After more than 25 years of guiding Setpoint Solutions’ Dunedin branch, long-serving leader and industry mainstay Mike Hormann is officially stepping back. His retirement marks the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting new chapter led by someone who has grown alongside the business for decades: Sam McDonald.
Sam’s journey with Setpoint began in 1999, when he applied for a job advertised in the newspaper by what was then a small local company across the road from his girlfriend’s flat. Fresh out of his electrical training at Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, and with only short-term contracts being offered at the time he started to look for a new direction. Setpoint offered not only an opportunity, but a career that would keep him learning, evolving, and contributing to some of the region’s most significant buildings.
“It’s an enjoyable industry,” Sam reflects. “You get a good mix of office work, onsite work, design, and talking to customers. And it’s great to look around the lower South Island and think, wow, I’ve been part of that.”
Over the years, Sam has built lifelong friendships through the constant collaboration required in building automation projects. That sense of camaraderie is a defining feature of the Dunedin branch, something Sam intends to preserve and strengthen in his new leadership role.
Stepping Into the Branch Manager Role
While Sam has been running day-to-day operations as Operations Manager, taking on the formal responsibilities of Branch Manager carries personal significance. He describes the transition as both exciting and “a bit scary,” not because of the work itself, but because it marks the gradual loss of a trusted mentor.
“I’ve always had Mike as a backstop, someone to bounce ideas off. The backstop I’ve had for 25 years is being slowly removed, and that’s a bit scary.”
Having worked so closely together, Sam has absorbed many of Mike’s strengths, especially his ability to make confident decisions and get on with the job without hesitation. “He doesn’t procrastinate,” Sam says. “He understands what we do so well that he just gets rolling.”
A Vision for Growth and Capability
Looking ahead, Sam aims to build a more self-sufficient branch, one that enables senior staff to step out of the day-to-day and focus on developing new opportunities.
“We intend to hire staff before we need them so senior staff have more time to talk to customers and grow the business. The work is out there; we just haven’t had the time to get out there.”
This strategy reflects the broader evolution of Setpoint Solutions as a national provider. With branches across New Zealand, Setpoint is now positioned to support major national projects, a capability that Sam says is becoming increasingly important in a rapidly changing industry.
Career Highlights and Longstanding Partnerships
When asked about the proudest moments in his career, two stand out clearly.
The first is the Otago Corrections Facility project, one of the largest the Dunedin branch has tackled. It also marked the first time Sam managed an entire team for a complex project.
The second is the 30-year relationship with the University of Otago, a partnership built on trust, reliability, and deep understanding of the university’s needs.
“It’s in as good a place now as it’s ever been. They’re an ongoing customer, and that relationship just keeps growing.”
A Branch Defined by Culture
If there’s one thing Sam believes sets the Dunedin branch apart, it’s culture.
“We’re like a group of mates working together,” he says. This belief is so strong that Sam has chosen not to move into the upstairs office traditionally used by the Branch Manager. Instead, he’s staying with the team downstairs.
“I want to keep everyone in one space because I believe that maintains one culture.”
This collaborative environment is part of why local clients remain deeply loyal to Setpoint. Whether a fault is theirs or not, the team is committed to making things right, a mindset that has built enduring trust across the southern region.
Leadership Rooted in Support
Sam’s leadership style centres on being available, approachable, and willing to roll up his sleeves to help his team succeed.
“I want people to feel supported and know they can come to me anytime about anything. Whatever I’m working on, I will put it down to help them.”
It’s an approach that mirrors how Setpoint treats its clients, responsive, dependable, and always willing to take ownership.
Life Outside of Work
Outside the office, Sam is an “active relaxer.” Between his lifestyle block, fly fishing, weekend activities with his two kids, and constant shed projects, he’s always on the move.
A chicken coop renovation, excessive glasshouse build, property maintenance, even downtime is hands-on.
The Future of Setpoint Dunedin
As Sam steps into this new era, he carries forward the legacy of a branch built on trust, teamwork, and technical excellence. With a growing team, a strong culture, and national capability backing the local operation, Dunedin is well-positioned for continued success.
And with Sam at the helm, someone who has lived the Setpoint story from the ground up, the future looks both steady and full of possibility.
