Our Founder

Brian has over 25 years of experience as a crane operator specializing in heavy lifting, marine construction, salvage, highway/bridge construction, and crane erection as well as advanced rigging. He is an NCCCO and NCCER certified crane operator, a qualified crane inspector, proctor, and a practical examiner. A Charleston SC native, most of Brian’s experience in the industry has been in the ocean and waterways on barges. Outside of work he enjoys hunting and fishing, playing music, songwriting, and spending time with his family.. 

John is a retired US Navy veteran with many years of experience in industrial training and operating big machines that make short work of huge tasks. He holds a credential as a Certified Safety and Health Manager. He earned this while he was a safety technician at a pumped storage hydroelectric plant in New England. Raised in Maryland, and “lived all over the US and the world” in the Navy, John and his wife live in Greer, South Carolina. He has over ten years of experience preparing crane and rigging candidates for their written and practical examinations. In his teaching he combines a deep understanding of the basic mechanical principles involved with the ability to explain the “reason behind the rule” in understandable and memorable terms. This teaching philosophy is in-step with the Top Hand Education’s commitment to bringing up new crane operators and riggers the right way.  His experience as a teacher has taught him the value of “sticky learning” that is easily remembered, of repetition and review, of sketches and visuals for the “eye gate,” and of manipulative teaching aids that reinforce what is read, heard, and seen. John adapts his teaching approach to the needs of the individual student.

John believes no one is a crane or rigging “expert,” but that we are all students of the craft and must be ready to learn and to grow as we work with our co-workers of the field.

 Lainie is an NCCER Certified Master Trainer and Proctor with a background as a Program Director for a Mobile Crane Operator, Rigging and Signal Person Training Program. While maintaining the oversight of the NCCER accredited program, performing site audits and personnel training, she earned the reputation for serving customers with excellence, knowledge, and the attention to detail that enables customers to focus on what they need to do – their job. Lainie has over 30 years of customer service experience and brings a cheerful attitude and deep commitment to excellence in every facet of her position with the ultimate goal of empowering customers to achieve their training and certification goals.