---
title: "SBA 441: Balancing Growth & Culture: An Insightful Chat with Derek Wright of D&L Controls"
description: Derek Wright of D&L Controls discusses company growth, culture, challenges, and the evolving role of technology in episode SBA 441.
---

[Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Formerly Building Automation Monthly Podcast ](https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com)

# [SBA 441: Balancing Growth & Culture: An Insightful Chat with Derek Wright of D&L Controls](https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/441)

 Written by [Smart Buildings Academy](https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/author/sba) | Oct 25, 2023 8:11:51 PM

Navigating the challenges of the building automation industry while fostering growth and maintaining a cohesive company culture is no small feat. In our latest episode of SBA, we sat down with Derek Wright, a seasoned expert from D&L Controls, to discuss just that.

**Episode Highlights:**

- **Journey of D&L Controls:** From its inception to its current state and future ambitions, Derek offers a candid look into the company's evolution over the years.
- **The Hiring Lens:** What does D&L Controls look for when bringing new talent on board? Derek reveals the attributes that stand out for them.
- **Preserving Culture:** As companies expand, maintaining the original spirit and ethos becomes a challenge. Derek discusses the strategies D&L employs to ensure their core values remain intact.
- **Overcoming Challenges:** Every company faces its set of hurdles. Derek sheds light on the biggest challenges D&L Controls has encountered and the innovative solutions they've implemented.
- **Spotting Opportunities:** The building automation sector is ripe with potential. Derek shares his perspective on the most promising growth avenues for contractors in the industry.
- **Technology's Dual Role:** Has technology been a boon or bane for D&L over the past 18 months? A deep dive into the pros and cons they've experienced.
- **Power of Partnerships:** The impact of strategic alliances on D&L's business trajectory and how such collaborations shape the industry landscape.
- **Balancing Act:** Growth is essential, but so is caution. Derek talks about striking the right balance between expansion and risk in the contracting world.

 

**<http://traffic.libsyn.com/buildingautomationmonthly/Episode_407.mp3>**

**<http://traffic.libsyn.com/buildingautomationmonthly/Episode_419.mp3>**

**[Click here to download or listen to this episode now.](http://traffic.libsyn.com/buildingautomationmonthly/Episode_441.mp3)**

 

**Resources mentioned in this episode**

- [Free Technical Skill Assessments](https://www.smartbuildingsacademy.com/skills)
- [Smart Buildings Academy Workforce Development Program](https://www.smartbuildingsacademy.com/wfd-info_employers)
- [Smart Buildings Academy Courses](https://www.smartbuildingsacademy.com/course-catalog)
- [Building Automation Training Guides](https://guides.smartbuildingsacademy.com/)
- [D&L Controls](https://dandlcontrols.com/)
- [Derek Wright](https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-wright-b9641644/)

Podcast Video

<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/building-automation-monthly/id1119246592?mt=2> Subscribe via iTunes <http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/httpbuildingautomationmonthlycom/building-automation-monthly-podcast?refid=stpr> Subscribe via Stitcher

**Transcript  
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[View full post](https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/441)

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