Crane Tech Instructor, Director, and ASME Committee Member
From the Field to the Front of the Room
Jeff Ellis has spent decades in crane operations, rigging, and lifting safety—and just as many years shaping minds through hands-on, real-world training. With over 45 years of field experience and more than 20 years training others, Jeff brings unmatched credibility to the classroom. He’s a CCO Certified, a former crane supervisor at the Port of Charleston, and a veteran of the U.S. Navy’s Boatswains ranks. Today, he serves not only as a Crane Tech Director of Instructors, but also as a member of the ASME P30.1 Committee on Lift Planning —the industry’s most influential safety standards group— and a task force member for CCO’s Assembly/Disassembly guidance.
Built on Real Experience
Jeff has operated and inspected a wide range of equipment during his crane operator and rigging career, including mobile cranes, overhead cranes, container cranes, forklifts, aerial lifts, and rigging gear. His deep technical knowledge and field-tested experience make him a trusted resource for students and safety managers alike.
But if you ask Jeff, titles and credentials are just one part of the job. The real work, he says, is changing behavior.
“Teaching isn’t about making someone memorize a rule. It’s about helping them understand the ‘why’—so they take that knowledge into the field and apply it when it counts.”
A Trainer Who Connects
His passion for training started early—though not always in a classroom. Jeff spent years operating cranes in shipyards, ports, and on bridge projects across the U.S. Before entering training full-time, he taught incidental crane use at the South Carolina Port Authority, where he discovered he preferred developing people over directing them.
“I realized I liked training a lot more than supervising,” he says. “You get to meet people where they are, and if you’re doing it right, you can help them walk out safer, smarter, and more confident than they walked in.”
That ability to connect is one of Jeff’s strengths. Whether he’s teaching a seasoned operator or someone brand new to the trade, Jeff brings the same clarity and commitment to every interaction.
He’s known for drawing diagrams, telling stories, and breaking down complex material into practical terms. “Show your work,” he tells students. “I can’t help you fix a mistake if I don’t know how you got there.” That hands-on, real-world approach is part of what sets Crane Tech apart.
Jeff also sets a professional tone in the room—not by lecturing, but by leading with respect. He makes it clear that while learning can be fun, it’s also serious work. “We’re not here to teach political science,” he says with a grin. “We’re here to teach cranes and rigging.”
More Than Compliance—A Culture Shift
Crane Tech’s approach goes far beyond test prep. Jeff sees every class as a chance to influence long-term habits—on the job site and off.
“We’re not just running a course. If you let us, we’ll help you build a sustainable safety culture—one that actually saves time, money, and lives.”
He emphasizes that true value comes not from checking boxes, but from shifting how crews think, communicate, and operate.
Training With Purpose
Jeff’s philosophy is rooted in personal experience. Over the years, he’s witnessed more than a dozen workplace fatalities—many preventable. Those moments shaped his commitment to meaningful, behavior-based training.
“I’ve seen what happens when shortcuts get taken,” he says. “You can save 15 minutes on a lift and lose two weeks to cleanup—or worse. Doing it right the first time isn’t just safer. It’s smarter.”
His respect for others and passion for safety also show up in how he runs his classes. Humor is welcome—off-topic distractions are not. He encourages discussion and challenges, as long as they lead to the right answer. “It’s not about who’s right—it’s about getting it right,” he says. “The best solution is the one that keeps people safe.”
A Life Beyond the Classroom
Outside of work, Jeff is a storyteller, cook, and self-described knife 
collector. He’s been married for 47 years, has two grown children, and beams when talking about his grandchildren. His travels have taken him to ports, platforms, and classrooms across North America—from refinery shutdowns to wind farms to military bases.
What’s kept him going? The people.
“Everybody has a story,” Jeff says. “If I can teach someone something that keeps them safe—and hear their story while I’m at it—I’ve done something worthwhile.”
Ready to Train With the Best?
Want to learn from experienced crane operator instructors like Jeff? Crane Tech delivers hands-on crane safety training designed to build skill, confidence, and a safer job site.
Call us to get started.