At IPS, we build things. Industrial facilities, mechanical systems, custom fabrications, power infrastructure — if it takes skilled hands and serious expertise, chances are IPS has a team for it. But this summer, one member of our crew is putting those same instincts to work in a very different arena: the tractor pull circuit.

The IPS Pull Truck — driven by our own Matt Hinkle, an IPS mechanic by day and a workstock diesel competitor by weekend — is officially on tour. After taking third place in the Workstock Diesel category at the Fulton County Tractor Pull earlier this summer, the truck and its driver have a full schedule ahead, and we want you to come out and cheer them on.

Meet the Driver: Matt Hinkle

Matt Hinkle isn’t just an IPS mechanic — he’s the kind of guy who understands engines at a level most people only read about. When he’s not keeping IPS’s equipment running at peak performance, he’s behind the wheel of a workstock diesel pull truck, competing against some of the toughest rigs in Northwest Ohio.

Tractor pulling — particularly the Workstock Diesel category — is a sport that rewards the same qualities IPS values on every jobsite: precision, preparation, and the ability to perform under pressure. In Workstock Diesel competition, trucks run in their factory configuration with limited modifications, meaning the driver’s skill and the machine’s reliability are everything. Matt brings both.

His third-place podium finish at the Fulton County Tractor Pull was just the beginning. The rest of the season is stacked — and IPS is proud to put its name on the door.

2025 IPS Pull Truck Tour Schedule
The IPS Pull Truck will be competing at the following events this summer and fall. Come find us, say hello, and cheer Matt on:
August 8 | Wood County Fair — 10:00 AM & 6:00 PM
>> 🏅 5th Place — Workstock Class
>>🏆 3rd Place — Open Diesel Class
August 14 | Henry County Fair — 6:00 PM
>> 🏅 6th Place — Workstock Class
>>🏆 6th Place — Open Diesel Class
September 5 | Fulton County Fair — 7:00 PM
>> 🏅 5th Place — Workstock Class
>>🏆 5th Place — Open Diesel Class
September 26 | Hillsdale County Fair — 7:00 PM
>> 🏅 5th Place — Workstock Class
>>🏆 4th Place — Open Diesel Class
October 3 | BG 4×4 Fest — Wood County Fair Gounds — 10:00 AM

Follow IPS on social media for real-time updates, event reminders, and competition results throughout the season. We’ll be posting video from the track all summer long.

Why Does IPS Sponsor a Pull Truck?
Fair question — and the answer says a lot about who IPS is as a company.
IPS was founded in 1985 by a pipefitter who understood the value of hard work, community, and showing up. Over 40 years later, those values still define everything we do — from the jobsite to the fairground. Sponsoring the pull truck isn’t just a marketing decision; it’s a reflection of the people who make IPS what it is.
Tractor pulls are a staple of county fair culture across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan — exactly the communities IPS has been building in for decades. Being present at these events, cheering on our own team member, and connecting with neighbors and clients in a setting outside the jobsite is exactly what community investment looks like in practice.
Plus — and we’ll be honest here — watching a diesel truck haul a weighted sled down a dirt track while the crowd roars is just a good time.

We Build Things — Including Championship Pull Trucks.
From industrial facilities to tractor pull circuits, IPS shows up — with the same work ethic, the same pride, and the same commitment to Northwest Ohio that has defined this company since 1985.

We’ll see you at the track.

About IPS

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rossford, Ohio, IPS — Industrial Power Systems — is a family-owned industrial, general, and specialty contractor delivering projects from concept to completion across the country. IPS self-performs mechanical, electrical, general trades, fabrication, sheet metal, 24/7 HVAC service, and virtual design & construction work, handling any size project with the same standard of Integrity, Performance, and Safety. Click here to check out our full menu of services.

ROSSFORD, Ohio — Industrial Power Systems (IPS), a Northwest Ohio-based industrial, general, and specialty contractor, has been recognized as an Outstanding Corporate Supporter by the United Way of Greater Toledo at its 2025 Campaign Celebration, held May 21, 2026 at The Toledo Club. The Outstanding Corporate Supporter Award is presented annually to businesses that demonstrate exceptional community impact, philanthropy, and workplace giving. IPS was recognized alongside fellow award recipients at the celebration, which brought together campaign managers, corporate partners, and community leaders to reflect on the past year’s collective impact across the greater Toledo region.

“Giving back to this community isn’t something IPS does as a formality — it’s a reflection of who we are. IPS was built by this region and its people, and supporting the United Way’s work is one of the most direct ways we can invest in the communities where our employees live and work.”

— Kristopher Gray, Executive Director of Petro & Compliance, IPS

Gray, who also serves on the United Way of Greater Toledo’s Board of Directors, has been instrumental in strengthening the relationship between IPS and the organization. His dual role as both a corporate leader and board member reflects the depth of IPS’s commitment to United Way’s mission of advancing the health, education, and financial stability of residents across the region.

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rossford, Ohio, IPS has operated as a family-owned business for nearly 40 years, self-performing mechanical, electrical, general trades, fabrication, sheet metal, HVAC, and virtual design and construction services across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The company’s investment in the United Way reflects its longstanding belief that strong communities and strong businesses are built together.

The United Way of Greater Toledo mobilizes the caring power of communities across Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Sandusky, Fulton, and Henry counties to advance measurable change in education, financial stability, and health.

