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I've mentioned it to a few people over the years because just, you know, when I started going to industry events and then Texacone became a part of Hyperion and you know, I'm on calls with people from all these other companies that are part of our group and they're talking about their parts and I'm like, I don't even know what that is.
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Texacone is is mostly focused on hydraulic.
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We do some traction stuff too, but a majority of it's hydraulic, so I'm more familiar with those things.
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So we have some businesses in our group that deal more in traction.
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And so trying to learn and understand their parts and what they're talking about.
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And I just, you know, I started kind of doing some research on my own and I just get telling people they need to have a breakout session at NABC for all of new people so that we can get the lingo and understand what people are talking about.
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One day I was driving home from work and I was like, I can do that.
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I'm looking up this stuff, I can do the research, and I can post something that not only teaches myself, but teaches other people that are interested in working.
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Hello and welcome to the Elevated Careers Podcast brought to you by the Alred Code.
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I'm your host, Matt Alred, with talent admission critical, all the all red groups, with industry expertise, and accessible customer service.
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You need the all-red group on your side.
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Your priority is our priority.
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Today I am joined by Evelyn Allen, general manager of X.
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His career is great attack of what can happen when you're willing to learn, step up, and do whatever needs to be done.
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Evelyn began her career as accounts stable quick and true hard work.
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Curiosity, the willingness to take on new challenges, eventually work their way up to the other.
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In this conversation, we talk about her career journey, what makes the elevator industry feel like a family, and her creation of Elevator 101 to help newcomers better understand the industry.
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This is a conversation about curiosity, lifelong learning, and opportunities that can open up when you're willing to keep growing.
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Evelyn, welcome to the show.
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Thanks for having me, Matt.
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Thank you.
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I appreciate it.
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I'm excited to be able to talk to you and obviously get to know you a little bit better.
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Thank you for uh accepting my invitation.
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I was excited and a little nervous when I saw it.
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It can be a little nerve-wracking even for me, right?
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Sometimes I kind of get nervous doing this and wonder why I do it.
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But I love the conversations and so I keep doing it.
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So thank you.
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I wanted to just kind of start from the the top of your elevator career.
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You mentioned that you came into the elevator industry from a manufacturing background, kind of just expecting just another manufacturing company.
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What would you say surprised you most once you got inside the industry?
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Uh once I really got inside the elevator industry, for the first few years I was here, I was really secluded to just Texacone.
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Texacone is definitely a family-oriented business from generations past.
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We have employees that have been here for 30 plus years.
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And so there's very much a family atmosphere.
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And when I got exposed to the rest of the elevator industry, I saw that there's family all throughout it.
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You know, it's kind of a theme in the elevator industry.
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You go to trade shows and it's more like going to family reunions.
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You see brothers that work for other companies, and you turn around and you look and you think, is that so-and-so that I met before?
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And no, it's not.
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It's his brother or his his dad or his cousin or you know, something like that.
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So there's lots of family um in the industry.
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And then also just I never really understood how many parts there were or components to an elevator.
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You know, you just you you kind of take it for granted that there's this box that you walk into and it takes you to where you need to go and you don't think about all of the things behind the walls that that make it work.
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Yeah.
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Well, and honestly, there's if you're just a riding passenger, there's no good way to envision unless you Google it or you've spent some time, you know, studying it out or working in the trade.
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It's like, how would you know?
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How would you even know what what's behind it?
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Maybe it's a glass elevator, but even that doesn't show everything.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So there's a lot.
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Thinking about the the movies, you know, somebody getting trapped in an elevator and they crawl out, then then you then you kind of see a little bit behind the scenes.
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But other than that, the normal person probably doesn't see that very often.
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Well, and and honestly, what comes to mind is uh a movie I saw where they just they just oh hey, I'll just you know, this is a false ceiling, I'll just climb out.
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And I'm like, okay, that doesn't really work like that.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Well, what what would you say were some of the biggest misconceptions or just assumptions maybe uh on entering the business?
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When I entered Texacone, I just thought it was another manufacturing company.
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I don't know that I had any real misconceptions.
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I just didn't really understand the scope.
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I mean, there's just there's so many different pieces and parts to it.
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You know, from the service side of it to the manufacturing side of it, to the installation side of it, to the construction side of it.
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There's just so many different aspects to the business.
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So even though you'd been in manufacturing companies, it sounds like the the community wasn't there.
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Like it's like, okay, we're gonna make this widget and it might go in that part, but it wasn't like you felt like, hey, we're part of the I don't know what you know industry you were in, right?
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But it's not like you felt part of the aerospace or the automotive, or let's say, hey, we're part of the Yeah, and it it may be the the company that I came from because the company I came from was sheet metal fabrication, but it was um it was a company that didn't have their own product.
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It was a company that we made other people's products, so we're constantly making things for different people in different industries, all the way from t urns to parts that go on a F-35 plane for Lockheed Martin's.
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You know, I mean, we did some aerospace, but we also did commercial and industrial and technology, and so we weren't really so tied to one specific industry.
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Gotcha.
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Yeah, well, and I can see that too.
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I did used to work for manufacturing companies for about five years before I really got into recruiting.
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And then to me, there wasn't near the community, right?
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And that's really what shocked me and surprised me and and honestly excited me that oh my gosh, there's there is a community, and and you know, people work together and they cooperate, and that was very intriguing.
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And so as I got into working with elevators, I I kind of let everything else go.
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And I'm like, no, I just I just want to do this.
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This is fun.
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Yeah, I really enjoy the family aspect of it.
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Family is really important to me.
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My parents are both passed away, and my only sibling has passed away.
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So work has become definitely a family thing for me.
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I mean, I have my husband and my son, but work uh is also, you know, I spend a lot of time here.
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So my work, family is important to me.
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Yeah.
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Well, and now it's now it's even bigger, right?
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You show up at the trade show and it's like, oh my, I have thousands of family members.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, that's awesome.
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So I, you know, noticed you're posting about elevator 101.
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I'm curious, what was the moment that made you realize that the industry needed Elevator 101?
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And I'm gonna I'm gonna pull up your little logo, which I think is so cool that you uh that you made there.
