Dealing in Dell: Montana Tech Solutions relocates to Flathead
When Todd and Christine Kolstad visited Kalispell on their honeymoon 14 years ago, they had their photo taken at the “Welcome to Kalispell” sign and decided some day they’d live here.
Some day arrived a couple of weeks ago.
But, besides moving here with their children, the Kolstads are moving their business — Montana Technical Solutions — to Kalispell also.
The business operates on several fronts. It offers computer network management plans, network design and support, data management and backup, virus removal and computer sales and service. It also sells copiers and printers, sound systems and televisions. The company is a partner with Dell and sells only Dell computer equipment.
Todd Kolstad said his company offers consumers several advantages — the best prices they’ll find and a team of qualified technicians who handle the information technology side of things.
They’ve leased space for a small retail store in Hutton Ranch Plaza, which should open in February, once some remodeling work is completed. Some inventory will be stocked at that store, but it will mostly serve as an order and drop-off site, he said.
Kolstad wants to open stores in Whitefish and Bigfork, and perhaps other communities in the valley. He intends to rent a second Kalispell location where the corporate office will be located.
He also has plans for offices in Billings and Helena, “but the heart of company will be” in Kalispell, he said.
Montana Technical Solutions has existed for five years, based in Kolstad’s home town of Glasgow, with a staff of technical workers. A service center opened in Glasgow a few months ago. The company employs about 16 people in Glasgow. Kolstad said the exact number of employees of his firm is “clouded.” He has hired many part-time or temporary employees, for example hiring teachers to work during the summer and hiring part-time people to handle some time accounting work for the firm. He’s also hired law enforcement officers to install security cameras.
The exact number of people he’ll hire in the Flathead isn’t yet known. His approach is to find local people to fill jobs, rather than import workers. He plans to continue using part-time workers like teachers and law enforcement personnel.
“We are bringing on our own certified people to handle computer issues,” Kolstad said. “We brought on one person in Kalispell.”
He expects to eventually hire two or three store managers, two or three bench technicians and two or three field service engineers. He also plans to hire staff to handle the time accounting work for the firm, which has been outsourced in the past.
All total, he’d like to end up with a staff of about 20 people in the Flathead, “but that could grow because we plan to work in Idaho, too.”
When he started up the company five years ago, it wasn’t his intention to have a big company, Kolstad said.
“When it was started it was basically a company that was being built by its customers. Most of the people who work for us are our customers,” he said.
Today, Montana Technical Solutions has kept its physical presence generally in the radius of Culbertson to Havre. They’ve sold into Billings, as well, and have sold to businesses in several other states. He wants to offer products and services to Montana businesses and government entities, from another Montana business, and keep money in the state.
“We’re looking forward to the relationship here,” Kolstad said of the Flathead. “People here share our beliefs.
“I truly want to make a difference here,” he said. “Kalispell is a good fit for us and we are a good fit for it. We are confident we can affect business here in a positive way and we can create jobs.”
Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or by e-mail at sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.