A career built on service: Meet Dallas elevator mechanic Kendall Fortner
MORRISTOWN, NJ, July 29, 2026 – For more than 150 years, Schindler has helped shape the way people navigate buildings around the world. While the advent of technology has transformed the vertical transportation space over decades, one thing has remained constant: the dedication of the technicians who keep passengers moving safely and reliably.
Kendall Fortner is a Dallas-based mechanic with 21 years of industry experience and a lifelong connection to the elevator trade. As a second-generation elevator mechanic, Kendall was introduced to the industry by his father and spends his career carrying on a family tradition of service, craftsmanship, and problem-solving.
Over the years, Kendall’s seen firsthand how important elevators are to the people who rely on them every day. One experience that stands out took place at a local retirement community after a power outage left the elevators out of service. Called in to assess the situation and troubleshoot the issue, Kendall worked to restore operations and quickly felt the lasting impact of his work.
When I was able to get the elevators back in service, I realized just how many people were relying on my work so they could return to a normal day. To be able to get these seniors up and down and see their appreciation made me feel very proud.
Kendall Fortner, Schindler mechanic
Moments like these are what continue to motivate him. For Kendall, maintaining equipment is about more than keeping elevators running. It's about helping people access their homes, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and the places that matter most to them: "My daily motivation is helping people move up and down. What we do is extremely important, and being able to help people get where they need to go, so they can go about their day, is what I enjoy most."
When asked to describe his career in three words, Kendall chose integrity, teammate, and troubleshooter. Those qualities have guided him throughout his career and reflect the commitment Schindler technicians bring to customers across the Dallas area community and beyond.
As Schindler continues to keep the world moving, we're proud to have professionals like Kendall helping to carry that legacy forward, one elevator at a time.