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That is very good.
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When when did you decide that that needed to be a thing?
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Um, well, I had I'd mentioned it to a few people over the years because just, you know, when I started really kind of going to industry events and then Texacone became a part of Hyperion, and you know, I'm on calls with people from all these other companies that are part of our group, and they're talking about their parts, and I'm like, I don't even know what that is.
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And you know, Texacone is is mostly focused on hydraulic.
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We do some traction stuff too, but a majority of it's hydraulic, so I'm more familiar with those things.
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So we have some businesses in our group that deal more in traction, and so trying to learn and understand their parts and what they're talking about.
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I just, you know, I started kind of doing some research on my own, and and I just kept telling people they need to have a a breakout session at NAEC for all us new people so that we can get the lingo and understand what what people are talking about.
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And so I've I've said that multiple times, and then I just finally, like one day I was driving home from work and I was like, I can do that.
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I'm looking up this stuff, I can do the research and I can post something that not only teaches myself, but teaches other people that are interested in learning.
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Yeah, and obviously you're not you're not the only one thinking that, right?
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Because you mentioned as soon as you started using that, that uh, you know, people were responding and saying, Hey, can I share that?
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How long did it take before people started jumping on that bandwagon?
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Really quickly, actually.
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For a while before I started doing the elevator 101, I've been doing kind of a fun fact of the day thing on my LinkedIn.
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And, you know, it had to do with elevator, but also manufacturing and then some other things.
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Um, just you know, whatever kind of struck me for the day that I wanted to look into.
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I'm always trying to learn and grow my knowledge all over the place.
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I always tell people I'm a jack of many trades, I guess.
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I know a little bit about a lot of things, but I don't know a lot about anything.
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Right.
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So I hear you.
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I hear you.
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I think it's awesome that you're learning new things, sharing new things.
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And it did make me want to just bring up uh you mentioned that you hadn't heard of.
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I'm gonna share this little little clip here, this little picture of the VTMP vertical transportation management program.
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And this is offered through the NAEC.
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And I'm wondering, and I don't know, I haven't I haven't done it.
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Um, so I can't speak to it.
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I think it's fascinating.
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But I wonder too if there's a way to maybe incorporate what what you're saying.
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Maybe uh maybe there's a VTMP junior that's like you know, kind of a fast track to at least get to some of the basics and then dive into that.
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Because again, I don't know how advanced or how long it takes, but yeah, that that's really interesting.
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I I'm for sure gonna be looking into that.
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Awesome.
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Awesome.
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Your path, I think, uh career path is remarkable because you mentioned, you know, AP clerk to office manager and then to general manager of obviously Texacone being a 94-year-old company.
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You just don't see that that often.
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And I'm curious as you look back, what decisions or habits do you think have made the biggest difference in your journey as you've as you've moved along in your career?
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I think just always being willing to do whatever was needed, like I mentioned a minute ago, the jack of all trade things.
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That that was a thing that was in our employee handbook when I started in sheet metal fabrication.
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It said, um, when you're hired at this company, you're expected to be a jack of all trades and you're expected to do anything ask of you at any time.
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And so I kind of embraced that.
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If I was done and didn't have anything to do, I would ask everybody around me, is there something I can help you with?
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And if nobody had anything to do, I'd start sweeping a floor or dusting a shelf or whatever I needed to do to stay busy.
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And so I've always been willing to learn from other people, to help other people so that, you know, if somebody's overloaded and somebody's not, you know, I I'm willing to jump in and help wherever I can and learn whatever I can.
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I didn't get the opportunity to go to college, which I used to say is my biggest regret.
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Now I think I've I've learned enough on my own that I'm good there, but I think I just have a thirst for knowledge and just being willing to do what somebody needs to do, I think goes a long way.
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Oh, absolutely.
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Yeah, I'm curious.
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I have to just ask, did you ever get out and and learn how to weld?
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Did you did you do some sheet metal fabrication?
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I didn't work on the floor in sheet metal, but I have made some seals at Texacone.
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I I did I did get out on the floor one day and spend a few hours making seals.
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So that was that was kind of neat.
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Gives you a whole new appreciation.
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Yes, it does.
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It's hard work and it's hot work.
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Oh, I'm sure.
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Especially in Texas, it's hot.
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Right, right.
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Um so you mentioned, you know, kind of wish you had gone to college.
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You didn't, but you also said it you didn't really miss it at this point.
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What would you say to someone who maybe maybe they feel limited because they don't have a degree?
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I think you're only limited by what you can imagine.
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I think if you want something bad enough and you work hard enough for it, at some point you'll get it.
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I really never dreamed that I would be in the spot that I am now.
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Um it took a long time to get here.
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It took a real long time to get here, and I appreciate every day of it.
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But I've just, you know, I've tried to just work as hard as I can and take ownership of the things um that I'm doing and do them to the best of my ability and show my bosses and show the people above me that I'm willing to step up and take risks to do whatever the company needs me to do.
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Yeah, that's awesome.
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And I like what you said about, you know, just limited by what you can imagine.
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I mean, obviously there are many people inside this industry who, you know, maybe they wouldn't have been a CEO at somebody else's company.
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So they just went and created their own, right?
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It's it's like, you know, you don't have to stay within somebody else's boundaries, create your own lines and go make it happen.
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Yeah.
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And kind of back to doing what needs to be done.
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You mentioned that that early on you volunteered to learn the entirely new software system and and in doing so became the internal expert, ended up teaching other people.
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How would you say that has led to your success?
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I think that that's a big part of my success.
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So the company I worked for got a new software system.
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No one was interested in learning it.
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I was the new girl, so they sent me for all the training.
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I came back and had to teach everybody else how to use it.
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And and so I had to sit with production guys who weren't real computer literate and do their data entry for them.
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But in doing that, you know, learn to read blueprints and things like that.
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That really opened me up and taught me so much about, you know, not just my little AP corner of the business, but I learned how all these other things feed in to make the business work.
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It gave me an appreciation for what other people and other departments had to do, but it gave me the knowledge of that.
