Category Archives for "2020"

NEII Announces New Executive Director

TOPEKA, KS. (SEPTEMBER 15, 2020)

Amy Blankenbiller will be stepping into the role of Executive Director at the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) effective Friday, October 16. 


Amy, who has been NEII's Vice President of Government Affairs since 2009, brings over 30 years of leadership, advocacy, strategic planning and management experience to this new position. Her track record speaks for itself, and we are fortunate that Amy will be leading NEII as our industry works to advance safety, strengthen relationships, and promote innovation. 


Formerly, Amy was the President and founder of AjB Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm working with associations, organizations and private businesses to implement government policy strategies, and President/CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. She also spent nearly twenty years in the Washington, DC area where she worked on federal and state policy efforts, as well as association management issues. Most notably, Amy received an appointment from President George H.W. Bush and served in his Administration. She also worked on Capitol Hill for both a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator. 


The Board of Directors thanks NEII's current Executive Director Karen Penafiel for her valuable contributions over the last four years, which includes assembling a top-notch staff, spearheading the development of a professional website and branding, and overseeing a strong advocacy program.


We wish Karen well and congratulate Amy on her new role within the NEII organization. 


Greg Ergenbright

President, National Elevator Industry, Inc. 

About NEII

NEII is the premier trade association representing the global leaders in the building transportation industry. Its members install, maintain, and/or manufacture elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other building transportation products. NEII‘s membership includes the six major international companies – Fujitec America, Inc., KONE, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Otis Elevator Company, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Thyssenkrupp Elevator Company and several other companies across the country. Collectively, the NEII members represent approximately eighty percent of the total hours worked within the elevator and escalator industry, employ more than 25,000 people in the U.S. and indirectly support hundreds of thousands of American jobs in affiliate industries. 

For more information about NEII, please visit www.neii.org


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NEII Announces 2020 Board of Directors

Spotsylvania, VA. (May 20, 2020)

The Board of Directors will drive NEII's mission to represent the global leaders in the building transportation industry through advocacy and code development.


SPOTSYLVANIA, VA. (May 20, 2020) - The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), the premier trade association representing the global leaders in the building transportation industry, announced the election of its new Board of Directors and officers. The new leadership team will serve a one-year term effective immediately. The elected officers of the association include:

  • Greg Ergenbright, President – Ergenbright has been President of Schindler Elevator Corporation’s U.S. operations since 2013. He has more than 20 years working in the elevator industry.
  • Erik Zommers, Vice President - Zommers is Senior Vice President/General Manager of Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.'s Elevator and Escalator Division. He has been with Mitsubishi Electric since 1989 and is in charge of all US operations for the Division.
  • Jared Radabaugh, Treasurer - Radabaugh is the Global Controller at Prysmian Group, where he provides financial, analytical, and decision-making support to the North American renewable energy and OEM business units.
  • Karen Penafiel, Secretary – Penafiel is the Executive Director of NEII and leads the staff team. She has over 30 years of building trade association management and advocacy experience.

NEII welcomes new Board members:

  • James Cramer, Otis Americas – Cramer has been with Otis Elevator Company for nearly 34 years, progressing through roles of increasing responsibility. He has served as the Regional Vice President of the Western Region for more than a decade and is also Interim President of Otis Americas.
  • Kevin Lavallee, thyssenkrupp Elevator Corporation – Lavallee serves as the President and CEO, North America at thyssenkrupp Elevator Corporation, where he has a history of over 16 years in both the U.S. and Canada with the company.
  • Ken Schmid, KONE Inc. – Schmid now serves as the Executive Vice President of KONE Americas. He has been with KONE in a series of successive leadership roles for more than 35 years.

The returning members of the NEII Board of Directors include:

  • Sterrett Lloyd, Draka Elevator Products – Lloyd currently holds the position of president at Draka Elevator Products where he directs the company's worldwide operations. He began his lifetime of industry service as a contractor and is the third generation of his family to work in the industry.
  • Gary Krupp, Fujitec America, Inc. – Krupp organizes and oversees the management of operations, engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing and service across the United States and Canada as the president of Fujitec America, Inc. Mr. Krupp has over 25 years in the elevator industry and began his career with Fujitec in 2002.

The NEII Board of Directors sets the strategic direction of the association to drive its mission to advance safety and innovation in the building transportation industry throughout North America.


“In my new role as president of the NEII Board of Directors, I look forward to continue building on our association’s successes over the past few years," said Greg Ergenbright, president of NEII. "Our industry association has been critical during the current coronavirus pandemic and I look forward to our collaboration as we work to keep the world moving as we get past this point in history. I'm honored to serve with this group of recognized leaders in the vertical transportation industry as we continue to promote safety and drive innovation.”

About NEII

NEII is the premier trade association representing the global leaders in the building transportation industry. Its members install, maintain, and/or manufacture elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other building transportation products. NEII‘s membership includes the six major international companies – Fujitec America, Inc., KONE, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Otis Elevator Company, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Thyssenkrupp Elevator Company and several other companies across the country. Collectively, the NEII members represent approximately eighty percent of the total hours worked within the elevator and escalator industry, employ more than 25,000 people in the U.S. and indirectly support hundreds of thousands of American jobs in affiliate industries. 

For more information about NEII, please visit www.neii.org


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