The vertical transportation industry is famous for pulling people in and never letting them go, but everyone’s origin story is a little different. For Julie Gilby, President of CKG Elevators in Nova Scotia and the current President of the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA), the path to elevators didn't start with blueprints or mechanical training, it started in the restaurant industry.

After spending 20 years climbing the corporate ladder to become a Senior Director of Business Development for Tim Hortons, Julie found herself traveling constantly and missing out on family time. When the opportunity arose to join forces with her husband, Andrew, at CKG Elevator, she traded the coffee business for vertical transportation. While she quickly realized the elevator industry speaks its own complex language, she also discovered that her executive skills in strategic planning, business development, and team leadership transferred seamlessly.

In this inspiring episode of Let’s Talk Elevators, host Morgan Jones sits down with Julie to unpack her journey as a prominent woman in a traditionally male-dominated field. Julie opens up about her initial experiences learning the ropes from the ground up, the incredible warmth and support she received from independent contractors, and how she found her unique value proposition despite not having a hands-on technical background.

Julie and Morgan dive deep into the vital work CECA is doing to foster the next generation of vertical transportation professionals. Julie highlights the immense success of CECA's 19-39 Club, which provides a dedicated networking and learning space for young adults entering the trade, as well as the ElevateHer group, which creates safe spaces for women to build confidence, share experiences, and step into leadership positions.

Listeners will also hear Julie share her ultimate piece of leadership advice,a mantra given to her by a mentor when she was just 18 years old: "Fly the plane." Whether navigating the logistical chaos of planning a massive industry convention, steering an independent business, or adapting to the looming, fast-paced world of Artificial Intelligence in field diagnostics, Julie explains how keeping a laser focus on strategic results and filtering out the background noise is the key to moving forward.

Tune in to discover how local community engagement ("share of heart"), intentional mentorship, and increasing trades visibility for high school graduates can help shape a stronger, more diverse future for vertical transportation.

This episode of Let’s Talk Elevators is proudly sponsored by Hyperion Solutions, dedicated to providing tailored solutions that elevate the customer experience.

Welcome to Episode 8 of Let’s Talk Elevators, recorded live at the ECNY Supplier Showcase. In this exclusive panel discussion, host Morgan Jones sits down with four industry leaders to debate a problem every contractor and building owner faces: traction systems that do not perform as expected.

When an elevator system underperforms, who owns the responsibility? Is it the manufacturer, the installer, the maintenance provider, or the environment?

Our panelists bring decades of experience from every corner of the trade to answer that question. Featuring Carlos Escobar (Hyperion Solutions), Nicola Imbimbo (Prysmian), Greg Decola (VDA), and Kevin McInerney (Metro Elevator), this conversation cuts through the finger-pointing and addresses the real-world pressure of tight schedules, shifting codes, and shrinking machine rooms.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The Rope Life Myth: Why rope life must be measured in the number of bends and trips, not years, and how improper installation (like uncoiling kinks and unequal tension) kills ropes early.
• Modernization Constraints: The physical realities of replacing massive legacy machines with smaller, modern equipment, and the hidden costs of reusing older sheaves.
• The Training Gap: Why short-sighted economics and a lack of field education lead to premature equipment failure and costly callbacks.
• Maintenance Pricing Realities: A candid look at the "race to the bottom" in maintenance contracts and how it impacts system longevity.
• Coated Suspension Means: The European perspective on belts versus traditional ropes, including the strict environmental and cleaning requirements needed for them to function properly.

This industry is built on physics, and you cannot cheat the hoistway. Whether you are a consultant writing specs, a mechanic tensioning ropes, or an independent contractor trying to hold the line on maintenance pricing, this episode delivers the technical insight you need.

Subscribe today and join us as we elevate the conversation.

Welcome back to Let’s Talk Elevators. In Episode 7, host Morgan Jones sits down with Travis Hall from Alliance Elevator Solutions. Travis brings nearly two decades of manufacturing and industry experience to the table, sharing a candid look at what it takes to build a successful career and company in vertical transportation.

This episode cuts through the noise. Travis shares his origin story, from value engineering parts to launching Alliance with a bold pitch to his CEO. The conversation shifts quickly into the realities of the trade today. They discuss why a four-year degree doesn't guarantee success, and why a relentless drive to solve problems beats academic credentials every time.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The School of Hard Knocks: Why field experience, work ethic, and a problem-solving mindset trump traditional education in the elevator industry.
• Strategic Technology Adoption: How AI is shifting the business side of the trade. AI won't replace people, but professionals who know how to use it will replace those who don't.
• Training Realities: The balance between new 3D/software learning concepts and the irreplaceable value of hands-on training. (As Travis puts it, "There's nothing like sailing a damn boat.")
• The Supplier's Role: Why suppliers and manufacturers must act as technical educators for independent contractors, rather than just taking orders.
• Recruiting from the Trades: Practical advice on pulling talent from other blue-collar sectors by showing them the earning potential, flexibility, and stability of the elevator trade.
• Understanding True Passion: Why passion requires sacrifice, and why you shouldn't claim to have it unless you are willing to put in the work.

Whether you are a field mechanic turning a wrench, a project manager fighting tight schedules, or an independent contractor trying to scale, Travis delivers grounded, practical advice on how to navigate the current landscape of the industry.

Subscribe today and join us as we elevate the conversation.