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And so I think that really helps me now because in my office, I understand what the customer service folks have to do.
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I understand what the accounting folks have to do.
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I understand what the production leaders have to do and the production people have to do, or the purchasing people.
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Like I understand what they need in a system and what they need to do their job.
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I think that's really helped me be a better manager because it's not just here do this.
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It's I understand when I'm asking somebody to do something, what it's going to take to accomplish that task.
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Absolutely.
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How long did that process take?
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I mean, honestly, it sounds like years to go to training, come back and train everybody in the company.
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I think I think it was probably over, probably like six months to a year.
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Okay.
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It was crazy because we're we we held on to our old system too.
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So we ran parallel in an old system and the new system for a year.
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So that was like everybody had to do double the work for a year before we finally before the the other folks in the office, the office manager felt comfortable to like, okay, we can let go of that old system now and just use the new one.
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It was painful, but but I think sometimes the best lessons are learned that way.
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Yeah.
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I mean, so rewarding, right?
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I talk about cross-training.
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I mean, you mentioned learning to read blueprints.
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When would you have ever been able to learn to read blueprints had you not signed up for that?
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Right, right.
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I probably would have never had that interaction with those uh production folks.
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It really gave me a whole new uh view on the production flow and how things worked in that company and how things work in other production companies.
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Right.
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Well, and even today, right?
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Not that you're having to do it every day, but if you were to walk out on the floor and, you know, somebody's having a problem with the blueprint, right?
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Yeah.
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Step right up.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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That's awesome.
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You what you mentioned to me that someone once said to you, you don't have to know everything.
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You just have to know who to ask.
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How do you think that advice has helped shape your leadership style?
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I think that that's helped me be a little less hard on myself.
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Um I used to be like really nervous about feeling like I had to have the answers anytime anybody asks a question.
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:43.759
And now I feel like, you know, I can say, I need to ask someone else and get back to you because I know I want to give the right answer, not an answer.
00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.480
Right.
00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.399
So I know my limitations.
00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:50.639
And at Texacone, I know who to ask for whatever it is here.
00:16:50.799 --> 00:17:01.919
And I'm learning with Hyperion who to ask, you know, like if I need advice or answers for something traction related or service related, I know who to go to now.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.799
Sure, sure.
00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:10.079
Well, and if nobody knows it, it might be time to create, you know, start a powwow and say, all right, we got to solve this problem and you know, bring the best mind to the table.
00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:10.559
Yeah.
00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:24.640
I think that's one really great thing about Hyperion is that we do have so many people from so many different backgrounds in this business that we just have that wealth of knowledge kind of built in our little group.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.720
Yeah, absolutely.
00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:34.480
And um, and you mentioned too that the Texacon has been around for nearly a century, which tells me you got some pretty deep knowledge there.
00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:43.680
What are some of the values or traditions that have helped the company remain relevant, you know, through the changes in technology and ownership and everything else?
00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:53.440
I think just serving our customers well, you know, I mean, um we still can pick up a phone when you call Texacone, you don't get an automated system.
00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:55.599
You get a person that answers the phone.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:01.200
We try to respond back to our customers within minutes to hours, I would say.
00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:11.359
You know, some complex things may take a little bit more time, but for the most part, we get back to our customers right away via email or whether it be talking to them on the phone and getting it done.
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.279
We just do our best to serve our customers in the best way that we can.
00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.240
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:23.519
You had mentioned too that uh, you know, sometimes private equity gets criticized in the elevator industry, but you had kind of had a more balanced perspective.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:31.920
And I'm curious, you know, what do you think people misunderstand about the role of private equity and can it play a role in preserving longstanding businesses?
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.680
Or um, I think so.
00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:50.319
I mean, if you take Texacone for an example, Texacone was started by a grandfather who passed it down to his son, who passed it down to his son and daughter, and then his son and daughter, their kids weren't interested in taking over the family business.
00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:55.119
They wanted to do their own things, but the son and daughter were ready to move on in their life.
00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:58.799
They they done accomplished their goals and and wanted to move on.
00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:04.880
If it wasn't for private equity coming in and buying Texacone, I don't know what would have happened with Texacone.
00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.319
Maybe it would have gone away.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:17.359
And I know because of the family aspect of the elevator industry, I think a lot of people look negatively on the companies that were bought by private equity.
00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:30.880
But, you know, I mean, the people that are making the parts at Texacone for the most part are the same people that have been making the parts for Texacoon for the like I mentioned, we have employees that have been here 35 or more years.
00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:33.839
So the same people are still making those parts.
00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.839
And if this business had closed, those people would have lost their jobs.
00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:44.079
So I think, you know, private equity, obviously, you know, everybody has their opinions on it.
00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.400
Um, but I I see some positives in there.
00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.279
Sure, sure.
00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:50.319
I mean, it sounds like from your perspective, we can all play nice, right?
00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.160
That there's a room for for everybody.
00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:57.839
I had asked you a question about, you know, what it's it like to work in a male-dominated, you know, industry.
00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:03.759
And you surprised me by saying that Texacon has more women than men in production roles.
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.440
And that surprised me.
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.799
I just wouldn't have expected that.
00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.480
So what's it like there?
00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:14.480
Yeah, it's not that we like actively pursued hiring women over men or or vice versa.
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:18.559
It's just, you know, who's applied for the jobs and who's been successful.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:23.279
And our workforce is 56% female here at Texacone.
00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:34.960
The way I look at that, like, you know, I'm all for more power to the women to do whatever, but I don't want to be hired to do something, or I don't want to be given favor to do something because I'm a woman.
00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:39.680
I want to be hired and favored because I did the job the best that could be done.
00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:41.200
I was the person for the job.
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.880
And that's kind of how I look at it.
00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:47.200
You know, when we're looking to hire somebody, I'm not looking for a woman or a man.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:49.759
I'm looking for who is the best person for the job.
00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:55.519
It just happened to work out for Texaco and that women have have been winning out a little more lately.
00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:58.400
But I think we have a long history of that as well.
00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.039
Exactly.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:02.000
No, and I was going to share some of those pictures that you shared with me.
