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April 13, 2005/Valley Forge, Pa.: Patrick J. Welch was recently elected Chair of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Elevator/Escalator Technical Forum (EETF). APTA’s EETF committee provides interaction among members related to elevator and escalator issues. The committee members deal with the issues and challenges affecting their area of expertise within the industry and devise strategies, plans, and programs aimed at upgrading the information communicated to the public and exchanged within the association. Welch also chaired all four Design Guideline Working Groups:

1. Escalator Design Guidelines Working Group
2. Elevator Design Guidelines Working Group
3. Elevator and Escalator Maintenance Guidelines Working Group
4. Moving Walk Design Guidelines Working Group

Welch is President of Vertical Transportation Excellence (VTX) and is based in the firm’s Valley Forge office. VTX provides vertical transportation services to aviation, educational, healthcare, commercial, and public transit markets across the United States.

With more than 20 years of experience, Welch is responsible for the overall operation of the vertical transportation business. His responsibilities include developing standards for design and solutions for new and existing installations. Welch supervises construction inspections, investigative inspections, and acceptance inspections, and assists clients and designers in official code interpretations.

Welch also serves on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ A17.1 Escalator and Moving Walk Committee, Rack & Pinion and Special-Purpose Personnel Elevator Committee, and Existing Installations Committee. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, and National Association of Vertical Transportation Professionals.