River City Six – Eric Halsey

Meet Eric Halsey, a sales engineer at Engineered Controls.

Tell us a little about your business.

Engineered Controls is a building technology company whose goal is to make buildings more efficient, comfortable, secure, and convenient for its occupants. My primary focus is commercial sales of Parking Access and Revenue Control Systems, Video Surveillance Systems, and Access Control Systems. We sell, install, and service these turnkey solutions for our customers. Not a lot of people know what I mean when I say “Parking Access and Revenue Control Systems.” These are the ticket machines, gate arms, and the cash or credit card payment machines that you see in parking garages and parking lots. I am often called “the parking guy” when being introduced to new people around the office.

How did you get started in the business?

I’ve always had a knack for repairing and tinkering with electronics, so it made sense to pursue a degree in electronics technology. After college, I spent a few years repairing variable message LED displays, installing video surveillance systems on city transit buses, and providing telephone technical support of audio and video systems on motor coaches. A friend who was already employed with Engineered Controls thought I would fit in well with their new, at the time (2007), security division team.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?

Technology is constantly changing, so staying current with all the different products offered to us is very challenging.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

The relationships that I have developed and maintained with all of my customers.

Tell us a little about your family.

My beautiful wife Kathi is an esthetician at a local day spa in Omaha. We will be celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary this April. We have three amazing kids: Willa (6), Hattie (4), and Jasper (2). We love watching our kids grow and making memories with them. We also have a boxer named Bo.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?

Becoming a dad. It is a great feeling!

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

Spending time with my family and friends, watching a Nascar race, or being on the lake in Okoboji.

Who inspires you?

My wife and kids inspire me every day.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“You gotta keep on keepin’ on, life’s a garden, dig it.” – Joe Dirt

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be?

Honest.

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

“Some of It” by Eric Church.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?

Watchers by Dean Koontz.

What is your favorite movie?

Grumpy Old Men.

What is your favorite TV show?

Yellowstone.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

Smokin Barrel BBQ.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. I enjoy hearing people’s stories, and I feel like Dale Jr. has some good ones to tell.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

Phone: (402) 339-1300 Ext. 211; Email: ehalsey@engineeredcontrols.com; Website: www.engineeredcontrols.com.