LATEST NEWS

GAL Manufacturing Corp. recently announced that it has appointed Mark Yako to the new position of regional sales manager. Yako will represent GAL and Hollister-Whitney products to customers in the Northeast U.S. He has more than 25 years of elevator-industry experience and started his career with Otis. He has also held the position of Northeast Regional Sales manager for Draka Elevator Products. Yako will be based at his home office outside Philadelphia.

According to goldcoast.com.au, as of January, two major Gold Coast, Australia, developers were planning to construct two towers within 500 meters of each other, opposite the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Amalgamated Property Group has lodged plans to build a 20-story tower on the Volare restaurant site, while the Potter Group will outline its vision for the Main Place shopping complex sometime in March. Both projects will be located next to the rapid- transit route and are expected to attract tourists to the Broadbeach precinct. City Planning Chief Ted Shepherd said the renaissance of Broadbeach would help drive the city’s construction industry. Although completion dates were not released as of January, an APG spokesman said the Volare project may go to market by the end of this year.

The National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) will host a Regional Educational Seminar on February 24-25 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event includes a two-day technical seminar for field technicians and/or supervisors filled with sessions focusing on equipment safety and troubleshooting enhanced by displays highlighting the industry's leading providers. Continuing-education units from NAEC for Certified Elevator Technician (CET®) and Certified Accessibility and Private Residence Lift Technician (CAT®), and from QEI Services, the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund and NAESA International for QEI are available for attendance. The States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana and Virginia also offer Mechanic’s License Renewal contact hours for attendees. A business forum held on the 24th will include lunch followed by an educational session focusing on business-related issues geared toward business owners and management. The afternoon of the 25th will see a facility tour of a local plant. For more information, contact Amanda Smith toll free: (888) 847-7530, phone: (770) 760-9660, e-mail: amanda@naec.org or website: www.naec.org.