Category Archives for "2010"

NEII Announces New Government Affairs Consultant

Highlights

  • Primary focus will be on adoption of model codes and standards, the Model Elevator Law, and responsible legislation related to the advancement of safety, sound engineering practices and technologies within the industry.
  • Primary focus will be on adoption of model codes and standards, the Model Elevator Law, and responsible legislation related to the advancement of safety, sound engineering practices and technologies within the industry.

SALEM, N.Y. – (November 29, 2010) — The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) announced today that it has engaged the services of Amy J. Blankenbiller to act as Government Affairs Consultant, effective November 1st. In this new role, Blankenbiller will work with the NEII Government Affairs Committee to strengthen the association’s efforts in state and local governments. She will also assess, develop, coordinate and manage NEII’s governmental, legislative and regulatory activities, including those conducted with the IUEC and/or the Elevator Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF).

Ms. Blankenbiller will provide advice, counsel and direction to the Government Affairs Committee, Legal Advisory Group and NEII Board of Directors, and manage relationships with potential lobbyists. Major targets of these activities include state legislatures and regulatory authorities throughout the U.S. and major municipal entities (e.g., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.).

NEII focuses its government affairs efforts on codes, standards, the Model Elevator Law (MEL), responsible legislation and regulation related to the advancement of public and industry employee safety, and sound engineering practices and technologies within the industry.

Blankenbiller comes to NEII with more than 22 years of experience in government relations, regulatory development, business management and corporate leadership. Blankenbiller is president and founder of AJB Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm working with associations, organizations and private businesses to implement government policy strategies. Formerly, Blankenbiller was the President and CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

“We continually search for new ways to engage the industry and advance NEII’s objectives in the areas of codes and safety,” says Ed Donoghue, managing director, National Elevator Industry, Inc. “Ms. Blankenbiller’s proven strengths in government relations and regulatory development will optimize NEII’s presence in these areas. I’m looking forward to working closely with her over the coming years as we continue to foster and promote the interests of our members.”

About NEII
NEII, the national trade association of the building transportation industry, was established to promote safe building transportation for new and existing products and technologies, the adoption of current codes by local government agencies, and to encourage responsible legislation and regulatory measures at all levels of government. Regular membership is available to those corporations, firms or companies that, as part of their normal business operations, provide or perform any of the following: manufacturing (including parts or components used by others in the manufacture, repair or maintenance), installation, or the repair and maintenance of elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Trust membership is available to those corporations, firms, or companies that, as part of their regular business, employ members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and contribute to the benefit trusts (Trusts) established by agreements between the IUEC and NEII. Individual memberships are available to persons who are not employees of NEII member companies or organizations. NEII promotes safe building transportation and works with various organizations on the formation, adoption and enforcement of the latest building transportation codes and standards. For more information about NEII, log on to www.neii.org.

NEII Webinar on the A17.6 Suspension Means Standard

Highlights

  • National Elevator Industry, Inc. announces next in a series of educational Webinars to be held on December 8th, 2010
  • Webinar to feature most recent requirements and components of the new ASME A17.6 Standard for Elevator Suspension, Compensation and Governor Systems

SALEM, N.Y. (September 30, 2010) – The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) has announced the next installment in its series of educational online Webinars, to be held live on December 8th, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Following the format of its predecessors, the Webinar will act as an interactive platform to educate NEII members and other industry professionals on the requirements and components of the recently published ASME A17.6 Standard for Elevator Suspension, Compensation and Governor Systems.

Originally created to enable real-time communication between NEII members and other industry professionals, the educational Webinars have come to serve as a means to keep participants up-to-date with timely information regarding elevator safety procedures.

“As the building transportation industry continues to evolve, it is vital for NEII to utilize these new technologies and advancements to the benefit of the elevator and escalator community,” said Edward Donoghue, managing director, National Elevator Industry, Inc.

NAESAi QEI certified inspectors participating in the event, being co-sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International (NAESA International), will receive .1 CEU credit (NAESA International) towards their maintenance of qualifications by attending the ASME A17.6 Suspension Means Standard Webinar or participants may receive 1 PDH credit (ASME). This interactive program will incorporate member questions and hot button topics, as well as up-to-date information on the ASME A17.6 code.

“We have received a tremendously positive response from the participants in the educational Webinar series thus far,” said Donoghue. “The Webinar format allows us to guide members through the latest codes step by step while participating in two-way communication in an active Q&A; forum. The set-up accelerates the learning process and provides participants with a more complete understanding of the elevator safety code.”

The PBC Webinar will be hosted by Lou Bialy, Director of Codes & Standards, Otis Elevator and Chair, National Elevator Industry, Inc., Central Code Committee and Miles Lamb, Manager R&D;, Schindler Elevator Corporation, both members of the ASME A17 Mechanical Design Committee. The Webinar is free of charge and open to all who are interested. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.neii.org or click the link, choose your media player (Windows Media or Real Media) and enter your information.

