Robert (Bob) Hinty – PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
Bob Hinty began his career in manufacturing more than 35 years ago – but not quite the way you might expect. He started out as a consultant with Coopers and Lybrand, now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers, a well-respected international consulting firm with offices around the world. There, Bob helped companies improve their manufacturing and production capabilities. With that inspiration and experience, he had the confidence to start his own small manufacturing company, Phoenix Sewing.

Phoenix Sewing provided sewing and production for Vera Bradley, the noted manufacturer of women’s handbags and travel items. Vera Bradley experienced record growth for many years, growth that was propelled, in part, by their reputation for superior quality. Later, they named Bob their head of production, and he oversaw the training of local sewing personnel.

Over the years, fueled by his growing success and his reputation for excellence and high quality, Bob has built two other sewing companies, Summit Production Systems and Mercury Manufacturing. Today, these three companies employ a skilled workforce of more than 600 people.

Keith Farmer - GENERAL MANAGER
With a degree in manufacturing engineering from Ball State University, Keith Farmer has worked with Bob Hinty for more than 16 years in a variety of production venues. His experience extends farther back than that, though, with work not only in soft goods and apparel, but also including plastics and food products.

Today, for Summit Production Systems, Keith helps clients manufacture their products more efficiently and cost-effectively. His satisfied customers include Vera Bradley, All Tuff, Mark Fore, Cleo & Dot (“tween” girls clothing), and Eki Pineki (baby clothes), just to name a few.

Joyce Sheets - CHIEF OF OPERATIONS
Joyce Sheets brings over 32 years of experience to her work at Summit Production Systems. With “Quality and Efficiency” as her watchword, Joyce has worked with Bob from the earliest days of his business enterprises. She was the one who helped Bob purchase the first sewing machines for Phoenix.

At Summit, Joyce oversees every important aspect of production for all sewing facilities. This includes human resource management, scheduling, purchasing, packaging, and on-time delivery. Also critical is her excellent record of ensuring that supervisors conduct indepth training for all new employees, as well as overseeing Summit’s rigorous quality-control process.