Going Above and Beyond: Gerard Wheeler

Celebrating NYCHA Heroes

Meet Gerard Wheeler, Elevator Administrator 

There are many hardworking men and women, from the central offices to the front lines, who are making sure that NYCHA continues to deliver vital services to residents during the COVID-19 crisis and helping to keep our community healthy and safe. We thank them for their service on behalf of the entire NYCHA family.  

Richard Solivan, Director of the Elevator Services & Repair Department had this to say about Mr. Wheeler: “Gerard Wheeler has played a major role in redeploying Elevator Services & Repair Department (ESRD) staff to help Property Management staffing levels for various tasks and duties. In addition, I also want to recognize our Supervisors of Elevator Mechanics, Elevator Mechanics Helpers, City Laborers, and Dispatchers for their consistent commitment, attendance, and rapid responses to all elevator-related issues during this pandemic.” 

On a typical day, Elevator Administrator Gerard Wheeler manages the elevator dispatching unit, elevator warehouse, elevator training center, elevator maintenance violations unit, and the ESRD Special Teams Unit. 

During the COVID-19 crisis, Mr. Wheeler has helped provide support by temporarily redeploying 24 City Laborers and four maintenance teams to Property Management sites that were impacted by staff reductions due to COVID-19. 

Mr. Wheeler acknowledges the remaining elevator dispatching staff who have “worked effortlessly to provide services while working in conjunction with front-line field elevator mechanic teams and dispatching them to the required sites with service disruptions and no-service conditions to ensure elevators are operating throughout the agency.” 

Like many of NYCHA’s staff, he’s adjusted to working in a different way, recently interviewing and hiring an additional six Caretaker E’s to assist with elevator-dispatching services; three of those new hires began working on April 13. 

Although these are challenging times, Mr. Wheeler advises his fellow NYCHA staff that “during this state of emergency we all must stay focused, be alert, continue to practice social distancing, and follow the guidelines that have been put in place by the CDC and the City. I also share that we must all remain compassionate to others, as everyone is adapting to a way of life that is all so new to each of us.” 

Mr. Wheeler began his career at NYCHA 35 years ago as a Seasonal Aide when he was a resident of Woodside Houses. He has worked in numerous roles since then, including as a Caretaker J, Caretaker X, Heating Plant Technician (HPT), Advance HPT, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. 

As a NYCHA employee, he enjoys working with other departments to provide residents with the repairs they need: “Seeing residents satisfied with the end results of service or repairs provided for them and having taken part in providing that satisfaction is most meaningful to me.”