Additionally the NEII Webinar will serve as a prelude to in-depth follow-up Webinars about the applications and implementations of ASME A17.6, hosted by NAESA International on December 10th, and ASME early in 2011.

About NEII
NEII, the national trade association of the building transportation industry, was established to promote safe building transportation for new and existing products and technologies, the adoption of current codes by local government agencies, and to encourage responsible legislation and regulatory measures at all levels of government. Regular membership is available to those corporations, firms or companies that, as part of their normal business operations, provide or perform any of the following: manufacturing (including parts or components used by others in the manufacture, repair or maintenance), installation, or the repair and maintenance of elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Trust membership is available to those corporations, firms, or companies that, as part of their regular business, employ members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and contribute to the benefit trusts (Trusts) established by agreements between the IUEC and NEII. Individual memberships are available to persons who are not employees of NEII member companies or organizations. NEII promotes safe building transportation and works with various organizations on the formation, adoption and enforcement of the latest building transportation codes and standards. For more information about NEII, log on to www.neii.org.

NEII Announces New 2010 Board of Directors and Trust Committee

Highlights

  • New board to further mission of association; promotion of safety in building transportation for new and existing technologies a chief objective.
  • Trust Committee will continue to administer the rights and obligations of organization with regard to building transportation industry benefit plan trusts.

SALEM, N.Y. (April 28, 2010) – The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) announced today the election of its new Board of Directors, including officers and Trust Committee members. These elections became effective April 27, 2010, and were made in conjunction with NEII’s annual meeting held in Rosemont, Illinois. The newly elected Board of Directors and officers include:

  • Randy Wilcox, President – Wilcox currently holds the position of president, North and South America Area (NSAA) for Otis Elevator Company, where he is responsible for all business operations in these regions. He has more than 25 years of industry experience and is entering his third term as the NEII President.
  • Vance Tang, Vice President – Tang is the North American Area director for KONE Corporation and president and chief executive officer for KONE Inc. He is responsible for the elevator and escalator business as well as the door service business being developed in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
  • Stephen D. Patton, Treasurer – Patton is the assistant controller, North and South America for Otis Elevator Company. He has more than 23 years of industry experience and is entering his third term as the NEII Treasurer.
  • Edward A. Donoghue, Secretary – Donoghue is the spokesperson and managing director for NEII. He has served NEII for over 34 years, acted as chair of numerous industry organizations and is one of the foremost authorities on elevator codes and safety, formerly serving as NEII’s Codes and Safety Consultant.
  • Michael Corbo, Mitsubishi Elevator – Corbo is general manager/senior vice president of Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics, USA’s elevator and escalator division. Corbo has more than 20 years of industry experience and has been involved with NEII for seven years; including serving as NEII’s board president from 2005 to 2007.
  • Barry Pletch, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company – Pletch serves as chief executive officer of ThyssenKrupp Elevator’s Americas Business Unit, where he is responsible for all business operations in North and South America.
  • Kenny Yamashiro, Fujitec America, Inc. – Yamashiro is chief operating officer for all Fujitec America operations. He has 24 years of experience and has served with the company in Japan, Asia and Europe.
  • John Kenner, Schindler Elevator Corporation – Kenner serves as president, North America, responsible for the company’s business in the U.S. and provides operational support for the Canadian business.

 

The NEII Board of Directors is responsible for managing and directing the affairs of the association as it pertains to its mission statement, which includes driving the formation of codes and standards, providing and supporting educational activities and acting as a conduit for communicating industry information.

Trust Committee
The Trust Committee is solely responsible for administering the rights and obligations of NEII with regards to the NEII Benefits and Educational Trusts. The newly-elected Trust Committee includes:

  • Gregory Garger, Chairman, Otis Elevator Company – Garger is vice president of human resources, North and South America Area (NSAA), Otis Elevator Company.
  • Bruce Brenizer, Vice Chairman, Mitsubishi Elevator – Brenizer serves as senior vice president of human resources, Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics U.S.A., Inc.
  • Timothy Grace, Schindler Elevator Corporation – Grace is a member of the Schindler Management Committee and is responsible for human resources initiatives across North and South America, the United States and Canada.
  • J. Patrick Heaney, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company – Heaney serves as vice president of labor relations for the U.S. field operations of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation.
  • Charles Moore, KONE, Inc. – Moore holds the position of senior vice president of human resources, for the North American operations.

“NEII’s ongoing success can be attributed to the collective experience of its board members and Trust Committee,” says Randy Wilcox, president, NEII Board of Directors. “I’m looking forward to another successful year working with the talented individuals in our industry to advance NEII’s objectives in the areas of codes and safety.”