00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:07.839
So um this, I don't know that the year here, but it it looks like it's been a while.
00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:08.799
Yeah.
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.599
Yeah.
00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:13.680
So this was NAEC, the second annual women's workshop.
00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:16.319
I guess this is way before Women in Motion.
00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:21.839
We laugh at the the titles of these um hard hats and high heels sounds amazing.
00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.359
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:34.160
Um but but yeah, um, Miss Wheeler um to the far left there was the the spouse of the owner of Texacone, and she was very involved in the business.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:41.599
Um, if you look back at uh Texacone ads and things back in those days, you always see her in the in the photos.
00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:44.720
There she is at the third annual women's workshop.
00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.960
She actually was leading at that time.
00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:49.039
And then there's a picture of Gina there.
00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:56.240
Gina is uh Martha's daughter, and she took over the business and ran the business for for several years.
00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:59.759
Um both big shoes to fit.
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:00.799
Yeah.
00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:04.240
Well, obviously a lot of a lot of history there with women's leadership.
00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:07.119
It's served you well and continues to do so.
00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:10.880
It's a fascinating story and certainly a fascinating company.
00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:18.720
What changes do you think you're seeing or what opportunities do you think exist for women entering the industry today?
00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.160
Like I said before, you know, the sky's the limit.
00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:35.200
You know, I mean, I I've I've been to several of the women in motion um meetings at NAEC, and I see people in there from technicians to CEOs in every role in between.
00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:39.519
I think there's opportunity for any woman that wants to fill any role.
00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.559
Yeah, agreed.
00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.039
Agreed.
00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:43.200
I'm curious, you mentioned women in motion.
00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:47.039
How valuable is it to have a group of strong women that you can reach out to?
00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.400
And is that important?
00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:50.480
Um, I think it is.
00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:56.960
I think it um, you know, I mean, women are different than men, just inherently.
00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:02.799
And so um, you know, sometimes being the only woman in a room can be very intimidating.
00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:18.720
Um so sometimes, you know, being able to call somebody or look across the room and see another face that's that's like your own um gives you a little bit of of extra confidence in what you're doing.
00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.440
Thank you.
00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:25.119
The reason I want to ask that is the the last question I wanted to to bring up here, it kind of shines a light on that.
00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:34.559
So the question is if a young person joined the elevator industry right now and asked Evelyn Adams for one piece of career advice, what would you tell them?
00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:43.119
And and the piece I guess I'm tying to this is, you know, maybe they maybe they would also benefit from having, you know, some mentorship, right?
00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.440
And coming to you to to ask that.
00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.119
So what would you just say?
00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:55.440
I would just tell them, you know, if you if you really want to be in this industry, dream big and be willing to work for it.
00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:58.720
You know, you can't just dream big, you gotta work hard too.
00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:03.599
I haven't figured out the thing that were where you don't have to work hard.
00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:05.440
I haven't figured that out yet.
00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:11.920
I feel like I work pretty hard every day, and maybe that's just me and my personality.
00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:14.799
Maybe I don't know how to to sit back and relax.
00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.799
My husband would probably agree with that.
00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:20.240
I'm always seeing something that needs to be done and and trying to do it.
00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.279
And doing it, yeah.
00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:30.559
Well, and I guess the just to look back, if you were to look back and say had had kicked up your heels, would you be prepared for the role you're in right now?
00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.880
Um I don't think so.
00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.200
I don't think so.
00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.160
Yeah.
00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:39.039
So it it's it's kind of like they they go hand in hand, right?
00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.480
You work hard, the opportunity comes.
00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:42.720
If you don't work hard, it's not gonna find you.
00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.920
Right, right.
00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.079
That's that's definitely true.
00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.279
Awesome.
00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.200
Evelyn, thank you so much for being with me today.
00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.160
It's been a lot of fun.
00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.039
Yeah, thanks.
00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:52.160
I really appreciate it.
00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.720
Yeah, well, I wish you the best as you continue to lead the company and build your career.
00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.599
You too.
00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.960
Congratulations on your podcast.
00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.759
I think it's awesome.
00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.799
I enjoy watching it.
00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.680
Thank you.
00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:08.720
Thank you for listening to the Elevator Careers Podcast, sponsored by the Allred Group, a leader in elevator industry recruiting.
00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:16.400
Please visit our YouTube channel at Elevator Careers or check us out online at elevatorcareers.net.
00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.920
Please like and subscribe.
00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.000
And until next time, stay safe.
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:17.519
I've mentioned it to a few people over the years because just, you know, when I started going to industry events and then Texacone became a part of Hyperion and you know, I'm on calls with people from all these other companies that are part of our group and they're talking about their parts and I'm like, I don't even know what that is.
00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.559
Texacone is is mostly focused on hydraulic.
00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:26.480
We do some traction stuff too, but a majority of it's hydraulic, so I'm more familiar with those things.
00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:30.960
So we have some businesses in our group that deal more in traction.
00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:37.359
And so trying to learn and understand their parts and what they're talking about.
00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:52.159
And I just, you know, I started kind of doing some research on my own and I just get telling people they need to have a breakout session at NABC for all of new people so that we can get the lingo and understand what people are talking about.
00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:56.560
One day I was driving home from work and I was like, I can do that.
00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:07.120
I'm looking up this stuff, I can do the research, and I can post something that not only teaches myself, but teaches other people that are interested in working.
00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:11.760
Hello and welcome to the Elevated Careers Podcast brought to you by the Alred Code.
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:21.280
I'm your host, Matt Alred, with talent admission critical, all the all red groups, with industry expertise, and accessible customer service.
00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:23.519
You need the all-red group on your side.
00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:25.760
Your priority is our priority.
00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:34.560
Today I am joined by Evelyn Allen, general manager of X.
00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:41.120
His career is great attack of what can happen when you're willing to learn, step up, and do whatever needs to be done.
00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:44.879
Evelyn began her career as accounts stable quick and true hard work.
00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:49.280
Curiosity, the willingness to take on new challenges, eventually work their way up to the other.
00:01:49.920 --> 00:02:00.239
In this conversation, we talk about her career journey, what makes the elevator industry feel like a family, and her creation of Elevator 101 to help newcomers better understand the industry.
