The leadership of Patti Engineering has been a team for nearly 20 years. Their experience has lead Patti Engineering from one man and a laptop, through 2009, to three offices, and into the fourth industrial revolution.
Sam Hoff
CEO
Samuel M. Hoff, Chief Executive Officer, started the company from his home in 1991. Since then he’s expanded his business to more than 35 college-degreed engineers. Patti Engineering has engineering offices in Auburn Hills, MI, Austin, TX, and Indianapolis, IN. Patti Engineering is named after Patti Hoff, CFO of Patti Engineering, who married Sam three weeks after the formation of Patti Engineering.
Under his leadership, Patti Engineering has developed and implemented several cutting-edge technologies that have been used for distribution, assembly, powertrain assembly, Food, and Entertainment and amongst other industries. Under Sam’s leadership, Patti Engineering has become a leader in applications of Industry 4.0 and digital twining to improve manufacturing through AI and data science.
Sam is also is the sales and Managing Member of Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices (www.leidproducts.com), a partnership company that spun out of Patti Engineering. Sam has served on several boards and committees including Automation Alley, Kettering University Electrical Engineering Department and the Controls Systems Integrators Association. Sam also is a past president of the Clarkston Rotary Club in Clarkston, Michigan. With almost 30 years of experience in the controls system integration industry, Sam and his employees have an outstanding record of satisfying clients and receiving repeat business.
Sam earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Michigan.
Originally from Maryland, Sam resides in Clarkston, Michigan with his wife Patti, a Flint, MI native and two beautiful children. The Hoff family enjoys spending time together in the Michigan outdoors. Sam has a passion for golf and is an avid baseball fan.
Patti Hoff
CFO
Patti, Chief Financial Officer, is a Michigan native and has been with the Patti Engineering since its inception in 1991. She provided the company with the inspiration for its name and worked alongside her husband, Sam.
Patti earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI. Under her leadership, Patti Engineering has built a solid financial position to ensure continued growth.
Dave Foster
Vice President, Engineering
David G. Foster holds the position of Vice President of Engineering & Operations for Patti Engineering. Dave has been with Patti Engineering since 1995. He has provided more than 2 decades of executive and management service to all client relations, project planning, project estimation, as well as leading our team of highly skilled engineers. In past experiences, Dave has worked in the electrical utilities industry for a Caribbean-based company on several assignments including ‘hands-on’ work in transmission and distribution systems, as well as asset management systems development.
Dave has both a Michigan and a Texas Professional Engineering license, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University (GMI) in Flint, Michigan. Dave also serves as the Vice President of LEID (www.LEIDProducts.com), and runs his sons automotive racing team (www.EvanFosterRacing.com).
Dave lives in Clarkston, Michigan with his wife and 2 sons; Leading an active lifestyle bouncing between traveling the Midwest with the family race team, attending kids sporting events, or boating on the beautiful Great Lakes.
L. John Shipley, P.E., CAP
Director of Indiana Operations
John Shipley has been with Patti Engineering since 2016 and is the Senior Electrical Engineer and Director of Indiana Operations. With over 25 years of experience in controls and industrial automation in the Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Machine Tool, Material Handling, and Steel industries, he is an expert in his craft. John has extensive experience with aluminum high pressure die casting, asset tracking, automated guided vehicle systems, color picture tube manufacturing, friction welding, and friction stir welding, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing engineering, as well as professional experience with steel erection for building construction, beef cattle operations, and custom hay baling services.
John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, and later achieved his Master of Science degree in International Business from San Diego State University. He is a licensed PE for the state of Indiana, and also maintains a number of certifications. He is a Certified Automation Professional by the International Society of Automation, a Siemens Certified Professional for Industrial Identification – RFID-UHF, and RFID Professional Institute Associate Foundation Level Certified.
Terrance Brinkley
Director of Michigan Operations
With a natural affinity for control systems integration, Terrance Brinkley has been an asset to Patti Engineering since 2004 and now leads his team as the Director of Michigan Operations. A native of Pontiac, Michigan, Terrance graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Terrance has over 18 years of experience in Siemens technology and has earned the Siemens Global Technical Certification in the SIMATIC Technology areas of S7 PLCs and SIMATIC HMIs. Terrance has contributed significantly to Patti Engineering’s work in machining centers, assembly lines, and motion controls, and has also handled projects in material handling, LOT Trace, and Powertrain.
Nick Hitchcock, P.E., PMP
Director of Texas Operations
Hired in 2008, Nick Hitchcock has served in several engineering and management roles in the company’s Austin office. Starting out at the Michigan office, and moving to Texas in July 2010, he now serves as the Director of Texas Operations. Nick has extensive experience designing and developing automation hardware and software solutions with Siemens controlled equipment in transportation environments, including power train projects for diesel engine assembly lines and robotic gantry projects for machining processes.
Nick earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Dearborn, and later became a licensed P.E. in Texas. Holding several certifications, Nick is among an elite group of industrial automation professionals to achieve Siemens Global Technical Certification in the SIMATIC Technology areas of S7 PLCs, SIMATIC HMIs, and SIMATIC Networking, and is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Tim Hebert
Business Development Manager, Texas
Tim Hebert joined Patti Engineering in 2020 as Business Development Manager for Texas. He has a background in both automation and power distribution, having worked in engineering and applications positions before moving to the commercial side of the electrical supply chain industry.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Tim holds a bachelor of science in industrial distribution. In addition, Tim holds several industry certifications, including Rockwell Automation.
Jeff Johnston
Business Development Manager, Indiana
Jeff Johnston leads business development initiatives for Patti Engineer’s Indiana office. Johnston works directly with current and potential customers to understand integration needs and offer solutions that maximize return on investment for customers.
Prior to joining Patti Engineering, Jeff served as Senior Sales Engineer at Keyence, where he refined his industrial automation skills over a sixteen year tenure. Covering territories in eleven different states, he has worked extensively on solving problems and increasing efficiency in a variety of key manufacturing industries. A graduate of Purdue University, Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.