About NEII
NEII, the national trade association of the building transportation industry, was established to promote safe building transportation for new and existing products and technologies, the adoption of current codes by local government agencies, and to encourage responsible legislation and regulatory measures at all levels of government. Regular membership is available to those corporations, firms or companies that, as part of their normal business operations, provide or perform any of the following: manufacturing (including parts or components used by others in the manufacture, repair or maintenance), installation, or the repair and maintenance of elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Trust membership is available to those corporations, firms, or companies that, as part of their regular business, employ members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and contribute to the benefit trusts (Trusts) established by agreements between the IUEC and NEII. Individual memberships are available to persons who are not employees of NEII member companies or organizations. NEII promotes safe building transportation and works with various organizations on the formation, adoption and enforcement of the latest building transportation codes and standards. For more information about NEII, log on to www.neii.org.

NEII Seeks Independent Government Affairs Consultant

SALEM, N.Y. (April 19, 2010) – The Board of Directors of the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) are seeking an experienced, independent Government Affairs Consultant (GA Consultant) to help assess, develop, coordinate and manage all related governmental, legislative and regulatory activities affecting the industry and its members. These activities include efforts performed with the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and/or its Elevator Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF). Applicants’ knowledge of the building transportation industry or elevators and escalators is not required.

The GA Consultant will be responsible for providing advice, counsel and direction to, and be a member and secretary of, the NEII Government Affairs Committee. State legislatures and regulatory authorities throughout the U.S. and major municipal entities (e.g., New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, etc.) will be the major targets of these activities.

Further details in a Position Profile Summary – Government Affairs Consultant – are available upon request at info@neii.org.

Qualified candidates interested in applying for this contract should forward a resume and cover letter with contact information and estimated monthly fees for services to info@neii.org before June 30, 2010.

NEII Establishes New Membership Category

Highlights

  • New Individual member category will extend NEII benefits and services to building transportation industry personnel
  • Associate Regular members have the opportunity to access improved membership benefit in the new year

SALEM, N.Y. (January 13, 2010) – The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) announces changes to its membership categories in an effort to widen its services to the building transportation industry. For the first time ever, individual memberships will be available to persons who are not employees of NEII companies or organizations that are regular NEII members. Consultants, third-party inspectors, jurisdictional inspectors, relevant government and safety officials and others can now join NEII as individuals and gain the benefits and resources available to existing members.

“While previous NEII membership was open only to corporations, firms and companies, individual membership will allow more people in the industry who are not associated with a member company to join NEII,” says Edward Donoghue, managing director, NEII. “We found that there was a real need in the industry for this level of membership and we are happy to provide it.”

Individual membership allows access to the NEII member-only web site areas “Codes & Standards,” “Safety,” the newsletter “NEII NOW,” “NEII-1,” “CodeFinder” and more. Members in this category are non-voting and cannot be directors. Benefits and obligations include:

INDIVIDUAL MEMBER

  • Access to the Individual Member area on the NEII web site.
  • NEII industry communications and general information.
  • NEII Now e-newsletter.
  • Annual individual membership dues with 50 CodeFinder reports – $500 per calendar year.
  • Annual individual membership dues with unlimited CodeFinder reports – $1,000 per calendar year.

Individual Member dues will be billed upon completion of the membership application. Membership will be effective at the time dues are received by the NEII office. Further membership details and pricing can be found on the NEII web site (www.neii.org) under the “Members” button.

NEII currently offers membership in four categories: Individual, Associate Regular, Full Regular and Trust. Regular membership in NEII is open to corporations, firms or companies that, as part of their regular business operations, provide or perform manufacturing (including parts or components used by others in the manufacture, repair or maintenance), installation, or repair and maintenance of elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Regular members are classified as either Full or Associate.

NEII Associate Regular membership has also been strengthened in 2010 to make the online resource CodeFinder available to all company employees. Launched in 2006, CodeFinder is an online database that is a single source for all codes, standards, and regulations that affect the industry.

Says Donoghue: “These membership changes reflect NEII’s continued commitment to engage those in the building transportation industry in advocacy and leadership. We’re always looking for better ways to improve and serve the industry in its mission to ensure safe building transportation.”

For more information on NEII membership and benefits, please visit NEII’s Web site at www.neii.org.

About NEII
NEII, the national trade association of the building transportation industry, was established to promote safe building transportation for new and existing products and technologies, the adoption of current codes by local government agencies, and to encourage responsible legislation and regulatory measures at all levels of government. Regular membership is available to those corporations, firms or companies that, as part of their normal business operations, provide or perform any of the following: manufacturing (including parts or components used by others in the manufacture, repair or maintenance), installation, or the repair and maintenance of elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Trust membership is available to those corporations, firms, or companies that, as part of their regular business, employ members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and contribute to the benefit trusts (Trusts) established by agreements between the IUEC and NEII. Individual memberships are available to persons who are not employees of NEII member companies or organizations. NEII promotes safe building transportation and works with various organizations on the formation, adoption and enforcement of the latest building transportation codes and standards. For more information about NEII, log on to www.neii.org.