Control Depot is a Honeywell Authorized Systems Distributor (ASD) serving Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. As an ASD, Control Depot sells and supports a wide selection of commercial and residential controls and components to contractors and building owners. This includes everything from complete web-based building automation systems to web-based home systems and simple thermostats. Matt Holst is the General Manager of Control Depot.
Tell us a little about your business. – Unlike traditional wholesale distributors, Control Depot is bringing a new approach to the way contractors and owners do business. We are the first distributor in our area with a single focus on commercial and residential building control technologies, which allows us to better serve our customers with a level of product knowledge and support previously unavailable in the area.
How did you get started in the business? – During college I worked as a boiler and pump repair technician. I decided that I really enjoyed working on technology based equipment, so I switched to a 4-year electrical program, and upon completion of that program I began to work as adjunct faculty teaching in the evenings. Working as an electrician during the day, I now specialize in residential and commercial building automation and industrial controls.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Keeping up with the technology and the company growth go hand in hand. Understanding what is in the box and how it works is paramount to our business. We provide solutions for our customers, not just part number replacement, and we facilitate solution based thinking which always presents a challenge. We have a great group of employees and everyone spends a large amount of time in training to grow their product knowledge.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Working with the Control Depot team over the past seven years and winning Honeywell’s Diamond Distributor award each of those seven years; then finally culminating in our being chosen as Honeywell’s national Distributor of the Year award in 2013.
Tell us a little about your family. – My wife Rosanna and I have three boys; Nate, who is married with two wonderful girls, Seanna, and Lilly; Steve, who is a local banker; and Matthew, who is our youngest…as well as some four-legged children!
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Moving from the installation side of the building automation industry to the distribution side and joining the Control Depot team.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I have been teaching electrical technology in the Continuing Education Department at Metro Community College for 18 years.
What are you the most proud of? – My family.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – It’s better to make dust than to eat dust.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Friend.
Which talent would you most like to have? – The ability to play the guitar.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – I would like to be a writer of both fiction and non-fiction.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – That depends on my mood; however I do frequent Romeo’s on L Street.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – That’s an easy one, Nikola Tesla.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Call (402) 934-0078, email me at mholst@controldepotinc.com, visit our website at www.controldepotinc.com, or visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/controldepotinc.