About us

Todd Whiteheart - President 

Todd began his career in the elevator industry in 1986 as a helper in service and repair. Being paired with some of the best mechanics in the industry Todd quickly excelled into positions of added responsibility.  Todd went on to complete 5 years of the National Elevator Industry Educational Program and passed his mechanics exam in 1992.  He attended East Coast Polytechnic Institute in Raleigh, NC where he graduated with a degree in Computer Science.   

Todd has 35 years' experience in the vertical transportation industry and has a firm grasp on the elevator business from the ground up.    

Elevator Industry background

Industry Experience 


Todd is well rounded in all facets of the elevator industry.  His experience as a lead field mechanic, superintendent, service -sales leader and district manager spans across many brands of manufactures elevator and escalator equipment.  This experience includes maintaining, repairing, new installation, modernization, field labor management, parts management, project management, contract negotiation, specification development and district management of a multi-million-dollar district.

Additionally, as a District Manager he led one of the most successful offices in the Nation.  He and his team were highly focused on rider and employee safety, customer satisfaction and delivering professional quality results for their customers. 


Duncan Elevator Solutions & Whiteheart Elevator Solutions Form a New Partnership


Chip Duncan

Todd Whiteheart

Duncan Elevator Solutions and Whiteheart Elevator Solutions formed a partnership December 2022.  Chip and Todd both have a very diverse elevator industry backgrounds and well over 75 years of combined elevator experience.  Our combined experience allows us to better serve our customers. 

About My Partner Chip Duncan


Chip Duncan comes from a long lineage of elevator professionals. In fact, the Duncan name spans across 100 years of being in the elevator business.  Chips grandfather Robert B. Duncan started in the elevator business in 1922 with Kaestner and Hecht Company.  K&H company started in 1893 and was bought by Westinghouse Elevator Company in 1927.  His grandfather worked until 1970 and retired.  Additionally, Chips father "Bob Duncan" worked for nearly 60 years in the elevator business and officially retired in 2019. 


Robert ‘Chip’ Duncan started his carrier in the elevator business in 1979 working in the summers while attending Southern Illinois University in various elevator field related positions including manufacturing, field operations and relocating the Sears Tower service operation.

 

After obtaining his Bachelor of Science with a Mechanical Engineering degree at Southern Illinois University in 1985, Chip joined Westinghouse as an Elevator Sales Engineer and Project Manager in New Orleans, LA where he was a project manager on multiple elevator projects. With Schindler’s acquisition of Westinghouse in 1989, Chip was relocated to Raleigh, NC where he opened the Raleigh office as the area manager and later promoted to Branch Manager. During his ten years as the Branch Manager, Chip was Branch of the Year for 3 years and a top five office for customer satisfaction all ten years.  

 

With 20 years of industry experience in different positions Chip joined Greg Davis and Associates in 2004 as Vice President and serviced his customers by managing special projects and running multiple large elevator modernization projects. In addition to continuing Elevator & Escalator training he has been a Qualified Elevator Inspector since 2004 (QEI # 3089). Chip Duncan is also a member of NAESA International (National Authorities Elevator Safety Association). In 2012 Chip took over as the President and CEO of Duncan Elevator Solutions (DES) which his father started in 2006. Chip is actively involved with elevator modernizations, maintenance evaluations and due diligence reviews for our customers.