Andrea Ruff, CEI

Since 2000, Gannett Fleming’s vertical transportation team has specialized in elevator, escalator, and moving walk consultant services. We provide everything from condition assessments of elevators in small office buildings to full design construction documents for adding new escalators to subway stations.

I’ve worked in this industry for over 15 years, all of which have been at Gannett Fleming. I started as a part-time marketing and proposal coordinator before transitioning to a full-time role as an assistant project manager.

I worked my way up by spending more time in the field, doing additional project work, and becoming a Certified Elevator Inspector (CEI), eventually leading to project manager and my current role as operations manager.

This company has not just allowed but encouraged and supported me in growing professionally since day one. Gannett Fleming is invested in its employees, providing ample time to learn on the job while offering the training and resources necessary to execute the work.

Gannett Fleming has also provided numerous mentorship opportunities, and being able to learn from people with 25, 30, and even 40 years in the industry has been invaluable. Here, I feel like I’m always evolving, have something new to investigate, and will never be done.

My team is providing elevator design and construction-related services to add elevators to the remaining Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) high-speed line stations. Once completed, the stations will be fully accessible, which is great for the community and those who use the system.

By adding vertical transportation, we make inaccessible transit stations accessible, thus bettering the community. Elevators are often thought of for people who use wheelchairs, but everyone benefits from them, including the elderly, families with small children and baby strollers, and people on crutches. And they’re a must for tall buildings; New York City wouldn’t be what it is without elevators.

Not only is it essential that there’s diversity in every room where decisions are being made, but all voices must be welcomed and heard. It’s not enough to have more diverse representation in a company; there must be space for different opinions from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Teams can make better decisions when they see potential solutions outside of one homogenous viewpoint. It makes any company stronger, and for everyone in the room to feel like they’ve contributed and are a part of the decisions being made – well, that’s huge.

My dad always said, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” So, no matter what I’m working on, I always give it my best effort.

Watching true crime TV shows and the news, reading, and spending time with my partner, Harrison, and my two dogs.

My favorite tradition is going to my parents’ house on Christmas morning. My dad plays the piano, my mom bakes multiple batches of cookies, we listen to Christmas music on records, my aunts and my brother’s family come over, and we all catch up while opening presents. It’s the perfect end to each year.

I’m the first college graduate in my immediate family. I grew up in a small town, and my parents both came from farming families.