Organization

President
Chief Executive Officer

Herb L. Smith

Vice Presidents

Will Bowden | Tommy M. Ford | Tom Williams | Jeremy Garrett


Associates

Mark Corder | Tommy BowdenFred Barnes
Steve IsphordingGeorge Hertensteiner | Michael Varden | John TolarChris Smith


Corporate Office

Jan Smith | Dedra Smith

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Herb L. Smith
President/Chief Executive Officer

Education: 

University of West Florida,
Pensacola Junior College

Professional Associations:

Qualified Elevator Inspector NAESA #619
Certified Elevator Inspector State of Florida #113
Certified Elevator Inspector State of Alabama #372
Texas Department of License and Regulation Inspector #363
Florida Certificate of Competency #CC324

 Experience:

Dover Elevator Company 11 Years

  • Field Engineer/Modernization Sales
  • New Equipment and Modernization Sales
  • District Manager
Herb resigned from Dover Elevator Company in September of 1989 and joined the Houston office of Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc., as an Associate.  In 1992 he was made a Partner.  Herb assumed the position of Vice President in May, 1994. In January of 2000, Herb became the President and Chief Operating Officer.  In January of 2009, Herb became CEO.

 

 

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 Will Bowden
Vice President – Houston Office

Education:  University of Houston  
Professional Associations: Qualified Elevator Inspector NAESA #C5352 OSHA Certified
Experience:


Montgomery Kone 10 Years

  • Field Apprentice
  •  Service Sales
  • Construction/Modernization Supervisor


Amtech Elevator 5 Years

  • Modernization Manager


Schindler 4 Years

  • Modernization Manager


Lerch Bates 2 Years

  • Consultant
 Will joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in April 2015, as a Consultant.

 

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Tommy M. Ford
Vice President – Southwest Office

 Education:  Bakersfield Junior College
Glendale Junior College
University of Phoenix 
 
Professional Associations:  Qualified Elevator Inspector NAESA #C3282 
 Experience:

Oliver & Williams Elevator

  • Field New Installation and Sales Manager

U.S. Elevator

  • Branch Manager and District Manager

Ford Elevator Products

  • President

Amtech Elevator

  • Modernization Sales

General Elevator

  • District Manager

Republic Elevator

  • Sales Manager

Dover and ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company

  • District Manager
  • Branch Manager

Lerch Bates Inc.

  • District Manager 
 Tommy joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in October 2014, as a Senior Consultant. 

 

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Tom Williams
Vice President – Northeast/South Central Office

 Education:   B.S. University of New Haven, CT  
 Experience:

Otis Elevator Company 30 Years

  • Sales
  • General Management
  • Construction Superintendent
Tom joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in June 2015, as a Senior Consultant.

 

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Jeremy Garrett
Vice President - Southeast Office

 Education:   University of Alabama  Jeremy Garrett photo for website
 Experience:

Schindler Elevator Corporation 13 Years

  • New Installation/Modernization Sales
  • Operations Manager
  • Branch Manager

Jeremy resigned from Schindler Elevator Corporation in August 2019 and joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. as an Associate.

 

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 Mark Corder
Associate - Houston Office

Education:  Houston Community College
San Jacinto Jr. College
University of Houston
 Mark Corder
Professional Associations: Qualified Elevator Inspector NAESA #C4644
Elevator Inspector City of Houston
Elevator Inspector State of Texas
Texas Department of License and Regulation Inspector #20085
Experience:

Dover and ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company 42 Years

  • Construction Mechanic
  • Construction Supervisor
  • Service Superintendent
  • Construction Manager
  • Regional Construction Manager
Mark joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in 2011, as an Associate.

