Elevator
World, Inc., publisher of ELEVATOR WORLD magazine, was founded in
January 1953 by William C. Sturgeon, partner
and president of Mobile Elevator & Equipment Company, a contracting
firm operating in three southern states.
"ELEVATOR WORLD, the industry's
first trade publication was created and sustained as a hobby, the
bulk of activity by my wife, Mary Sands, and myself being at night
and on weekends." ,,, William C. Sturgeon
From 1953 until 1963, Sturgeon
remained with Mobile Elevator & Equipment Company, while publishing
ELEVATOR WORLD. During those early days he wore two hats . . .
"trying to gain advertising,
subscriptions and editorial support from an entire industry, even
while competing in the contracting business with some of the very
companies whose help was needed." ... William C. Sturgeon
In 1963, after selling his contracting firm to Montgomery Elevator Company (now KONE Inc.), William Sturgeon became the full-time publisher and editor of ELEVATOR WORLD. In its early days, ELEVATOR WORLD depended on the advertising of companies who supplied components and systems to the elevator companies, and the bulk of the readership was made up of contractors. In time, readership and the advertiser base expanded to include all segments of the elevator industry, as well as architects, inspectors, consultants, building owner/managers, engineers, government officials and many others.
Ricia Sturgeon Hendrick, William Sturgeon's daughter, was named managing editor and became publisher of ELEVATOR WORLD in 1986. Hendrick assumed the role of president in 1995.
Hendrick, now joined by her son, T. Bruce MacKinnon, executive vice president, continues William Sturgeon's vision to inform, to educate and to unite those involved in the building transportation industry.
Robert "Bob" Caporale joined ELEVATOR WORLD as associate editor in 1993, after a successful career as a vertical transportation professional. In 1998, Caporale succeeded Sturgeon as editor. Sturgeon retired from that position, staying on as chairman of the Board until 2000.
Elevator World, Inc. enjoys the benefit of a board of directors who represent various aspects of business. Five directors with business, financial and legal backgrounds form the executive committee, while the remaining members of the board bring a wealth of experience from the vertical transportation industry. The Board includes: Ricia S. Hendrick, Elevator World, Inc.; T. Bruce MacKinnon, Elevator World, Inc.; Richard Baxter, Richard E. Baxter & Associates; Don Charest, financial advisor, Charest & Company; Jo Chateau, CPA, Dudley, Ruland & Chateau P.C.; Bob Denniston, attorney, Wright, Green, P.C.; George Gibson, George Gibson & Associates; Paul Horney, Innovation Industries, Inc.; Martha Hulgan, Otis Elevator Co.; Achim Huetter, Huetter Aufzuge GmbH; and Dave Turner, Davis L. Turner & Associates.
FOUNDER
William C. Sturgeon , Founder, started Elevator World in January 1953 and incorporated the company in 1977. Mr. Sturgeon wore many hats along the way as editor, publisher, president and chairman of the board. Sturgeon traveled the globe to cover the vertical transportation industry and was instrumental in founding many industry associations. He was named Man of the Year by the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) in 1961 and the same organization honored him again with the Distinguished Service Award in 1995, renaming the award the William C. Sturgeon Distinguished Service Award. Even in retirement, he continues to work, helping to design an online virtual museum, the Museum for the Preservation of Elevating History, and writing a monthly column (Re-Call-Backs) for the magazine.
OFFICERS
Ricia S. Hendrick , President and Publisher, grew up with company. She was named manager of Advertising and Production of the company in 1966, after college and working as a staff artist for a Minneapolis-based company. She moved to the editorial side of the magazine in 1976 when she became managing editor. Hendrick was named publisher in 1986 and president in 1995. Active in many industry organizations, including the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, she was recognized with the NAEC's William C. Sturgeon Distinguished Service Award in 2002.
T. Bruce MacKinnon , Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, served an apprenticeship with Elevator World Inc. before joining an agricultural equipment firm, working his way up to general manager of a local dealership. He later joined a restaurant chain, eventually becoming district manager. MacKinnon returned to ELEVATOR WORLD as associate director in 1998, bringing with him prior sales and management experience which he now shares throughout the company. He was promoted to advertising manager and vice president of Business Development before being named by the Board of Directors to his current position.
Robert (Bob) Caporale , Senior Vice President and Editor, joined the company in 1993 as associate editor and was promoted to editor in April 1998. Before joining ELEVATOR WORLD, he worked several years as an associate with the engineering firm Jaros, Baum and Bolles and later as vice president and director with Syska and Hennessey Engineers. He was involved in various design phases of the elevator systems in the World Trade Center, the Bank of China in Hong Kong, the Sears Tower and Broadgate Development in London. Caporale is a member of the National Association of Vertical Transportation Professional and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and is a National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International certified elevator inspector.
Patricia (Tricia) Cartee , Vice President and Director of Commercial Operations, was hired in 1979 as a Circulation Department assistant and promoted to management in 1981. Over the years, she has assumed management responsibility for the Education and Advertising departments and was promoted in 1995 to vice president. Cartee is a member of the Advertising Federation of Greater Mobile.
Linda Williams , Vice President/Treasurer and Director of Administration, joined the company's Administration Department in 1977. She became executive coordinator in 1991 and was appointed secretary/treasurer in 1991. Williams is a member of the American Management Association and the Society for Human Resource Management.
