In Episode 8 of Lifted, I sat down with Adam Williams, a nearly 20-year garage door veteran working in the Charleston, South Carolina market with Advanced Door Systems. What made this conversation interesting wasn’t just the scale of the work he’s involved in — it’s where he is personally in his career.
Adam is in that transition a lot of techs talk about but few navigate cleanly. He’s stepping off the truck and into more leadership and management responsibility while still being heavily involved in the field. Some days he’s installing. Some days he’s troubleshooting commercial jobs. Other days he’s trying to figure out how to grow the residential side of a company that’s historically been commercial-first.
We cover what commercial work actually looks like at scale — dock levelers, dock shelters, rolling steel, tilt wall buildings, and large high-speed door installs. Adam shares the practical path for residential operators who want to move into commercial without getting buried. His advice is simple and grounded: start with dock doors, build certifications, and learn the structural side of the work before chasing high-speed or complex rolling steel projects.
We also get into brand quality conversations that most techs are already having behind the scenes. LiftMaster callback issues. Travel modules failing. Wall control frustrations. And why Adam is seriously considering switching to Genie after real outreach and support from their team. This isn’t brand-bashing — it’s field feedback from someone actually installing and servicing the product.
Because Adam works in a booming Lowcountry market, we talk about what growth really looks like when construction is exploding. Track homes. Production builders. Politicking your way into contracts. The difference between commercial relationships and residential competition. And the reality that commercial often sells itself while residential requires systems, visibility, and marketing infrastructure.
Beyond doors, this episode touches on hiring, post-COVID work culture, and the trade skill gap. Adam talks about training helpers, the challenge of finding motivated techs, and why welding and certifications still represent one of the strongest career paths for young people entering the industry. His perspective comes from both experience and family — raising seven kids while building a career in the trades.
This conversation isn’t theoretical. It’s field-level perspective from someone who’s lived the residential grind, moved into commercial, and is now navigating the shift into leadership.
If you’re thinking about getting into commercial work, stepping off the truck, improving quality control, or building something that lasts beyond just turning wrenches, this episode will resonate.
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