 

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Tommy Bowden
Associate - Houston Office

Education:  International Union Elevator Constructors
ThyssenKrupp Business Academy
Tommy Bowden 
Professional Associations:

Qualified Elevator Inspector NAESA #C4944
Elevator Inspector City of Houston

Texas Department of License and Regulation Inspector #20169

 Experience:

Otis Elevator Company 5 Years

  • Field Installation

Schindler Elevator 1 Year

  • Field Installation

Montgomery/Montgomery & KONE/KONE 30 Years

  • Field Installation
  • Construction Management
  • Construction and Modernization Management 
  • Construction and Modernization Management
  • National Modernization Director

ThyssenKrupp Elevator 7 Years

  • Vice President Modernization
Tommy joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in January 2013, as an Associate.

 

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Fred Barnes
Associate

Education:

Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth Texas
University of Texas, Arlington Texas

Fred Barnes 
Professional Associations:

Qualified Elevator Inspector NAESA #4578
Texas Department of License and Regulation Inspector #20079

 Experience:

Dover Elevator Company 31 Years

  • Elevator Installation Mechanic
  • Construction Superintendent
  • Construction Manager
  • Regional Operations Manager


ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company 11 Years

  • Modernization Sales Manager
  • Service Manager
  • Construction Manager
Fred joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in February 2010, as an Associate.

 

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George Hertensteiner
Associate

 Education:

B.S. Business Management Drexel University
M.B.A Drexel University

 George Hertensteiner Photox
Experience:

Otis Elevator Company/United Technologies 38 Years

  • Service, Modernization and New Equipment Sales
  • Branch Manager
  • District Service Manager
  • Manager of District Operations
  • National Marketing Manager Modernization
  • National Manager Non-Otis Equipment
  • Regional Modernization Manager
  • Regional Sales Manager
George joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in December 2008, as an Associate .

 

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Steve Isphording
Associate - Houston Office

 Education:

Associate of Arts, Architecture and Building Construction Technology, Spring Garden Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Arts, Bloomfield College, Business and Sales Management
North Texas State University, MBA, Marketing

 
Experience: Westinghouse Elevator Company (1974 – 1987)
  • Drafting Specialist, Westinghouse Engineering Office, Clinton, New Jersey
  • Senior Sales Associate, Westinghouse Southwest Region, Dallas, Texas
  • Sales Representative, New Equipment, Modernization & Service, Westinghouse Elevator, Dallas, Texas
  • Region Sales Manager, Capital Region, Westinghouse Elevator
  • Region Manager, New Orleans Region, Westinghouse Elevator

Schindler Elevator Corporation (1987 – 2015)

  • Regional Vice President, Westinghouse Elevator and Schindler Elevator Corporation, Southeast Region
  • District Manager, Houston, Schindler Elevator Corporation
  • Project Executive, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Oklahoma City, Devon Tower Project
  • Project Executive, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Houston, Modernization Projects
  • Consultant, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Southeast Asia Region, Vietnam & Hong Cong
 Steve joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in August 2018, as an Associate.

 

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Michael Varden
Associate

 Education:

Tupper Lake High School (NY)
Embry Riddle aeronautical University (FL)
IUEC Apprenticeship (3yr)

varden 
Professional Associations:

Qualified Elevator Inspector / IUEC # E001464
Third Party QEI State of Maryland
MD DLLR Cert. ID # TP06050

Experience: Kone, Otis, Schindler, Thyssen Krup (20 years)
  • Construction / Modernization Mechanic
  • Construction Superintendent
 Michael joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. in December 2023, as an Associate.

 

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John Tolar
Associate

 Education:

University of Mississippi, BA

johntolar 
Professional Associations:

Qualified Elevator Inspector NAEC #0001
National Association of Elevator Contractors
Board of Directors 2020-23
President, 2022-23

Experience:

Dover/ThyssenKrupp

District Coordinator, Houston, TX
New Construction Sales
Modernization Sales
Sales Manager
District Manager, Knoxville, TN

Schindler
New Construction Sales
Service, Repair, Modernization

United Elevator Services
Chattanooga/Knoxville Branch Manager
General Manager

 John joined Persohn/Hahn Associates, Inc. May 2024 as an Associate.

 

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Jan Smith
Corporate Accounting/Human Resources
Dedra Smith
Contract’s/Billing Manager
Chris Smith
Associate/Office Manager – Houston Office