Don’t Panic, Hire Smart with Jeff Hanson

In this episode of The Elevator Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Hanson, owner of Genesis Elevator Services in Lewisville, Texas, to talk about one of the toughest parts of running a company: finding and keeping the right people.

With nearly 40 years in the elevator industry and experience across multiple OEMs, Jeff brings a seasoned perspective on what it takes to build a dependable team in today’s market.

Together, me and Jeff unpack what hiring really looks like for elevator companies:

• The difference between hiring out of panic vs. hiring with purpose
• How to spot red flags in interviews (and why hands-on tests still matter)
• What smaller companies can do to recruit and retain great talent
• Why setting clear expectations from day one is key to long-term success
• And Jeff’s golden nugget for any owner feeling overwhelmed: “Don’t panic."

[00:01:00] Jeff’s 38-year journey in the elevator industry
[00:03:00] The challenges of ownership and people management
[00:05:00] Why hiring the right fit matters more than filling the seat
[00:08:00] Practical interview strategies for elevator leaders
[00:12:00] Lessons from Sean’s own hiring process
[00:15:00] The reality of HR and retention in small companies
[00:17:00] Jeff’s golden nugget: Don’t panic

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