Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Letcher.
Hi Carrie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Letcher’s ECI, LLC was founded in 2018 by Daniel and Carrie Letcher with a clear mission: to provide independent, objective elevator inspections and vertical transportation consulting focused on safety, compliance, and integrity.
Daniel Letcher, majority owner, Certified Elevator Inspector and U.S. Army veteran, has more than 30 years of experience in the elevator industry, including over 15 years witnessing inspections and performing consulting services. From 2010 to 2020, Daniel worked as a 1099 inspector for a close friend and mentor. When Dans close friend and mentor unexpectedly passed away—during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic—in a moment when much of the world felt unstable, rather than step away from the industry, Daniel and Carrie chose to build something of their own.
Carrie spearheads our online strategy and manages the business and technology we rely on every day. Beyond her role as CFO—where she handles budgeting and logistics—she serves as the operational backbone of the company, ensuring everything runs smoothly from the ground up.
With a strong belief in their experience and work ethic, they launched Letcher’s ECI. Within two years, they built the company into a six-figure business. Since then, they have continued steady, intentional growth while maintaining their commitment to quality over volume.
From the beginning, Daniel and Carrie focused on building a modern, efficient operation. They built their own website and developed an internal database system, transitioning the company to a fully electronic platform. While using iPads in the field to witness inspections and complete consultations, they streamlined reporting and improved efficiency for their clients across Kansas and Missouri. Technology became a tool—but integrity remained the foundation.
As a Certified Veteran-Owned Small Business, supporting the veteran community is not simply a statement—it’s a responsibility. Letcher’s ECI currently supports two additional veterans, Heather and Darel, through the NAESA International Inspector Trainee Program. As apprentices working toward becoming Certified Elevator Inspectors, they are part of the company’s long-term commitment to mentorship and workforce development.
Letcher’s ECI stands firm in its commitment to provide independent assessments of Vertical Transportation Equipment with safety as the top priority. The company assists clients with inspection scheduling, violation interpretation and correction, jurisdictional filings, and regulatory compliance—all with the ultimate goal of ensuring that elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters and other Vertical Transportation Equipment operate safely and meet national standards of safety for the protection of the community.
Today, Letcher’s ECI serves a wide range of facilities, including commercial properties, healthcare, educational institutions, municipal buildings, federal and local government facilities, hospitality industries, mixed industrial sites, storage facilities, and parking garages. Each project carries the same weight because every Vertical Transportation Equipment —no matter where it’s located—plays a role in public safety.
As an American-owned, Certified Veteran-Owned Small Business, Letcher’s ECI is built on a foundation of integrity, transparency, communication, and professionalism. The team believes in putting safety before profit, fostering strong partnerships, and helping clients navigate complex compliance requirements with clarity and confidence.
For Daniel and Carrie, the company is more than a business—it is a commitment to the safety of the community and to serving customers with unmatched support, guidance, and respect.
“We built this company on integrity and trust. At the end of the day, our name is on every inspection we perform, and safety is never negotiable.” – Carrie Letcher
Looking ahead, Daniel and Carrie see Letcher’s ECI expanding regionally over the next five years while continuing to support and mentor veterans entering the industry. They also plan to grow their consulting and project planning services—helping clients not only maintain compliance but strategically plan modernization and long-term improvements.
For the Letchers, this company is more than a business. It is a reflection of service, resilience, and responsibility. From a $3,000 credit card investment during one of the most uncertain times in recent history to a respected, growing firm serving Kansas and Missouri, Letcher’s ECI stands as proof that integrity, discipline, and faith can build something that lasts.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many small businesses, Letcher’s ECI did not begin with investors, large capital reserves, or a safety net. It began with $3,000 on a credit card and a willingness to take a calculated risk.
The financial pressure in the early days was real. Every expense mattered. Insurance, licensing, certifications, software, equipment, website development—each decision required careful consideration. There was no room for waste, and no guarantee of immediate return. Building credibility as a new independent company in a highly regulated industry also required persistence and patience.
Time was another major investment. In the beginning, Daniel was performing inspections. Carrie was building processes, researching compliance requirements, communicating with jurisdictions, and laying the operational foundation, simultaneously helping structure the administrative side of the business. Evenings and weekends were often spent developing systems, creating workflows, and solving problems that most established companies had already figured out years prior. All while maintaining work and life balance with a child with learning disabilities.
One of the more unexpected challenges was finding the right online technology. The elevator inspection industry is highly technical and compliance-driven, yet there was no out-of-the-box system that fit their needs. Instead of settling for inefficient methods, they transitioned the company to a fully electronic platform. That meant learning, testing, troubleshooting, and refining—sometimes the hard way. Moving to iPads in the field and implementing digital reporting required both financial investment and trial-and-error before the process became seamless.
Beyond technology, there were the countless logistics involved in building a company from the ground up—forming the LLC, securing proper certifications, navigating state and jurisdictional requirements, setting up insurance policies, developing pricing structures, marketing the business, and establishing vendor relationships. Each step required research, discipline, and attention to detail.
But perhaps the greatest challenge was stepping fully into ownership—moving from being a contractor for someone else to carrying the full responsibility of every decision. There is weight in knowing that your name is on the door and your reputation is on every inspection report.
Yet those struggles shaped the foundation of Letcher’s ECI. They built resilience, sharpened efficiency, and reinforced the company’s core belief that safety, integrity, and service must always come before profit.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We currently use [email protected] but are transitioning to [email protected].
To Schedule an inspection they can reach out to our main office number at 816-646-2202, or reach our office manager/apprentice Heather at 816-646-0470 or [email protected]
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Safety, integrity, trust, perseverance and attention to detail.
Our pricing is comparable across the industry for the Kansas and Missouri area. We are always available to answer questions and give quotes.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.letcherseci.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letcherseci/
