From Accountant to “Elevator Chick”: Scaling an 8-Figure Elevator Company

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, Mark sits down with Loannie “Luan” Reyes, co-founder and CEO of Authentic Elevator Services Corp., an eight-figure, family-owned elevator company serving New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico—with eyes on Florida and Connecticut next. Starting as an accountant with zero field experience, Luan learned the trade side-by-side with her husband, picked up the tools, became an inspector, and now leads a 25+ person team in one of the most specialized, male-dominated construction niches. You’ll hear how she builds a high-performing, loyal crew through intentional training, matching techs to the work they love, and treating people like humans—not numbers—while still maintaining strict safety and code compliance standards. Luan also breaks down how Authentic Elevator strategically expands into new markets without sacrificing service quality, why she invests heavily in education even when it means people may leave, and how that culture actually brings top talent back. Watch or listen in if you’re a contractor or trades business owner who wants to grow beyond a single location, create a culture people don’t want to leave, and build a company that clients and employees trust for the long haul. ​ Bullet points (6–8): How Luan went from CPA firm and admin background to hands-on elevator mechanic and inspectorThe moment she solo-fixed her first elevator and earned her place in a male-dominated fieldBuilding an eight-figure, multi-state elevator company with 25+ techs and strategic subcontractorsTheir in-house training “army” model and how they match mechanics’ strengths to the right roles​Why they invest heavily in education—even when trained techs leave—and why so many end up coming backNon-union, people-first culture: respect on the jobsite, zero yelling, and unwavering safety standardsStrategic growth into New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and future branches in Florida and Connecticut without diluting service qualityHow Authentic Elevator gives back through industry associations, inspector certification, and developing women in the elevator trade