Directors I’ve always held a very high regard for his work in the safety realm.  We had a lot of take aways during our sessions having to do with safety that we are using at home at our company.

Why you should go – Meet the best in the business, exchange ideas, get challenged, come back to your company with new ideas, see new products and be a better elevator person. 

2024 Convention – Atlantic City, NJ

2025 Convention – Houston, TX

2026 Convention – Chicago, IL - Yes its coming to our home.  Gary Schutte - You may have won the Sturgeon award, Midwest Elevator may have won the Ellie and you have a great company with great coworkers but he isn't having a convention in his home town!

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.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

Chicago Elevator Association – September Meeting – VDA Elevator Consulting

 

The Chicago Elevator Association is the longest running elevator association in the United States. They had a great group at this month's meeting.

Jose Perez, Jeff Hart and Peter Long came and presented about the company they work at, VDA. VDA has been specializing in Consulting Services encompassing all phases of vertical transportation systems in both new and existing buildings. Since the inception in late 1980, their mission has been to bring together industry professionals with in-depth experience providing New Construction, Modernization, and Maintenance Evaluations for all types of elevators, escalators, and other systems under one roof.

While we still do see a lot of the traditional consulting roles of making a spec, choosing contractors to bid, reviewing bids, monitoring jobs and punching them out, we are seeing more behind the scenes work where they might only write the spec, or review bids on other contractors’ paper and do phone interviews while making their recommendations. We are seeing more maintenance audits and write ups at buildings that sometimes wouldn’t previously engage a consultant.

Jose & Co. did a great job laying out their product offering.

If you haven’t ever been or it’s been a while, come on by, take a seat, if you don’t know people, 5 minutes after you show up you will know a good amount of people at the meeting, that is the kind of people that go, ones that will make you feel welcome and will introduce you to people.

Next CEA events – November 2^nd – Elections and December is the Holiday Party.

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.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

Elevator maintenance pride – Labor Day - Rolling Meadows, IL

Labor day is often considered the unofficial end of summer, but as the name suggests the day is meant to celebrate American laborers.  I had this whole thing written out how we went to these buildings in 2015 and they didn’t look great, between then and now we had been back and forth with the buildings about cleaning up their jobs and modernization.  The company/mechanic who took care of this monthly account could have done a better job. We recently signed the building’s up and got them cleaned up.  Our Colley teams and maintenance mechanics really did great work over at these buildings.

Our hats are off to the Colley team who made these elevators as great as they can be with the time they had.  To those who go out every day and give it their all, keep it up! 

[Before]

[After]

For all the workers who take pride in their jobs! Keep fighting the good fight, we appreciate your work!  Happy Labor Day!

[Before]

[After]

Do great things – every day!  We notice and love it!

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.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.