Carisa Barrett

Carisa Barrett worked in the Business of Accounting and Credit Management, and Technical Writing as well as working as a Longshoreman Casual during college breaks, and 2 years as a Heavy Equipment Operator, giving her a pretty diverse background before finally landing with the International Union of Elevator Constructors in 1999. Within a year of becoming mechanic she was positioned as “Mechanic in Charge” of escalator installations. She also adjusted many of the escalator installations. Later in her career she helped to train new employees on escalators and was part of a team that held escalator school for Thyssen Krupp Elevator Company in offices around the United States. After 13 years in the field she went to work for the State of Washington as an elevator inspector.

She attended college at Griffin Business College, Bellevue Community College, and Green River Community College. She received Certificates from the Western Washington Operating Engineers training program in 1998, the National Elevator Industry Educational Program in 2007, the “Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School” for Labor Law, and AFL-CIO in 2009. As well as the EIWPF-QEI Certification in 2011 and has most recently completed the NFPA’s CESW (Certified Electrical Safety Worker) Certification in June 2018.

She has been very active in the Industry on the union side as well. She held the offices of Recording Secretary and part of the Executive Board for Local 19. She was also part of a team in her local union that put together and attended “Job Fairs” to benefit our industry.

In 2011 she was hired by the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund as a National Coordinator working on Model Legislation, New Technology and QEI.

Carisa currently sits on the ASME A17.1 5.11/A17.8 (wind turbine elevators) Committee, the Washington State Residential Elevators Legislation Committee (trying to pass point of sale inspections legislatively) She is on the American Wind Energy Associations Wind Turbine Elevators Committee (educating state AHJ’s, Wind Farm Operations and Maintenance Companies and other stakeholders about the new codes and rules regulating them) As well as the American Wind Energy Associations Operations and Maintenance Committee ( this committee is responsible for the creation and updates to the Recommended Practice Manual for wind turbines which includes a chapter on elevators in wind turbines written by Carisa).

Carisa currently manages the following EIWPF Grants, IAP (Industry Advancement Program), MIAP (Modified Industry Advancement Program) and R&LP (Residential & Lift Program). She manages the SEAL (State Elevator Advisory Liaison) Program and the AWEA (wind turbine elevators) Program.

She was also appointed to the AFL CIO Building and Construction trades “Woman in the Trades” Committee and the Industry Exploration Committee by our General President Frank Christensen.

Carisa looks forward to continue working to keep our Industry Safe and continually growing with Model Legislation, New Technology and an educated work force!