What Champion Elevator does

Champion Elevator Corp. is an independently owned, full-service elevator services company founded around 2015 by Donald Gelestino and headquartered in the New York metro area. The company services approximately 6,000 elevators across the East Coast — specifically New York City's five boroughs, Westchester, Hudson Valley, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut — operating from four regional offices (NYC headquarters, Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey). Its customer base spans commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings, with primary buyers being property managers and building owners, supplemented by architects, designers, and construction professionals.

The company delivers eight integrated service lines: preventive elevator maintenance programs (standard, Maintenance Plus, and full-service contracts billed annually), repair services (mechanical, electrical, violation removal, emergency response), modernization (control system upgrades, cab/fixture updates, equipment replacement, freight-to-passenger conversions), storm support and emergency services, Category 1, Category 5, and QEI testing and inspections, code violation and A.O.C. removal, residential and wheelchair accessibility lifts, and material/cargo lifts (dumbwaiters, freight elevators, sidewalk elevators). Technicians service both traction and hydraulic systems across all major OEM brands (Otis, KONE, Fujitec, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp) as well as non-proprietary equipment, which the company positions as a customer-friendly differentiator.

Champion generates revenue through a hybrid model combining recurring subscription maintenance contracts, project-based modernization and repair work, and per-event inspection/testing fees. GTM is sales-led with direct field service delivery, phone outreach from regional offices, web-based quote requests routed via dedicated department emails, content marketing through an educational blog, and industry event participation (NAEC Annual Convention). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company recently underwent a leadership transition in September 2025, with founder Don Gelestino moving to Chairman, Dave Harper promoted from CFO to CEO, and Alex McFarlane (veteran of Otis, Schindler, TK Elevator, JLL) appointed COO — signaling a professionalization phase consistent with scaling and possible M&A activity, as evidenced by a public "Acquisition Opportunities" page on the corporate website.

Name

Champion Elevator

Legal name

Champion Elevator Corp.

Website

https://champion-elevator.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Champion Elevator Corp. is an independently owned, full-service elevator company servicing approximately 6,000 elevators across the New York metro, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut, providing maintenance, repair, modernization, inspections, and compliance services to commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elevator Services and Vertical Transportation

akta.pro primary industry

Elevator, Escalator & Lift Maintenance (IMAIABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Elevator Modernization & Retrofit (Controllers, Drives, Door Systems) (BPABAIAE), Passenger Elevator Service & Maintenance (BPABAIAA), Hydraulic Elevator Service & Maintenance (BPABAIAK)

Keywords

• Elevator maintenance services
• Elevator repair services
• Elevator modernization
• Elevator inspections and testing
• Vertical transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nyack

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Elevator Maintenance Contracts: Champion offers flexible elevator maintenance agreements including standard maintenance contracts, maintenance plus agreements, and full-service maintenance contracts. These are recurring revenue arrangements designed to maximize safety, reduce downtime, and extend equipment life.
2. Elevator Repair Services: One-time and emergency repair services for elevators, including violation removal, inspection-related repairs, component replacements, and system diagnostics.
3. Modernization Services: Elevator modernization including control system upgrades, cab and hall fixture updates, equipment replacement, and freight-to-passenger conversions.
4. Testing and Inspection Services: Annual Category 1, Category 5, and QEI inspections with expedited filing services and compliance support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Champion Elevator provides full-service elevator maintenance, repair, modernization, testing/inspection, violation removal, storm support, and accessibility/material lift solutions for commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings across the East Coast. It supports both traction and hydraulic elevator systems across all major manufacturers (Otis, KONE, Fujitec, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp) and non-proprietary equipment, with flexible annual maintenance agreements and 24/7 emergency response.

Product overview

Champion Elevator is a full-service independent elevator company offering maintenance, repair, modernization, testing, and inspection services across the East Coast. The core product portfolio consists of eight integrated service lines: Elevator Maintenance Programs (preventive maintenance and inspections), Elevator Repair Services (mechanical and electrical repairs), Elevator Modernization Services (control upgrades and equipment replacement), Storm Support Services (emergency weather response), Testing & Inspections (Category 1, Category 5, and QEI inspections), Violation & A.O.C. Removal Specialists (code compliance), Residential & Wheelchair Accessibility Elevators (ADA-compliant solutions), and Material & Cargo Lifts (dumbwaiters, freight elevators, sidewalk elevators). The company services both traction and hydraulic elevator systems, supports all major elevator manufacturers (Otis, KONE, Fujitec, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp), and emphasizes non-proprietary equipment solutions for long-term maintenance flexibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elevator Maintenance Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Residential elevators can increase home resale value by up to 60%
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• J.R. Hobbs CompanyminorOthers · 5 September 2025Dave Harper, Champion Elevator's CEO, continues to serve on the Board of Directors of J.R. Hobbs Company, an Atlanta-based mechanical contractor. This is a personal advisory relationship rather than a formal company partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hyundai Elevator: Korean elevator OEM expanding its U.S. service and modernization footprint, competing for both new installations and service-only contracts in commercial and high-rise residential buildings similar to Champion's customer base.
• Schindler Group: Global elevator and escalator OEM with major U.S. operations and active service portfolio. Listed explicitly in Champion's data as a brand whose equipment Champion services, and whose service organization competes for the same maintenance contracts in the Northeast.
• Fujitec: Japanese elevator OEM with significant U.S. presence. Fujitec equipment is explicitly listed among the major brands Champion services, and its service arm competes for the same maintenance accounts in Champion's territory.
• TK Elevator: Global elevator company (carved out of ThyssenKrupp) with large Northeast installed base and aggressive service growth strategy. Champion's new COO Alex McFarlane joined Champion directly from TK Elevator senior leadership.
• KONE Corporation: Finnish elevator OEM with strong U.S. service presence. KONE's digital maintenance platform and 24/7 Connected Services compete for multi-building service contracts in the same territory Champion serves.
• Otis Worldwide Corporation: Largest global elevator OEM and service provider, with extensive Northeast installed base that competes directly with Champion for maintenance, repair, and modernization contracts. Operates full equipment-plus-service model that Champion's non-proprietary strategy is designed to counter.
• Mitsubishi Electric: Major Japanese elevator and escalator manufacturer with established U.S. service operations. Competes for both new installation/modernization and ongoing maintenance contracts across commercial real estate in the Northeast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/champion-elevator

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Champion Elevator