Built to Stay: Joel and Nick Von Haden on Legacy and Local Impact

At Winona Heating & Ventilating, Inc., the work is technical—but the legacy is deeply personal. For father-and-son team Joel and Nick Von Haden, VAC systems and building automation are only part of the story. Their real focus is building people, nurturing relationships, and staying rooted in the community that shaped them.

From the outset, Joel Von Haden has carried a sense of responsibility that goes beyond merely managing a successful HVAC business. “We are a continuation of a family business that has been running successfully since 1902,” Joel explains, referencing over a century of family enterprise. In an era when many trades are being outsourced or automated, the Von Haden family remains steadfast in their belief that certain work is best kept local. This outlook is rooted in decades of experience directly linked to Western Technical College.

Joel’s Path: A Career Built from the Ground Up 
In 1978, Joel Von Haden was ready for something more lasting than the string of short-term jobs he’d been taking. A conversation with a friend pointed him toward Western’s HVAC program, and he enrolled—not realizing he was setting the course for the next four decades of his life. “The campus looked completely different back then,” Joel recalls, “but the education was outstanding. Everything I learned in class applied immediately.”

While working toward his associate degree, Joel picked up part-time and summer jobs that gave him hands-on experience in heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. Those early opportunities didn’t just build his skills—they cemented his confidence. “Western gave me the tools and the belief that I could make a career out of this,” he says.

After graduating in 1980 from Western’s HVAC program, Joel joined Halderson Corporation, where he
worked on emerging building automation systems. A few years later, he found his long-term home at Winona Heating & Ventilating, Inc. There, he expanded the service division from just two people to more than 30, helping the company grow into a regional leader in automation and controls. Along the way, mentorship from industry veterans—and the discipline instilled at Western—kept him ahead in a fast-changing field.

Nick’s Path: Growing Up in the Shop
For Nick Von Haden, the connection to the family business began well before his first day on the job. He grew up sweeping floors, organizing inventory, and tagging along with service crews. “I was probably more of a nuisance than a help at first,” he jokes, “but I loved being around the work.”

After high school, Nick followed his father’s example, enrolling in Western’s HVAC program. He graduated in 2003, then transferred to Ferris State University for a bachelor’s in HVAC engineering. To make it happen, he sold nearly everything he owned and relied on the work ethic he’d seen modelled at home. “The instructors at Western were phenomenal,” Nick says. “They didn’t just teach how things worked—they helped us understand why. That’s a big difference.”

That mindset continues to guide him today. Now helping lead operations across divisions—including roofing, piping, HVAC systems, plumbing, and controls—Nick believes in learning every facet of the business before making big decisions. “If you don’t understand how all the parts connect, you can’t lead effectively,” he says.

Innovation has been a constant in the Von Hadens’ careers. Joel helped usher in building automation in the 1980s, when computer- controlled systems were still new to the industry. Today, Nick is moving the company forward with smart building technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), real-time weather integration, and AI-driven energy optimization. But both agree that technology matters only if it serves people. “Innovation should help us serve better and grow stronger as a team,” Nick says. “Otherwise, it’s just gadgets.”

Staying Connected to Their Roots
Western remains a touchstone in their story. Joel served more than 20 years on Western’s HVAC advisory board, ensuring that the program keeps pace with industry changes. Nick now carries that torch, providing feedback that helps shape the next generation of graduates. He also serves on the Western Technical College Foundation Board, further strengthening the connection between the college and local industry. The company actively recruits Western alumni, many of whom stay for years and move into leadership roles.

“Western gave us our foundation,” Nick says. “Supporting students now just makes sense.” That support extends beyond hiring. Winona Heating and Ventilating frequently hosts Western classes for tours, demonstrations, and job-shadow opportunities, giving students a firsthand look at the work—and the career paths available to them.

For both Joel and Nick, the trades represent more than just a paycheck. They see HVAC as a career that offers strong earning potential, a low cost of entry, and the kind of problem-solving satisfaction that never goes out of style. “There’s pride in being able to fix things, to make systems run right,” Joel says. “It’s work that matters.” Nick adds, “These are skills for life, and they’re always in demand. If you have the right training— and Western provides that—you can build a career anywhere.”

Built to Stay
The Von Hadens’ story is proof that staying local doesn’t mean thinking small. From a two-person service team to a multi-division operation serving clients across the region, their success is built on technical excellence, community ties, and a shared commitment to teaching and mentoring the next wave of skilled workers. In their eyes, that’s a legacy worth protecting. And as long as there are buildings to heat, cool, and automate, Joel and Nick Von Haden plan to keep it running—right here, where it started.