About IPS

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rossford, Ohio, IPS — Industrial Power Systems — is a family-owned industrial, general, and specialty contractor delivering projects from concept to completion across the country. IPS self-performs mechanical, electrical, general trades, fabrication, sheet metal, 24/7 HVAC service, and virtual design & construction work, handling any size project with the same standard of Integrity, Performance, and Safety. Click here to check out our full menu of services.

Army veteran and IPS VP recognized for military service and continued community leadership at Glass City Center

ROSSFORD, Ohio — Nate Wishard doesn’t talk much about his military service. That’s true of many veterans — they put in the work, they do what needs to be done, and they move on to the next mission. The Glass City Wranglers made sure someone said it out loud. At a recent Hometown Hero Night at the Glass City Center in downtown Toledo, the Wranglers honored Wishard — IPS’s Vice President of Strategy and Market Development — for more than two decades of military service, including two combat deployments and a record of leadership that stretches from Army bases across the country to boardrooms here in Northwest Ohio.

From Fort Jackson to Kandahar

Wishard enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003, completing basic training at Fort Jackson and advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, where he specialized in Apache helicopter armament, electrical, and avionics systems — work that demands precision, accountability, and a steady hand under pressure. It’s not a coincidence those are also the qualities that define how he operates today.

He went on to serve with the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Attack Reconnaissance Battalion — the Wolfpack — where he served as a Paratrooper completing deployments in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Following his active service, he led large teams across training, operations, and talent development in multiple states before joining IPS.

“Nate brought the same thing to IPS that he brought to his unit — a commitment to the people around him and a standard that doesn’t move.” 
— Jeremiah Johnson, Chief Revenue Officer, IPS

A Record That Speaks for Itself

Wishard’s military decorations reflect a career defined by sustained excellence and service above self:

The Meritorious Service Medal — earned four times over — recognizes outstanding non-combat achievement at a level that directly impacts unit readiness and mission success. The 17th Army Achievement Medal is not a typo. Seventeen. Over the course of a military career, that kind of recognition accumulates only when a person consistently performs at a level above what is expected, across every assignment, every tour, every unit.

What He Brings to IPS — and Northwest Ohio

At IPS, Wishard leads strategy and market development — helping position a 40-year-old company for its next chapter. His understanding of complex operations, large-scale team leadership, and mission-first thinking translates directly into how IPS approaches its clients and its growth.
He also serves on the Oregon Economic Development Foundation Executive Board, continuing to put his energy into the region’s long-term health. And he’s a father of two — which, by most accounts, is the job he takes most seriously of all.

“This recognition belongs to every person who served alongside me. I was part of great units with great people. I’m proud of what we did together.” 
— Nate Wishard, VP of Strategy and Market Development, IPS

About the Glass City Wranglers

The Glass City Wranglers are Toledo’s professional basketball team and a member of the Basketball Super League, now playing home games at the Glass City Center in downtown Toledo. The organization has built a reputation for community connection, affordable family entertainment, and developing local talent — values that align well with what IPS tries to do in this region every day. Learn more at glasscitywranglers.com.

About IPS

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rossford, Ohio, IPS — Industrial Power Systems — is an industrial, general, and specialty contractor delivering projects from concept to completion across the country. IPS self-performs mechanical, electrical, general trades, fabrication, sheet metal, 24/7 HVAC service, and virtual design & construction work, handling any size project with the same standard of Integrity, Performance, and Safety. Click here to check out our full menu of services.

This award highlights up and coming electrical professionals that demonstrate innovation, outstanding work ethic, and technical savvy on the job. 

Here is Jonathan’s full interview: 

• Job Title: Journeyman and Foreman
• Company: Industrial Power Systems – Rossford, Ohio
• Age: 26 (7 years on the job)
• Interests: Traveling to the Upper Pennisula to ride his snowmobile, hanging with his family, jet skiing, and spending time outdoors​

While working on his dad’s new house and wiring luminaires in the basement, Jon Lotcyz’s uncle introduced him to the trade. He then attended the Tiffin Trade School for electrical trades and participated in Sentinal Team Works, which competed and won top awards in the state and national competitions. After his high school graduation, he continued his education in the electrical field at a non-union shop. He was then accepted into the union and recently wrapped up a five-year apprenticeship. 

As a general foreman, he starts out every work day by ensuring he has the proper safety paperwork and his workers have the correct PPE. He then outlines the tasks for the day, but he says he is open-minded to other ways to get the job done. “There are multiple ways to do every single task, and we are always looking for the easiest and cheapest ways to complete a quality install, especially with the price of everything nowadays,” he says. 

In his role, he said communication is the most challenging part of the job, followed by computer skills. While he said he has never been a tech-savvy person, he is learning a lot about computers in his role and is always looking for new tools. “I am a firm believer in the right tool for the right job, so if there is a new tool that I see in the industry that will make the job go faster, I see if we can get it,” he says. Ten years down the road, he would like to have five rental properties, a dream house, and be married with two kids. To reach these goals, he plans to work even outside of working hours. 

“You’re not going to hit your goals if you’re working 40 hours a week,” he says. “When you get tired, you keep pushing through. If you get that little more done, then you can be that much closer to your goals in life.”

https://www.ecmweb.com/construction/article/21245048/2022s-30-under-30-ecm-electrical-all-stars-jonathan-lotcyz