00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:07.920
This is a conversation about curiosity, lifelong learning, and opportunities that can open up when you're willing to keep growing.
00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:09.759
Evelyn, welcome to the show.
00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:11.599
Thanks for having me, Matt.
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:12.560
Thank you.
00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:13.759
I appreciate it.
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:17.039
I'm excited to be able to talk to you and obviously get to know you a little bit better.
00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.120
Thank you for uh accepting my invitation.
00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:22.400
I was excited and a little nervous when I saw it.
00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:26.159
It can be a little nerve-wracking even for me, right?
00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:31.520
Sometimes I kind of get nervous doing this and wonder why I do it.
00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.560
But I love the conversations and so I keep doing it.
00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:35.680
So thank you.
00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:40.080
I wanted to just kind of start from the the top of your elevator career.
00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:47.439
You mentioned that you came into the elevator industry from a manufacturing background, kind of just expecting just another manufacturing company.
00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:51.199
What would you say surprised you most once you got inside the industry?
00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:59.759
Uh once I really got inside the elevator industry, for the first few years I was here, I was really secluded to just Texacone.
00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:05.280
Texacone is definitely a family-oriented business from generations past.
00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:08.240
We have employees that have been here for 30 plus years.
00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:10.639
And so there's very much a family atmosphere.
00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:18.240
And when I got exposed to the rest of the elevator industry, I saw that there's family all throughout it.
00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:20.960
You know, it's kind of a theme in the elevator industry.
00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.800
You go to trade shows and it's more like going to family reunions.
00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:31.599
You see brothers that work for other companies, and you turn around and you look and you think, is that so-and-so that I met before?
00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:32.719
And no, it's not.
00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:37.439
It's his brother or his his dad or his cousin or you know, something like that.
00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:40.800
So there's lots of family um in the industry.
00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:48.479
And then also just I never really understood how many parts there were or components to an elevator.
00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:59.039
You know, you just you you kind of take it for granted that there's this box that you walk into and it takes you to where you need to go and you don't think about all of the things behind the walls that that make it work.
00:03:59.280 --> 00:03:59.439
Yeah.
00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:08.879
Well, and honestly, there's if you're just a riding passenger, there's no good way to envision unless you Google it or you've spent some time, you know, studying it out or working in the trade.
00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:09.919
It's like, how would you know?
00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.240
How would you even know what what's behind it?
00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:15.439
Maybe it's a glass elevator, but even that doesn't show everything.
00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:16.079
Yeah.
00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:16.480
Yeah.
00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:17.439
So there's a lot.
00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:25.279
Thinking about the the movies, you know, somebody getting trapped in an elevator and they crawl out, then then you then you kind of see a little bit behind the scenes.
00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:28.720
But other than that, the normal person probably doesn't see that very often.
00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:35.600
Well, and and honestly, what comes to mind is uh a movie I saw where they just they just oh hey, I'll just you know, this is a false ceiling, I'll just climb out.
00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:38.079
And I'm like, okay, that doesn't really work like that.
00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:39.360
Yeah.
00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:39.920
Yeah.
00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:47.279
Well, what what would you say were some of the biggest misconceptions or just assumptions maybe uh on entering the business?
00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.920
When I entered Texacone, I just thought it was another manufacturing company.
00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:54.959
I don't know that I had any real misconceptions.
00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:57.920
I just didn't really understand the scope.
00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:02.319
I mean, there's just there's so many different pieces and parts to it.
00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:10.879
You know, from the service side of it to the manufacturing side of it, to the installation side of it, to the construction side of it.
00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.839
There's just so many different aspects to the business.
00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:18.160
So even though you'd been in manufacturing companies, it sounds like the the community wasn't there.
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:27.839
Like it's like, okay, we're gonna make this widget and it might go in that part, but it wasn't like you felt like, hey, we're part of the I don't know what you know industry you were in, right?
00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:43.040
But it's not like you felt part of the aerospace or the automotive, or let's say, hey, we're part of the Yeah, and it it may be the the company that I came from because the company I came from was sheet metal fabrication, but it was um it was a company that didn't have their own product.
00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:57.680
It was a company that we made other people's products, so we're constantly making things for different people in different industries, all the way from t urns to parts that go on a F-35 plane for Lockheed Martin's.
00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:08.800
You know, I mean, we did some aerospace, but we also did commercial and industrial and technology, and so we weren't really so tied to one specific industry.
00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:09.519
Gotcha.
00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.120
Yeah, well, and I can see that too.
00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:16.240
I did used to work for manufacturing companies for about five years before I really got into recruiting.
00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.040
And then to me, there wasn't near the community, right?
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:30.000
And that's really what shocked me and surprised me and and honestly excited me that oh my gosh, there's there is a community, and and you know, people work together and they cooperate, and that was very intriguing.
00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:33.360
And so as I got into working with elevators, I I kind of let everything else go.
00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:35.279
And I'm like, no, I just I just want to do this.
00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:36.240
This is fun.
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:39.600
Yeah, I really enjoy the family aspect of it.
00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:41.680
Family is really important to me.
00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:45.600
My parents are both passed away, and my only sibling has passed away.
00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:49.839
So work has become definitely a family thing for me.
00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:54.639
I mean, I have my husband and my son, but work uh is also, you know, I spend a lot of time here.
00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.040
So my work, family is important to me.
00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:57.519
Yeah.
00:06:57.600 --> 00:06:59.199
Well, and now it's now it's even bigger, right?
00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:02.959
You show up at the trade show and it's like, oh my, I have thousands of family members.
00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:03.920
Yeah.
00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.680
Yeah, that's awesome.
00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:09.279
So I, you know, noticed you're posting about elevator 101.
00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:14.639
I'm curious, what was the moment that made you realize that the industry needed Elevator 101?
00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:19.839
And I'm gonna I'm gonna pull up your little logo, which I think is so cool that you uh that you made there.
00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:20.800
That is very good.
00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:23.519
When when did you decide that that needed to be a thing?
