Dave Tinnerman on Service Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of AI in Material Handling

Dave Tinnerman on Service Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of AI in Material Handling

Camp Jennings sits down with Dave Tinnerman, Founder and CEO of Tinnacity, to explore how technology is transforming service operations across the material handling industry. After spending years leading technology initiatives at Crown Equipment, Dave took the entrepreneurial leap to build a software platform designed specifically for the challenges faced by equipment dealers, service technicians, and aftermarket operations. In this conversation, Dave reflects on his journey from computer science student to corporate innovator and entrepreneur, sharing how his experience inside the industry revealed an opportunity to modernize service management. He explains why Tinnacity was built from the ground up with dealer input, how digitizing service workflows creates better visibility and efficiency, and why understanding an industry's unique challenges matters more than simply applying generic software. The discussion also explores artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and the importance of earning trust through deep industry expertise. Dave shares how AI is already helping technicians document repairs, identify equipment issues, and reduce administrative work, allowing them to focus on what they do best. Along the way, he offers candid lessons about building a business, overcoming setbacks, and why strong relationships remain the foundation of long term success. Dave on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-tinnerman-7b9b9a10/] Chapters [00:00] How AI is transforming field service [02:05] The opportunity to guide technology adoption [04:15] From small town Ohio to Crown Equipment [07:28] Building Crown's early technology platforms [10:37] Why Dave founded Tinnacity [12:20] Modernizing service operations through software [13:08] The future of AI for service technicians [14:34] The entrepreneurial leap from corporate life [15:33] Finding the problem worth solving [17:47] The hardest moments of building a company [20:26] Why product quality comes before rapid growth [22:15] Leveraging industry expertise to build a business [24:11] Earning trust by speaking the customer's language [26:27] What Dave misses about corporate life [28:57] Personal growth, reading, and learning AI [32:37] Giving back through Ride for Hope [34:48] Load It or Leave It [37:17] The best advice Dave ever received [39:44] Final thoughts on service, innovation, and partnership

Kinzie Wright on Sales Excellence, Warehouse Solutions, and Building a Business from the Ground Up

Camp Jennings sits down with Kinzie Wright, VP and General Manager at Sammons Warehouse Solutions, to explore what separates top performers from the rest in the material handling and warehouse solutions industry. Drawing on a career that spans installation, engineering, sales, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership, Kinzie shares lessons learned from building Sync Storage with his wife, scaling the business, and ultimately joining the Sammons family of companies. In this conversation, Kinzie reflects on growing up in a material handling family, learning the industry from the ground up, and why understanding both the technical and sales sides of the business creates a powerful competitive advantage. He explains how Sync Storage became a trusted partner to forklift dealerships across the country, how that model evolved after its acquisition, and why warehouse optimization and automation have become central priorities for customers today. The discussion also explores the changing nature of sales leadership, the growing demand for technical expertise among sales professionals, and the traits that consistently separate elite performers from average ones. Kinzie shares his perspective on hiring, coaching, prospecting, and why the best salespeople never stop hunting for opportunities regardless of how successful they become. Kinzie on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinzie-wright/] Chapters [00:00] Why salespeople need both technical and entrepreneurial skills [02:26] The opportunity to simplify automation adoption [05:54] Growing up in a material handling family [08:13] Starting Sync Storage with his wife [09:37] Selling the business and joining Sammons [10:03] Understanding the Sammons organization [12:00] The Power of One philosophy [13:17] How Sync became an extension of forklift dealerships [17:57] Why many dealers still need warehouse design expertise [21:08] What has changed in the market over the last five years [22:43] The growing importance of safety and technical knowledge [24:19] The missing sales talent gap [25:22] The two types of elite salespeople [27:40] Why learning the technical side creates an advantage [30:37] What separates top performers from the middle [32:46] How great salespeople build new territories [35:38] Red flags when hiring sales talent [37:08] Personal growth, endurance sports, and staying competitive [39:43] Using AI and technology to work smarter [41:17] Giving back through the Robb Foundation

Martin Boyd on Electrification, Dealer Evolution, and Building the Future of Material Handling

Scott Smith, Co-Founder of Henry North, sits down with Martin Boyd, Chief Marketing Officer at Big Joe Forklifts, to explore one of the most significant shifts happening in material handling today: the transition from internal combustion equipment to integrated electric solutions. Drawing on more than three decades of experience spanning engineering, service, product management, and executive leadership roles at Hyster Yale, Toyota, Cascade, and Big Joe, Martin offers a unique perspective on where the industry has been and where it is headed. In this conversation, Martin shares his unconventional journey from engineer to marketing executive and explains how his technical background continues to shape the way he approaches leadership, innovation, and go to market strategy. He discusses why Big Joe is betting heavily on electrification, how integrated lithium solutions are changing customer expectations, and why many organizations underestimate the complexity of transitioning from propane and diesel fleets to electric operations. The discussion also explores automation, dealership transformation, and the future role of material handling distributors. Martin explains why successful dealers must evolve from transactional sellers into consultative partners, how automation adoption depends on simplicity and measurable outcomes, and why the industry's next wave of growth will be driven by companies that can help customers navigate increasingly complex operational decisions. Martin on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinjboyd/] Chapters [00:00] Why automation must be simple and purposeful [02:46] MODEX, automation trends, and the Big Joe vision [06:40] Martin's 34 year journey through material handling [10:06] Why he joined Big Joe and what drew him to the mission [14:25] Big Joe's evolution from niche player to electrification leader [17:34] The rise of lithium and the shift from IC to electric [21:21] How automation and electrification work together [24:55] Why dealers must evolve beyond transactional selling [28:34] Integrated lithium and changing the dealership model [31:22] From engineer to CMO and lessons in leadership [35:55] Building teams, culture, and embracing failure [39:16] Giving back through veterans and dementia support [42:17] Load It or Leave It [45:45] Why Martin would choose material handling all over again

