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Colley Elevator History

Colley Elevator was founded by Mr. C.B. Colley in 1908 and was primarily a servicing company. As the elevator industry grew with the building boom in the Chicago area, Colley Elevator expanded their focus. The company shifted gears and was almost exclusively specializing in new construction. This began our long term relationships with many of our customers. Sadly some companies are just now recognizing that long-term relationships are necessary for success; this has been important to us all along. We have many customer relationships that started when we come in to do a job their company can’t do, or is overpriced. For example modernization, cylinder work, Category 1 and Category 5 testing, etc. They see the attention we give and, more times than not, they ask Colley to stay as their vendor.

Colley Elevator Company is the oldest independent elevator company in the Chicago area. While our competitors have sold out to larger conglomerates, we have maintained our independent integrity. Our personal relationship with each customer is a testimonial to this integrity that you won’t get from a larger company. We have maintained our 112 years of successful service in the metropolitan area.  It’s this dedication to customer care that earned us the prestigious Elevator World Ellie for Best Contractor – North on three occasions.

We service & maintain more than 2200 elevators in the greater Chicago land area. All the equipment we install is non-proprietary with onboard diagnostic systems. You do not need special tools to program or troubleshoot our systems. This means any contractor can work on it. When a contractor installs proprietary systems, if you ever want another company to service your elevator, they either cannot, or it will be expensive or challenging. We choose not to do this simply because it is not fair to be trapped with a company. It is simply unethical behavior to not give building owners a choice!

Get in touch and let Colley’s reputable service go to work for you!

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Key Personnel

Ray Zomchek
Ray Zomchek has a degree in metallurgy and mechanical engineering from IIT and began his career at Gallaher & Speck in 1959 as a draftsman. Ray moved to Colley Elevator in 1963 to do drafting and engineering during the construction boom of the late 60’s to mid 70’s. In 1973 he became partner at Colley and moved the company to its present Bensenville, IL location. Ray is very knowledgeable and experienced in resolving difficult cylinder issues and is frequently asked for advice from other elevator contractors, consultants and building owners.
Craig Zomchek
Craig Zomchek is the Business Manager at Colley Elevator Company. He began working summers in 1996 helping out in the back of the shop; in 2000 he began working in the office full time while finishing his undergraduate degree at DePaul University with a double major in Marketing and Management. He went on to obtain his Master’s in Business in Strategy, Execution and Valuation as well as Marketing. Craig has also attended electrical engineering, electrical construction, electrical code and NAESA elevator code training. Craig is a licensed elevator inspector in the State of Illinois. He has experience in all phases of the business and is 100% focused on customer service. He excels in taking the complicated tasks of understanding an issue with a building’s elevator and putting it into terms a non-elevator industry person can understand. From 2016-2018, Craig Served a 3 year term on the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) Board of Directors, 2017 as Vice President and 2018 as President.
Cory Kojima
Cory Kojima started in the elevator business in 2000 as an apprentice with ACM Elevator Company. He went through the NEIEP educational program during his apprenticeship and passed the elevator mechanic’s test. Currently Cory holds a State of Illinois mechanic license, Qualified Elevator Inspector license, State of Illinois Elevator Inspector license and City of Chicago Supervising Elevator Mechanic. Cory has experience in all aspects of elevator construction, modernization, service & repair and maintenance.
Dennis Jedd - Retired 2017
Dennis Jedd started in the elevator business in 1972 as an apprentice with Haughton Elevator Company. Dennis spent his early years at Otis working in the projects of Chicago learning maintenance and repair, fireman’s service add on panels and machine work. He then moved to Colley Elevator Company in 1983 to do new construction and maintenance. In 1996 he moved into the superintendent role and headed the modernization & new construction department as well as being the head troubleshooter. Dennis is a Qualified Elevator Inspector as well as a State of Illinois, and State of Indiana licensed Elevator Inspector. Dennis has experience in all aspects of elevator construction, modernization, service & repair and maintenance.

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