00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:43.839
Um, well, I had I'd mentioned it to a few people over the years because just, you know, when I started really kind of going to industry events and then Texacone became a part of Hyperion, and you know, I'm on calls with people from all these other companies that are part of our group, and they're talking about their parts, and I'm like, I don't even know what that is.
00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.079
And you know, Texacone is is mostly focused on hydraulic.
00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:54.000
We do some traction stuff too, but a majority of it's hydraulic, so I'm more familiar with those things.
00:07:54.160 --> 00:08:04.639
So we have some businesses in our group that deal more in traction, and so trying to learn and understand their parts and what they're talking about.
00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:20.000
I just, you know, I started kind of doing some research on my own, and and I just kept telling people they need to have a a breakout session at NAEC for all us new people so that we can get the lingo and understand what what people are talking about.
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:28.639
And so I've I've said that multiple times, and then I just finally, like one day I was driving home from work and I was like, I can do that.
00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:38.960
I'm looking up this stuff, I can do the research and I can post something that not only teaches myself, but teaches other people that are interested in learning.
00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:42.320
Yeah, and obviously you're not you're not the only one thinking that, right?
00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:49.200
Because you mentioned as soon as you started using that, that uh, you know, people were responding and saying, Hey, can I share that?
00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:52.480
How long did it take before people started jumping on that bandwagon?
00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:54.159
Really quickly, actually.
00:08:54.399 --> 00:09:01.440
For a while before I started doing the elevator 101, I've been doing kind of a fun fact of the day thing on my LinkedIn.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:06.240
And, you know, it had to do with elevator, but also manufacturing and then some other things.
00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:10.639
Um, just you know, whatever kind of struck me for the day that I wanted to look into.
00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:14.559
I'm always trying to learn and grow my knowledge all over the place.
00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:18.240
I always tell people I'm a jack of many trades, I guess.
00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:22.080
I know a little bit about a lot of things, but I don't know a lot about anything.
00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:22.639
Right.
00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:24.320
So I hear you.
00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:25.200
I hear you.
00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.480
I think it's awesome that you're learning new things, sharing new things.
00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:32.159
And it did make me want to just bring up uh you mentioned that you hadn't heard of.
00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:38.000
I'm gonna share this little little clip here, this little picture of the VTMP vertical transportation management program.
00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.320
And this is offered through the NAEC.
00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:43.840
And I'm wondering, and I don't know, I haven't I haven't done it.
00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:45.759
Um, so I can't speak to it.
00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:47.120
I think it's fascinating.
00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:51.279
But I wonder too if there's a way to maybe incorporate what what you're saying.
00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:59.759
Maybe uh maybe there's a VTMP junior that's like you know, kind of a fast track to at least get to some of the basics and then dive into that.
00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:05.360
Because again, I don't know how advanced or how long it takes, but yeah, that that's really interesting.
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.279
I I'm for sure gonna be looking into that.
00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:08.159
Awesome.
00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:08.799
Awesome.
00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:19.279
Your path, I think, uh career path is remarkable because you mentioned, you know, AP clerk to office manager and then to general manager of obviously Texacone being a 94-year-old company.
00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:20.720
You just don't see that that often.
00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:30.639
And I'm curious as you look back, what decisions or habits do you think have made the biggest difference in your journey as you've as you've moved along in your career?
00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:38.000
I think just always being willing to do whatever was needed, like I mentioned a minute ago, the jack of all trade things.
00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:43.039
That that was a thing that was in our employee handbook when I started in sheet metal fabrication.
00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:51.600
It said, um, when you're hired at this company, you're expected to be a jack of all trades and you're expected to do anything ask of you at any time.
00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.759
And so I kind of embraced that.
00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:59.440
If I was done and didn't have anything to do, I would ask everybody around me, is there something I can help you with?
00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:08.080
And if nobody had anything to do, I'd start sweeping a floor or dusting a shelf or whatever I needed to do to stay busy.
00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:20.559
And so I've always been willing to learn from other people, to help other people so that, you know, if somebody's overloaded and somebody's not, you know, I I'm willing to jump in and help wherever I can and learn whatever I can.
00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:25.519
I didn't get the opportunity to go to college, which I used to say is my biggest regret.
00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:37.200
Now I think I've I've learned enough on my own that I'm good there, but I think I just have a thirst for knowledge and just being willing to do what somebody needs to do, I think goes a long way.
00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:38.080
Oh, absolutely.
00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:38.799
Yeah, I'm curious.
00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:41.919
I have to just ask, did you ever get out and and learn how to weld?
00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.240
Did you did you do some sheet metal fabrication?
00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:49.360
I didn't work on the floor in sheet metal, but I have made some seals at Texacone.
00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:54.000
I I did I did get out on the floor one day and spend a few hours making seals.
00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:55.840
So that was that was kind of neat.
00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:57.759
Gives you a whole new appreciation.
00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:58.879
Yes, it does.
00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:01.679
It's hard work and it's hot work.
00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:02.720
Oh, I'm sure.
00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.559
Especially in Texas, it's hot.
00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.759
Right, right.
00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:10.320
Um so you mentioned, you know, kind of wish you had gone to college.
00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:14.240
You didn't, but you also said it you didn't really miss it at this point.
00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:19.360
What would you say to someone who maybe maybe they feel limited because they don't have a degree?
00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:23.679
I think you're only limited by what you can imagine.
00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:30.080
I think if you want something bad enough and you work hard enough for it, at some point you'll get it.
00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:34.080
I really never dreamed that I would be in the spot that I am now.
00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:37.120
Um it took a long time to get here.
00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:40.960
It took a real long time to get here, and I appreciate every day of it.
00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:58.960
But I've just, you know, I've tried to just work as hard as I can and take ownership of the things um that I'm doing and do them to the best of my ability and show my bosses and show the people above me that I'm willing to step up and take risks to do whatever the company needs me to do.
00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.159
Yeah, that's awesome.
00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:03.600
And I like what you said about, you know, just limited by what you can imagine.
00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:10.480
I mean, obviously there are many people inside this industry who, you know, maybe they wouldn't have been a CEO at somebody else's company.
00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:12.159
So they just went and created their own, right?
