Elevating Chicago: Highlights & Milestones from NAEC 2026
NAEC 2026 in Chicago has officially wrapped, and what a week it was. From hands-on community service and high-stakes technical sessions to non-stop booth activity and an unforgettable night under the lights at Soldier Field, the Hyperion team, alongside Smartrise Engineering and Draka EHC, showed up with energy, purpose, and dedication.
Here is a full look back at our week in the Windy City.
On the Green: NAEC Golf Tournament
Monday afternoon took our team out to the fairway for the annual NAEC Golf Outing. Hyperion proudly sponsored a hole on the course, manned by Morgan, Myles, Joey, and Matt.
Beyond great conversations under clear skies, we held our on-course raffle giveaways. Huge congratulations to our winners:
Jeff Righton of Delta Elevator (Ontario, Canada) — Winner of the Bushnell Golf Rangefinder
Blake Pilgrim of Wurtec — Winner of "The Dude" custom club headcover
Giving Back: United In Deed & Fight2Feed
Before the show floor opened, our commitment to community kicked off Monday morning. Evelyn (Texacone, GM) joined fellow NAEC attendees at the United In Deed service initiative, rolling up her sleeves to help prepare and assemble 398 food bags for Fight2Feed, an organization tackling hunger and reducing food waste in the Chicago area.
Giving back to the cities that host our industry gatherings is a priority for Hyperion, and we are grateful to NAEC for creating opportunities to serve together.
Technical Leadership & Education
Education remains at the heart of our mission to support field technicians, contractors, and engineers. On Tuesday, Hyperion technical experts took to the stage to present practical, code-driven sessions to packed conference rooms:
Nick O’Donnell presented an in-depth session on Suspension Rope Inspection & Discard Criteria, detailing ASME A17.6 standards, valley vs. crown wire breaks, and the non-linear Feyrer endurance curves essential to elevator rope life.
Morgan Jones led two technical education sessions covering modern traction machines, sheave geometry, and field diagnostics.
Morgan also connected with three generations of NexGen leadership, discussing the evolution of vertical transportation and strategies for fostering emerging talent across our industry.
Under the Lights: Customer Appreciation Party at Soldier Field
On Tuesday evening, Hyperion, Smartrise Engineering, and Draka EHC welcomed hundreds of customers, partners, and friends to Chicago’s iconic Soldier Field for our private customer appreciation night.
Taking over the historic Midway Club, guests enjoyed private stadium tours, locker room access, open bars, and skyline views. The true highlights took place down on the field:
Guests and team members lined up on the stadium turf to test their kicking skills with field goal attempts through the uprights (including an impressive boot by our CEO, David Hewitt!).
To every customer and partner who joined us: thank you. The opportunity to celebrate our shared work and build genuine relationships off the exhibit floor makes everything we do worthwhile.
The Exhibit Floor: Booth 510 & "Best Booth – Spirit of NAEC"
When the exhibit doors swung open Wednesday morning, Booth 510 was humming with activity. Showcasing mechanical, electrical, and modernization components from across the Hyperion family of brands, including Torin Drive, EECO, ZZIPCO, Texacone, EMI Porta, Good Gate, McIntosh, Titan, Capital Electric, and Vator — our team walked contractors through live equipment configurations and new support tools.
Our in-booth Slapshot Challenge drew crowds both days, giving attendees a chance to test their hockey shot accuracy while exploring the latest traction machines, hydraulic power units, and door systems.
A Major Honor: Spirit of NAEC Award
During Thursday’s Awards Luncheon, Hyperion was honored to receive the Best Booth – Spirit of NAEC Award! This recognition reflects the collective hard work of our marketing, operations, logistics, and field teams who designed, built, and brought unmatched energy to the convention floor.
Sponsoring NexGen & Celebrating Our Team
Hyperion was proud to be the official sponsor of the NAEC NexGen Mixer, supporting the next wave of engineers, managers, and contractors shaping the future of our industry over arcade games, air hockey, and casual conversation.
Our team also gathered 22 floors up at VU Rooftop for our internal appreciation dinner, taking in panoramic views of the Chicago skyline and reflecting on the hard work that goes into pulling off an event of this scale.
The Dregs Party: Closing Out NAEC 2026
Once the exhibit crates were packed and the convention floor cleared on Thursday afternoon, our crew closed out the week at the beloved industry tradition: the Dregs Party. Surrounded by industry friends, fellow suppliers, and contractors, it was the perfect end to four demanding, productive, and memorable days in Chicago.
Thank You for Joining Us
An event like NAEC is a reminder of how tight-knit, innovative, and driven the vertical transportation industry is.
Whether you kicked a field goal with us at Soldier Field, attended a technical session, or visited Booth 510 to discuss an upcoming modernization project, we appreciate your partnership.
We look forward to seeing you at upcoming NAEC conferences, including Tampa, St. Louis, and beyond!
Have questions about products or presentations featured at the show?
Contact our team today to connect with a technical representative.
