Extraordinary Heights
by Ben Bradley
The day that marked A+ elevators & lifts founder Chris Harris’s first foray into the world of elevator work played out like a scene from a classic Scorsese film…
In every facet of the building industry and in every corner of the country, there are men and women who have dedicated their lives to a particular craft. Whatever their selected trade, they commit to learning every aspect of their jobs, living and breathing the work on a daily basis and encountering and overcoming challenges and obstacles all the while. These are the men and women who build businesses that are not only revered in their industries, but also those that set the standards by which all others in their trade are measured.
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, A+ Elevators & Lifts has developed a reputation as one of these elite firms in their industry. Today they are operating in six states: Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and Nevada, and there isn’t one aspect of the elevator installation and service business that they don’t touch. From residential to commercial, and high-end custom lifts to utilitarian freight lifts and dumbwaiters, the A+ team has the experience and drive to see absolutely any project through. The awe-inspiring quality and scope of their work garners respect, admiration, and a growing multitude of satisfied clients. Unsurprisingly however, reaching these extraordinary heights didn’t happen overnight.
The day that marked A+ founder Chris Harris’s first foray into the world of elevator work played out like a scene from a classic Scorsese film. As an 18-year-old, Harris was working with his father at the family’s repair shop. His diligence and work ethic caught the eye of a neighboring business manager. One late Saturday evening while Harris burned the midnight oil as most of his peers were no doubt out enjoying more traditional Saturday evening activities, a man entered the shop, introduced himself, and offered Harris a new job on the spot. As it turns out, the man worked for an elevator company and was in need of some help manning the wrenches, installing and maintaining elevators around the area. Harris accepted and began working in an industry that has now become his life’s work.
“It is a privilege to be a part of a growing company with a great reputation in the industry.”
–Steve Svendson, Vice President of Sales, A+ Elevators & Lifts
Harris ended up keeping that initial role for the better part of the next decade. But when the company he was working for shuttered its offices and left town, he was facing a choice: either pack his bags and follow the work, or set out on his own. Opting for the latter, A+ Elevators & Lifts was born shortly thereafter.
The same precision and dedication that had initially made Harris a gifted auto mechanic and elevator service technician would form the foundational ethos of his fledgling company. He committed to not just building and servicing elevators and lifts, but also creating a new standard for quality and craftsmanship. In an industry that to that point had been dominated by simple, practical lifts, Harris saw the opportunity to develop all new designs from scratch.
As technology evolved, Harris shattered the preconceived notion that an elevator could only be an unsophisticated experience by creating astonishing designs and even acquiring patents on many of his pioneering ideas. He knew that an elevator could be a show-stopping element of a space. No longer banished to the back corner of a room, used and immediately forgotten, Harris’s elevator designs became focal points of entire design schemes.
These new designs and the ability of Harris and A+ Elevators & Lifts to create completely custom elevators set the company on a path of incredible growth. High-end home builders and designers across the Mountain West began to seek out Harris’s expertise and unique solutions. As the business grew, so did the Harris workforce, and he applied his hallmark precision and care in building out the A+ team.
The guiding tenets of extreme dedication to quality and safety and an unwavering commitment to clients’ needs became shared values across the entire organization. And as the team grew, they not only maintained the untarnished reputation of the A+ name, they actually improved upon it over time, cultivating a company culture of tight-knit, like-minded individuals, all willing to go the extra mile in service of their clients’ visions.
“Watching what we can accomplish for our customers and providing them not only a vision, but a reality in the creative cabs we build is incredibly rewarding. Both for those who need it due to medical reasons, or for those who are building their forever homes and can feel secure that they can enjoy their homes for many years to come.”
–Melesa Loosle, Director of Sales, A+ Elevators & Lifts
Current A+ Director of Sales Melesa Loosle highlights the exceptional culture within the team, saying, “We have a family culture. We are a team and strive to instill trust within our customers and exceed expectations.”
As one might expect, the creation of an entirely custom lift is no small task, and the team at A+ must rely on one another to get projects from concept to installation seamlessly and with no margin for error. As Vice President of Sales Steve Svendson notes, “Each department has a culture of finding solutions to each department’s needs. We meet weekly to collaborate on ideas.” This collaborative approach ensures that each element of a project is handled by the department with specific expertise and that all the elements will come together flawlessly.
The pride that the A+ team takes in their work is evident not only in the finished product, but also in the sense of fulfillment the work provides. Svendson says, “It is a privilege to be a part of a growing company with a great reputation in the industry.” And the growth of the company shows little signs of slowing down.
Beyond the joy of bringing a project to life, it is not lost on the team that oftentimes the lifts they build will provide mobility and access to those who otherwise might not have it. “Watching what we can accomplish for our customers and providing them not only a vision, but a reality in the creative cabs we build is incredibly rewarding,” notes Loosle. “Both for those who need it due to medical reasons, or for those who are building their forever homes and can feel secure that they can enjoy their homes for many years to come.”
Despite the staggering growth of the A+ organization over the years, every member of the team–from the leadership to every technician on a jobsite–has maintained a steadfast focus on quality, which can be traced back to the commitment of its founder. With their rock-solid team and inimitable level of expertise, it is safe to say that A+ Elevators & Lifts will be the first choice in lifts in the Mountain West for years to come.