00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:19.120
It's it's like, you know, you don't have to stay within somebody else's boundaries, create your own lines and go make it happen.
00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:19.840
Yeah.
00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:22.080
And kind of back to doing what needs to be done.
00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:31.360
You mentioned that that early on you volunteered to learn the entirely new software system and and in doing so became the internal expert, ended up teaching other people.
00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:34.080
How would you say that has led to your success?
00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:37.279
I think that that's a big part of my success.
00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:40.320
So the company I worked for got a new software system.
00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.399
No one was interested in learning it.
00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:45.600
I was the new girl, so they sent me for all the training.
00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.480
I came back and had to teach everybody else how to use it.
00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:57.039
And and so I had to sit with production guys who weren't real computer literate and do their data entry for them.
00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.720
But in doing that, you know, learn to read blueprints and things like that.
00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:13.919
That really opened me up and taught me so much about, you know, not just my little AP corner of the business, but I learned how all these other things feed in to make the business work.
00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:20.240
It gave me an appreciation for what other people and other departments had to do, but it gave me the knowledge of that.
00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:26.639
And so I think that really helps me now because in my office, I understand what the customer service folks have to do.
00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:29.200
I understand what the accounting folks have to do.
00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:35.519
I understand what the production leaders have to do and the production people have to do, or the purchasing people.
00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:40.159
Like I understand what they need in a system and what they need to do their job.
00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:47.279
I think that's really helped me be a better manager because it's not just here do this.
00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:53.279
It's I understand when I'm asking somebody to do something, what it's going to take to accomplish that task.
00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.000
Absolutely.
00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:55.360
How long did that process take?
00:14:55.440 --> 00:15:02.240
I mean, honestly, it sounds like years to go to training, come back and train everybody in the company.
00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:07.279
I think I think it was probably over, probably like six months to a year.
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:07.759
Okay.
00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:12.159
It was crazy because we're we we held on to our old system too.
00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:16.000
So we ran parallel in an old system and the new system for a year.
00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:29.279
So that was like everybody had to do double the work for a year before we finally before the the other folks in the office, the office manager felt comfortable to like, okay, we can let go of that old system now and just use the new one.
00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:34.080
It was painful, but but I think sometimes the best lessons are learned that way.
00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:34.480
Yeah.
00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.840
I mean, so rewarding, right?
00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.120
I talk about cross-training.
00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:39.200
I mean, you mentioned learning to read blueprints.
00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:43.440
When would you have ever been able to learn to read blueprints had you not signed up for that?
00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.320
Right, right.
00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:48.879
I probably would have never had that interaction with those uh production folks.
00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:58.080
It really gave me a whole new uh view on the production flow and how things worked in that company and how things work in other production companies.
00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:58.720
Right.
00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.000
Well, and even today, right?
00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:06.080
Not that you're having to do it every day, but if you were to walk out on the floor and, you know, somebody's having a problem with the blueprint, right?
00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:06.639
Yeah.
00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.759
Step right up.
00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.480
Yeah.
00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.120
Yeah.
00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:09.759
Yeah.
00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.480
That's awesome.
00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:14.399
You what you mentioned to me that someone once said to you, you don't have to know everything.
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:16.480
You just have to know who to ask.
00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:20.559
How do you think that advice has helped shape your leadership style?
00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:25.360
I think that that's helped me be a little less hard on myself.
00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:33.440
Um I used to be like really nervous about feeling like I had to have the answers anytime anybody asks a question.
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:43.759
And now I feel like, you know, I can say, I need to ask someone else and get back to you because I know I want to give the right answer, not an answer.
00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.480
Right.
00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.399
So I know my limitations.
00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:50.639
And at Texacone, I know who to ask for whatever it is here.
00:16:50.799 --> 00:17:01.919
And I'm learning with Hyperion who to ask, you know, like if I need advice or answers for something traction related or service related, I know who to go to now.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.799
Sure, sure.
00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:10.079
Well, and if nobody knows it, it might be time to create, you know, start a powwow and say, all right, we got to solve this problem and you know, bring the best mind to the table.
00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:10.559
Yeah.
00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:24.640
I think that's one really great thing about Hyperion is that we do have so many people from so many different backgrounds in this business that we just have that wealth of knowledge kind of built in our little group.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.720
Yeah, absolutely.
00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:34.480
And um, and you mentioned too that the Texacon has been around for nearly a century, which tells me you got some pretty deep knowledge there.
00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:43.680
What are some of the values or traditions that have helped the company remain relevant, you know, through the changes in technology and ownership and everything else?
00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:53.440
I think just serving our customers well, you know, I mean, um we still can pick up a phone when you call Texacone, you don't get an automated system.
00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:55.599
You get a person that answers the phone.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:01.200
We try to respond back to our customers within minutes to hours, I would say.
00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:11.359
You know, some complex things may take a little bit more time, but for the most part, we get back to our customers right away via email or whether it be talking to them on the phone and getting it done.
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.279
We just do our best to serve our customers in the best way that we can.
00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.240
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:23.519
You had mentioned too that uh, you know, sometimes private equity gets criticized in the elevator industry, but you had kind of had a more balanced perspective.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:31.920
And I'm curious, you know, what do you think people misunderstand about the role of private equity and can it play a role in preserving longstanding businesses?
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.680
Or um, I think so.
00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:50.319
I mean, if you take Texacone for an example, Texacone was started by a grandfather who passed it down to his son, who passed it down to his son and daughter, and then his son and daughter, their kids weren't interested in taking over the family business.
00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:55.119
They wanted to do their own things, but the son and daughter were ready to move on in their life.
00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:58.799
They they done accomplished their goals and and wanted to move on.
00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:04.880
If it wasn't for private equity coming in and buying Texacone, I don't know what would have happened with Texacone.
00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.319
Maybe it would have gone away.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:17.359
And I know because of the family aspect of the elevator industry, I think a lot of people look negatively on the companies that were bought by private equity.
00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:30.880
But, you know, I mean, the people that are making the parts at Texacone for the most part are the same people that have been making the parts for Texacoon for the like I mentioned, we have employees that have been here 35 or more years.
