Delve into Metro Elevator’s steady nationwide expansion journey, driven by unmatched know how and reliability
Since its origin in 1987, Metro Elevator (Metro) has been exclusively dedicated to maintaining, repairing, modernizing, and installing elevator systems. The business maintains commercial facilities in over 40 states nationwide serving every major industry, including automotive, hospitality, healthcare, finance, government, education, energy, and tech. One of the top elevator companies in the US, Metro is and has been independently and employee-owned for its entire history. Every Metro Division is locally owned and operated, ensuring the highest level of responsiveness and care for each client’s elevator project. Mike Blaszczyk, President of the company’s Northern California Division, joins us for an informative conversation on Metro’s operations. 
“Metro’s parent company began its journey in Michigan nearly 40 years ago. After significant federal growth from 2018 to 2020, our leadership team identified a nationwide need for more qualified independent elevator companies. That’s when Metro Elevator was formed as a stand-alone brand and began expanding across the country. Initially, the business was mostly concentrated on the East Coast, opening new locations in New York, Boston, the Carolinas, and Virginia. After that, the Division I manage in Northern California was established as the sixth office for Metro. At present, the company operates from 18 locations and is experiencing significant and intentional growth. To further expand its already extensive presence across the US, Metro recently opened new locations in Texas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, and more locations are on the way as we strive towards becoming the most trusted independent elevator company in the country,” he begins.
Robust customer relationships
Through its extensive national footprint, Metro is well-equipped to deliver its services to a variety of clients across many sectors, thus strengthening its competitive edge. “We specialize in elevator installation, modernization, service repair, and even inspections. Our services cater to most commercial sectors, including residential buildings; commercial office spaces; healthcare, which is a significant focus area for us; and education, where we currently have multiple large universities under maintenance. In addition to our broad footprint, several key factors set us apart from our competitors, primarily our reliability and competence. The elevator industry in general has regressed over the past 10 to 20 years. This issue is not specific to Metro; rather, it reflects a broader trend in the US where elevator mechanics are responsible for a greater number of elevators than ever before. As a result, each client is receiving less attention as account managers have significantly more accounts to handle than they ever did before.
“Moreover, frequent turnover at major companies means that clients may become accustomed to dealing with a specific manager or sales representative, only to find that they are replaced six months later. At Metro, our Presidents and Vice Presidents are also the owners of the company, which means that we all have a vested interest in and are committed to the relationships we build and the business we conduct. This involvement makes us more communicative, engaged in day-to-day operations, and stable. It also reflects Metro’s deeper cultural values: ownership, accountability, and a commitment to doing right by our teams and clients alike. We like to say we are oriented in the right direction when it comes to serving our clients,” Mike emphasizes.
Destination employer
Evidently, Metro’s talented workforce plays a vital role in maintaining the longevity and success of the business. Given the often dangerous nature of its work, the company is deeply committed to ensuring the safety of its team. Mike goes on to discuss how Metro approaches safety to keep every employee secure whilst they are on the job. “As you can imagine, because we are working with high voltage, at heights, and with heavy moving parts, there are strict safety protocols and policies in place in the industry that everyone must constantly be aware of. Specifically at Metro, we also conduct job hazard analyses (JHAs) every Monday morning, along with weekly toolbox talks and monthly training sessions, all of which are documented. Our leadership team also performs safety audits in the field to ensure that employees are wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and following procedures adequately,” he enlightens.
As he reflects on over a decade of industry experience, Mike expresses his view on the factors that have fueled Metro’s continued growth. “I believe our longevity is largely due to the successes of our existing divisions, our strong reputation, and the power of word-of-mouth. The elevator industry is relatively small and heavily consultant-driven. Many professionals from the West Coast to the East Coast often have prior experience with one of the four major elevator companies, and consultants across different markets know each other, so conversations flow. Metro has built a reputation for recruiting exceptional people who consistently produce high-quality work. We are a destination employer for both field and office staff.” he informs.
Elevating standards
Looking ahead to the coming months and years, Metro seems poised for further growth and geographical expansion. “For the remainder of 2025, our priority will be to deliver outstanding service to our clients while scaling our business. We have done a great job at our current size and continue to secure more work, so it is important for us to maintain the same standards of quality even as we expand. Within the next three to five years, Metro as a whole is planning to enter dozens more markets. Specifically in Northern California, we aim to establish ourselves as the largest and most trusted independent elevator company in the region. And beyond the numbers, we want to reshape what elevator service looks like, prioritizing transparency, responsiveness, and relationships that last. That’s the kind of business we believe in building.”
Metro Elevator’s national rise is powered by its people, its ownership model, and its unwavering focus on safety and service. With a growing footprint and a deeply rooted reputation for excellence, Metro continues to elevate not just buildings, but the standard for the entire elevator industry.