Elevator Industry Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.1139

California

Summary

Over fifty years experience in the Elevator Industry, comprising a wide variety of experience in the manufacturing, contracting and consulting sectors. Thirty two years in the Southern California area, twenty in various management roles and twelve as an independent consultant and inspector.

Education

Christian Brothers College Prep School - graduated with honors, 1954. Two years night school, University of Tennessee; two years night school, University of Cincinnati; two years night school, State Technical Institute at Memphis.

Completed Alexander Hamilton Institute Modern Business Program (correspondence).

Numerous courses in basic hydraulics, electricity, electronics and sales and management, including George Hamilton sales training and Kepner Tregoe Institute management problem solving. Graduate of DMD management development program.

Employment History

Rotary Lift Company Memphis, Tennessee
Mail Clerk, 1955; starting position
Service Clerk, 1956-57; prepared installation instructions for mailing, processed orders for replacement parts.
Service Engineer; 1957-1960; assist customers in solving problems by mail, telephone and in person. Conducted classes in control valve theory and other related technology.

Shepard Warner Elevator Co. Cincinnati, Ohio
Assistant Service Manager, 1960-1962; responsible for sales of replacement parts and components, preparation of technical manuals and procedures, trouble shooting and adjusting of new and existing systems.

Dover Corporation, Elevator Division Horn Lake, Mississippi
Parts Manager, 1962-1970; responsible for inventory control, pricing, sale and shipment of replacement parts and modernization components. Designed and supervised preparation and distribution of Parts and Service manuals, installation instructions, etc. Supervised 4-20 persons. Gross annual volume, $ .5 to 1.5 million. Conceived Viscosity Control System, which remains a major product feature. Also in charge of all service functions as related to Residence elevators and Stair lifts.

Dover Elevator Company, Memphis, Tennessee
Service Sales Engineer, Atlanta, Georgia ; 1970 - 1973
Sold service contracts, repairs and modernization’s for commercial elevator systems. Assisted on new equipment sales, particularly where technical issues were involved. Assisted in trouble shooting and adjusting. Manned Augusta, GA service branch during prolonged strike, maintaining and repairing elevators in the field.
District Manager, Knoxville, TN; 1973 -1975; General manager responsible for sales, installation, service and repair of commercial elevator systems, including "hands on" assistance and training of personnel in certain areas. Supervising 25 people, annual volume $ 2 million.
District Manager , Los Angeles, CA; 1975 -1991;
General manager with same duties as described above. During tenure, annual volume increased from about $2 million to about $30 million, with an increase in employment from about 30 to about 160 persons, becoming one of DOVER'S largest districts.

NOTE: Rotary Lift Company was made a Division of Dover Corporation, which subsequently acquired Shepard Warner Elevator. Later, these two were consolidated as Dover Corporation, Elevator Division. Dover Elevator Company was the contracting arm of the elevator operations Of Dover Corporation, Elevator Division.

United States Elevator Corporation, Division of Cubic Corporation
San Diego, California
Service Manager, Los Angeles, CA; 1991 -1992
Responsible for sales and execution of contract service, repair and modernization. Supervised 25-30 persons with annual volume of about $4.7 million. Also handled litigation support for all liability claims.

Self Employed, Elevator Consultant, 1993  Providing consulting services to the industry, property owners and managers, and support services to the legal profession.

ThyssenKrupp  Elevator Corporation, Whittier, California
Branch Manager, Santa Ana, CA; 1994
General management of branch service office providing contract service, repair and modernization. 11 persons, $1.8 million annual volume.
Construction Manager, Los Angeles, CA; 1995 -1996
Responsible for all installation activities in greater Los Angeles area.  Supervising 20 to 30 persons. Also handled litigation support for liability claims.

Self Employed
Elevator Consultant, 1996 – present. Providing consulting and inspection services to the industry and property owners and managers, and support services to the legal profession, including defendants and plaintiffs. Includes inspections and evaluations of new and existing elevators, escalators and moving walks and related vertical transportation equipment. Due diligence appraisals, equipment and service audits, modernization services. Assistance in pricing, evaluating and co-ordination all activities. Forensic evaluations, review of documentation, appraisal of applicable code rules, etc. with regard to litigation.

Associations

Elevator Industry Group of Southern California
Secretary, Past President, Member, Board of Directors

National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities
Qualified Elevator Inspector

American Society of Mechanical Engineers International
Certified Elevator Inspector - Member, National Interest Review Group

City of Los Angeles - Member, Examining Board for Elevator Constructors

Publications

Available upon request

References

Available upon request