00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:33.839
So the same people are still making those parts.
00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.839
And if this business had closed, those people would have lost their jobs.
00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:44.079
So I think, you know, private equity, obviously, you know, everybody has their opinions on it.
00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.400
Um, but I I see some positives in there.
00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.279
Sure, sure.
00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:50.319
I mean, it sounds like from your perspective, we can all play nice, right?
00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.160
That there's a room for for everybody.
00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:57.839
I had asked you a question about, you know, what it's it like to work in a male-dominated, you know, industry.
00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:03.759
And you surprised me by saying that Texacon has more women than men in production roles.
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.440
And that surprised me.
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.799
I just wouldn't have expected that.
00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.480
So what's it like there?
00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:14.480
Yeah, it's not that we like actively pursued hiring women over men or or vice versa.
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:18.559
It's just, you know, who's applied for the jobs and who's been successful.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:23.279
And our workforce is 56% female here at Texacone.
00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:34.960
The way I look at that, like, you know, I'm all for more power to the women to do whatever, but I don't want to be hired to do something, or I don't want to be given favor to do something because I'm a woman.
00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:39.680
I want to be hired and favored because I did the job the best that could be done.
00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:41.200
I was the person for the job.
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.880
And that's kind of how I look at it.
00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:47.200
You know, when we're looking to hire somebody, I'm not looking for a woman or a man.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:49.759
I'm looking for who is the best person for the job.
00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:55.519
It just happened to work out for Texaco and that women have have been winning out a little more lately.
00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:58.400
But I think we have a long history of that as well.
00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.039
Exactly.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:02.000
No, and I was going to share some of those pictures that you shared with me.
00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:07.839
So um this, I don't know that the year here, but it it looks like it's been a while.
00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:08.799
Yeah.
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.599
Yeah.
00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:13.680
So this was NAEC, the second annual women's workshop.
00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:16.319
I guess this is way before Women in Motion.
00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:21.839
We laugh at the the titles of these um hard hats and high heels sounds amazing.
00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.359
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:34.160
Um but but yeah, um, Miss Wheeler um to the far left there was the the spouse of the owner of Texacone, and she was very involved in the business.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:41.599
Um, if you look back at uh Texacone ads and things back in those days, you always see her in the in the photos.
00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:44.720
There she is at the third annual women's workshop.
00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.960
She actually was leading at that time.
00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:49.039
And then there's a picture of Gina there.
00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:56.240
Gina is uh Martha's daughter, and she took over the business and ran the business for for several years.
00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:59.759
Um both big shoes to fit.
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:00.799
Yeah.
00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:04.240
Well, obviously a lot of a lot of history there with women's leadership.
00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:07.119
It's served you well and continues to do so.
00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:10.880
It's a fascinating story and certainly a fascinating company.
00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:18.720
What changes do you think you're seeing or what opportunities do you think exist for women entering the industry today?
00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.160
Like I said before, you know, the sky's the limit.
00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:35.200
You know, I mean, I I've I've been to several of the women in motion um meetings at NAEC, and I see people in there from technicians to CEOs in every role in between.
00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:39.519
I think there's opportunity for any woman that wants to fill any role.
00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.559
Yeah, agreed.
00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.039
Agreed.
00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:43.200
I'm curious, you mentioned women in motion.
00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:47.039
How valuable is it to have a group of strong women that you can reach out to?
00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.400
And is that important?
00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:50.480
Um, I think it is.
00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:56.960
I think it um, you know, I mean, women are different than men, just inherently.
00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:02.799
And so um, you know, sometimes being the only woman in a room can be very intimidating.
00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:18.720
Um so sometimes, you know, being able to call somebody or look across the room and see another face that's that's like your own um gives you a little bit of of extra confidence in what you're doing.
00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.440
Thank you.
00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:25.119
The reason I want to ask that is the the last question I wanted to to bring up here, it kind of shines a light on that.
00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:34.559
So the question is if a young person joined the elevator industry right now and asked Evelyn Adams for one piece of career advice, what would you tell them?
00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:43.119
And and the piece I guess I'm tying to this is, you know, maybe they maybe they would also benefit from having, you know, some mentorship, right?
00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.440
And coming to you to to ask that.
00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.119
So what would you just say?
00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:55.440
I would just tell them, you know, if you if you really want to be in this industry, dream big and be willing to work for it.
00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:58.720
You know, you can't just dream big, you gotta work hard too.
00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:03.599
I haven't figured out the thing that were where you don't have to work hard.
00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:05.440
I haven't figured that out yet.
00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:11.920
I feel like I work pretty hard every day, and maybe that's just me and my personality.
00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:14.799
Maybe I don't know how to to sit back and relax.
00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.799
My husband would probably agree with that.
00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:20.240
I'm always seeing something that needs to be done and and trying to do it.
00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.279
And doing it, yeah.
00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:30.559
Well, and I guess the just to look back, if you were to look back and say had had kicked up your heels, would you be prepared for the role you're in right now?
00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.880
Um I don't think so.
00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.200
I don't think so.
00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.160
Yeah.
00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:39.039
So it it's it's kind of like they they go hand in hand, right?
00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.480
You work hard, the opportunity comes.
00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:42.720
If you don't work hard, it's not gonna find you.
00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.920
Right, right.
00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.079
That's that's definitely true.
00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.279
Awesome.
00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.200
Evelyn, thank you so much for being with me today.
00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.160
It's been a lot of fun.
00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.039
Yeah, thanks.
00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:52.160
I really appreciate it.
00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.720
Yeah, well, I wish you the best as you continue to lead the company and build your career.
00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.599
You too.
00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.960
Congratulations on your podcast.
00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.759
I think it's awesome.
00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.799
I enjoy watching it.
00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.680
Thank you.
00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:08.720
Thank you for listening to the Elevator Careers Podcast, sponsored by the Allred Group, a leader in elevator industry recruiting.
00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:16.400
Please visit our YouTube channel at Elevator Careers or check us out online at elevatorcareers.net.
00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.920
Please like and subscribe.
00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.000
And until next time, stay safe.
