2021 Ones to Watch: Joseph Corrado, Champion Elevator Corp.

Name: Joseph Corrado

Title: Executive Vice President

Company Name: Champion Elevator Corp.

Real estate associations or organizations that you are currently a member of: ireon/QBBA/EANYC

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?
We were recently awarded the modernization and maintenance contract of eight elevators at the Heritage Apartments managed by C+C Apartments in collaboration with L+M Builders. The Heritage Apartments are three high-rise residential towers located on 110^th St. and 5^th Ave. overlooking Central Park. We are proud to a part of this redevelopment and proud to partner with such amazing firms. Additionally, we recently acquired Payton Elevator in N.J. Payton Elevator has been providing dedicated elevator services over the past 30 years and we are proud to have them join our team!

How do you contribute to your community or your profession?
Community for me is a big deal. Community is where you live, the people that surround you, the place where our kids will grow up and what they will be exposed to. I do my best to stay involved with community affairs including Bowery Mission, Covenant House, Kids Need More, Odyssey House and more. Professionally, I am proudly on the board committee of NexGen for NAEC (National Association of Elevator Contracts) representing elevator contractors and suppliers across the country. I have also served as a panelist for NYARM presenting Door Lock Monitoring code compliance for NYC, and actively stay engaged with ECNY on upcoming code changes.

How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles?
Keeping everyone motivated can be challenging at times, especially with such a fast paced and fast-growing company like ours. Most people nowadays find themselves working well over 8-hour days, compounded by the struggles of everyday personal life. Here at Champion Elevator, we understand and recognize the efforts and dedication our employees provide. To maintain motivation and engagement, we regularly have team building events to further bond our management team with the employees that work for them. Additionally, we have annual companywide family events such as our annual fishing trip and annual easter egg hunt. Time spent together outside of the office, in a social setting, creates a stronger relationship in the workplace.

Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career?
There have been a couple of people throughout my life who have acted as mentors helping influence my career path. Don Gelestino, president and founder of Champion Elevator has played a major role in my life and has been one of the major mentors I’ve had. He has provided me with the ability to grow not only in my career, but in my personal life. He has given me the exposure and opened doors for me that otherwise may not have been there. He believed in me, my abilities and trusted me to make the right decisions (not that I always made them!). Then of course there is my mother, who passed away in 2018, she was always my number one supporter no matter what!

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Well, I guess that would depend on what age we are talking about! When I was a young boy, I most likely wanted to be fireman and superman! As I was reaching my teenage years and was playing Hockey, I wanted to be Wayne Gretzky. I can tell you that I’ve never met a young person who said, “Hey I want to be in the elevator business!” This industry is a hidden gem, most of the time entry into it is through a family member or close family friend, but it has provided families with amazing lives, including my own! I am so proud to be a part of it!

What led you to your current profession?
As I mentioned in the last question, family! My dad was involved in property management as my brother still is. In my house, we were taught to work for what we need, and you will ultimately get what you want! He offered me the opportunity of getting into the union and working for an elevator company which I accepted. I started my career at Robert Elevator in 1998 in Modernization and have worked in the Elevator Business ever since!

Top three things on your bucket list:
If I can only name three, I would have to say that leading the pack is seeing the Northern Lights in person! Second would be traveling to Switzerland! Lastly, I would like to do a HALO jump (yes, I mean jumping out of a plane at high altitude!).

Favorite quote:
“Teamwork makes the dream work!”