An industry veteran – Dave Brennan’s lessons learned through the decades People behind the story
Successful projects are only as good as the people behind them. In our industry, that means facing unique challenges – and seeing things most people never will. Here we're talking football, Canada, and industry changes with Dave Brennan.
Over the last few decades, the elevator industry has undergone a profound transformation. Few know this better than Dave Brennan, Director of Large Projects and New Installation / Modernization Sales and Fulfillment at Schindler in Toronto, Canada.
"Digitalization and the Internet of Things has changed the elevator world dramatically. Today, you can more or less control a lift system from your mobile phone," he says.
Born and bred in London, in the U.K., Dave joined the elevator industry in the early 1970s, running his own vertical mobility company before joining Schindler almost 30 years ago.
"But even if technology is transforming the industry, it’s still much the same as it’s always been when it comes to installation. At the end of the day, it's about the people – those turning the wrenches."
Different beginnings
But Dave’s path to the industry wasn’t straightforward. His first choice of career was quite different: he aspired to be a professional soccer player. In his late teens, he played for Brentford Football Club. "They’re in the English Premier League now, but back then we were in the fourth division," says Dave with a smile.
Sadly, those dreams ended after an injury. Uncertain about his future, he joined his family's construction company but soon transitioned to a local elevator firm, where his mother worked as a chef in the executives' private bar.
"She got me in as an apprentice mechanic, that's how my elevator career started," he says with a smile.
During his four years of training, he learned about all aspects of the business – from installations to purchasing and sales. This experience took him to projects around the world, particularly in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Gradually, he climbed the corporate ladder to managerial positions.
Canada calling
Dave’s journey eventually led him across the Atlantic. During a six-month stint in San Francisco, Dave developed a taste for North American culture and lifestyle. Soon after, he was transferred to Toronto, Canada, as a production manager.
In 1982, in his early 30s, Dave took the leap to start his own company, specializing in customized modernizations and fixtures as a subcontractor for major elevator companies. He later sold the business but continued on as a consultant.
By the mid-1990s, Dave was thriving as an industry consultant. Then, soccer – his first love – opened an unexpected door. He was playing for a local Toronto team, and the wife of one of his teammates was an HR manager at Schindler. When she learned about his experience in the industry, she was quick to hire him as a modernization manager.
This was in 1995, and he has been with the company ever since, "bouncing around different positions," as he puts it. Over the decades, he has been involved in most major projects in Canada, from airports to ice hockey arenas, earning him a wealth of experience.
Doing what it takes
Throughout his career, certain principles have guided David’s approach to leadership. Dave repeatedly emphasizes the value of people and teamwork, as well as the importance of not being afraid to get your hands dirty.
"The relationship with people is key to everything, from the person sweeping the floor to the one running the company. It's about how you treat people, it’s about trust and loyalty," says Dave. It’s a philosophy that plays a key role in his management style. "Some days I wear a suit, some days jeans and boots. It depends on what's required. It's all about doing whatever is needed to get the job done."
Dave exemplified this when working on the Place Banque Nationale project, one of Montreal's tallest skyscrapers. The final steps of the installation occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, which created significant supply chain and people power issues.
"The installers did a great job, and they had a lot of help from all over the world. But because of the pandemic, there were travel restrictions in place," he explains.
To address this, they looked closer to home for additional support. A team from Toronto was brought in to help out. But in Canada, different provinces have varying licensing requirements for mechanics, leading to considerable red tape.
"I had to negotiate with the union and the local government before we could bring the Toronto team in. It was delicate at first. The people from Toronto were not even allowed to touch any of the tools initially," Dave explains. "But luckily we were able to negotiate a way forward that worked for everyone."
Who you gonna call?
The Place Banque Nationale project also featured the first double-deck elevator in Canada outside of Toronto. With travel restrictions still in place, our Senior Master Trainers Simon Hou and Earl Jake Escabal set up live and recorded virtual training sessions, based on double-deck units in our Shanghai factory, to help teach the team in Montreal about the installation of these units. Once restrictions were lifted, Simon and Jake visited the site to provide hands-on experience.
Dave points out how this collaboration demonstrates the benefits of our international network and access to expertise, especially when dealing with complex or urgent projects.
"It makes life much easier when you know who to call – and when they’re willing to help," says Dave.
What will the future bring?
When asked how the industry has changed over the decades, Dave replies with a loud and spontaneous "Ouff – so much!" The biggest transformation, he says, is the Internet of Things with the rise of digitalized, "smart" products set to continue to transform the sector.
Schindler's PORT system, which optimizes traffic flow through a building, exemplifies this shift. The Schindler CUBE, a small computer that attaches to elevators to analyze and report issues, represents another leap forward. Then there’s Schindler R.I.S.E – our Robotic Installation System for Elevators – an artificial intelligence-powered system that drills and sets anchor bolts during installation, significantly improving both speed and safety.
Yet despite these technological advancements, Dave notes that some fundamentals remain unchanged:
"At the end of the day, it’s really the team on-site doing the work," he says. "It hasn’t changed that much."