The Jennings Brothers on Family Chaos, Golf Trips, and Building Four The Kids Together

Camp Jennings is joined by his three brothers, Hilyer, Zee, and Winn Jennings, for a lighter and more personal episode centered around family stories, brotherly roasting, and the mission behind their nonprofit organization, Four The Kids. Far from the usual conversations around material handling and automation, this episode is a candid look at the personalities, memories, and relationships that shaped the Jennings brothers long before careers, businesses, and family life took over. In this conversation, the brothers swap stories from growing up in LaGrange, Georgia, from reusing sandwich bags in Jackson Hole and sneaking beers as teenagers to forgotten passports, Vegas bachelor parties, and endless debates over who was the family screw up. Along the way, listeners get an inside look at the very different paths each brother took into law, healthcare real estate, entrepreneurship, and beyond. The discussion also highlights the deeper purpose behind Four The Kids, the charitable organization the brothers launched to support children’s health initiatives through golf centered fundraising events. They reflect on the success of their first tournament in Hilton Head, why partnering with Children’s Miracle Network and Play Yellow felt meaningful, and how the organization has become both a way to give back and a reason for the four brothers to build something together. Chapters: [00:00] Introducing the Jennings brothers and today’s different kind of episode [01:00] Meet the four Jennings brothers and their career paths [05:00] Harvard Law, healthcare real estate, and family dynamics [06:45] Jennings Family Court begins [07:00] Best hair in the family and Hilyer’s transplant story [08:30] Who peaked the earliest [09:30] Biggest screw up growing up [10:50] Jamaica passport disaster stories [11:45] The Europe trip that Zee skipped [12:45] Who always wants to move somewhere new [13:40] The “I’m never drinking again” conversation [14:30] Venmo requests and family accounting [16:00] Reusing sandwich bags and struggling in Jackson Hole [18:00] Which brother never calls back [19:30] Introducing Four The Kids and its mission [20:30] Why children’s health became personal for the family [21:30] Partnering with Play Yellow and Children’s Miracle Network [22:30] Building something meaningful together as brothers [24:00] The vision for future fundraising events [25:00] Hilton Head golf tournament highlights and favorite memories [27:00] How friends, sponsors, and attendees made the event special [29:00] Ways listeners can support Four The Kids [31:00] Final reflections on family, philanthropy, and the future [32:00] Planning the next Jennings brothers adventure and Jackson Hole trip

Buddy Bockweg on AI Transformation, Digital Assembly Lines, and Why Operational Chaos Is Holding Companies Back

Camp Jennings sits down with Buddy Bockweg, Co Founder of Vsimple, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of material handling and why most companies are still not operationally prepared for what is coming. Drawing on his background in supply chain operations and technology, Buddy explains why the biggest opportunity in the industry is not just adopting AI, but transforming the underlying workflows, systems, and processes that AI depends on. In this conversation, Buddy introduces the concept of the “digital assembly line,” comparing modern operational software to Henry Ford’s revolutionary manufacturing process. He explains how disconnected systems, spreadsheets, emails, and manual workflows create inefficiencies that prevent organizations from scaling, gaining visibility, and competing effectively in an AI driven world. He also shares how Vsimple helps companies streamline quote to cash processes, reduce costly mistakes, improve accountability, and create real time operational visibility across departments. The discussion also explores entrepreneurship, leadership, workforce transformation, and the future of talent in material handling. Buddy reflects on the challenge of convincing organizations to embrace change, why the companies investing now are pulling ahead rapidly, and how technology can improve not only business outcomes, but employees’ day to day lives as well. Follow Buddy on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/buddy-bockweg/] Chapters: [00:00] Bridging the gap between operations and AI [02:00] Why most organizations are still pre AI companies [04:00] The operational changes required before AI works [06:00] Buddy’s career journey into entrepreneurship [07:30] The idea behind the digital assembly line [10:00] Why operational visibility creates competitive advantage [11:00] What Vsimple actually does for material handling companies [14:00] Eliminating costly mistakes and operational chaos [16:00] Real time accountability versus backward looking reporting [18:00] Why broken processes frustrate employees and customers [21:00] Improving employee experience through technology [22:00] Attracting younger talent into material handling [24:00] Why now is the moment to invest in transformation [28:00] The hardest part of changing established organizations [30:00] Why AI adoption is accelerating operational transformation [33:00] The growing competitive gap between adopters and laggards [35:00] Serving people through technology and leadership [39:00] Load It or Leave It on entrepreneurship and AI [41:00] Why personal branding and visibility matter [42:00] Will AI reduce jobs in material handling [44:00] Final thoughts on winning the future through transformation