From Youth Pastor to Operations Manager: Joshua Tinney Guides Family Business to New Places

Although Joshua Tinney grew up spending a lot of time in his family’s machine shop, he didn’t always feel called to help carry on the business. In fact, Tinney received his bachelor’s degree in religious education and moved from his home in Bellevue, Illinois, to California, where he served as a youth pastor. A few years went by and the health and well-being of his family and the business started to suffer, so in 2013 he and his wife moved back home to help Tinney Tool and Machine Co. Inc.

Since then, his desire to become a leader and staying committed to helping Tinney Tool move to new places has blossomed, according to Karl Tinney, company president/owner and Joshua Tinney’s father and nominator. “He consistently goes above and beyond what is needed, always looking for ways to better our company and bring us to the forefront of manufacturing, even when most of us are complacent and can be resistant to change,” he says.

Tinney, who has been operations manager for seven years, is always ready to adapt and develop innovative solutions and goals, and has increased companywide sales, effectiveness and efficiency. He says he aspires to take long-term relationships with customers seriously, while striving to help the company stay at the forefront of business within the manufacturing industry.

Tinney serves on the board for the St. Louis chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and works with local high schools to generate interest in a career in manufacturing.

“No matter our needs, Joshua is always there to get it done. He is not afraid to experiment, take risks, fail forward and try again,” Karl Tinney says. “He has a bright future in manufacturing and I look forward to seeing him grow, remaining true to his values and the vision we have for not only Tinney Tool but the greater manufacturing community.”

In Tinney’s free time, he enjoys volunteering and spending time with his wife and two sons.

To learn about other Production Machining 2020 Emerging Leaders, read this article.

To watch videos about our 2020 Emerging Leaders, click on the links below:

• Advice for the Next Generation of Manufacturing Talent
• Manufacturing Attracts Young Leaders in Different Ways
• Leaders Who are Goal Oriented
• Daily Challenges Emerging Leaders Face