PRECISION BUILT OVER GENERATIONS
Engineering Precision
From a small Chattanooga garage to a modern precision manufacturing operation, Tennessee Valley Precision Components has grown through generations of craftsmanship, innovation, and commitment to quality. Today, TVPC remains privately owned, combining nearly a century of manufacturing experience with modern CNC technology to serve customers across a range of industries.
OUR HISTORY
From a one-car garage in Chattanooga to a modern precision manufacturing operation, TVPC's story spans nearly a century and four generations.
1928 — A NEW BEGINNING
Austrian machinist Karl Leitner immigrated to the United States and settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With his savings, he purchased a small one-car garage and began repairing bicycles and machining replacement parts that local shops had difficulty obtaining.
1930s — LEITNER MACHINE WORKS
As Chattanooga's industrial economy grew, so did Karl's business. Demand expanded beyond bicycle components as local manufacturers began turning to Leitner for replacement parts, repairs, and small production runs. Additional machining equipment was added, and the small garage evolved into Leitner Machine Works.
1956 — THE SECOND GENERATION
In 1956, Karl’s son, Walter Leitner, joined Leitner Machine Works after learning the machinist’s trade. Walter brought a new generation of ideas to the family business, helping expand its capabilities and customer base beyond Chattanooga. As Karl gradually stepped back from day-to-day operations, Walter assumed greater responsibility and began transforming the neighborhood machine shop into a growing regional industrial supplier.
1974 — A NEW ERA OF GROWTH
By the 1970s, Leitner Machine Works had outgrown its longtime facility. Under Walter Leitner’s leadership, the company moved into a larger Chattanooga plant and invested in new machining equipment to meet growing demand from regional manufacturers. The expansion allowed Leitner to take on larger and more complex projects while preserving the craftsmanship and close customer relationships established by Karl nearly fifty years earlier.
1991 — ENTERING THE CNC ERA
In 1991, Leitner Machine Works made one of the most significant investments in its history with the acquisition of its first CNC machining centers. Computer-controlled manufacturing allowed the company to produce increasingly complex components with greater precision, consistency, and efficiency. The transition marked the beginning of a new technological era while preserving the hands-on machining expertise that had defined the company for more than six decades.
2001 — A NEW NAME FOR A NEW CENTURY
Entering the new century, the third generation of the Leitner family positioned the company for continued growth. In 2001, Leitner Machine Works became Tennessee Valley Precision Components, reflecting its evolution from a traditional machine shop into a modern precision manufacturer serving customers throughout the region and beyond. New CNC equipment, expanded engineering capabilities, and increasingly sophisticated quality systems opened the door to work in the automotive, aerospace, energy, and industrial markets.
2014 — EXPANDING OUR CAPABILITIES
Continued growth brought another major investment in TVPC’s future. In 2014, the company expanded its Chattanooga operation, adding advanced multi-axis CNC equipment, new inspection technology, and dedicated engineering resources. These investments increased capacity for complex, close-tolerance components and strengthened TVPC’s ability to support customers from initial prototype through full production.
2024 — INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING
Building on nearly a century of manufacturing experience, TVPC entered a new era of digitally connected production. Investments in automated machining, robotic material handling, real-time production monitoring, and AI-assisted manufacturing tools have helped improve efficiency, quality, and consistency across the operation. Advanced CAD/CAM systems, digital inspection technology, and data-driven process optimization now work alongside the expertise of TVPC’s machinists and engineers to support increasingly complex customer requirements.
Our Leadership
TVPC is driven by a team of experienced professionals dedicated to precision engineering and technical excellence.
Daniel Leitner
President and CEO
Daniel Leitner represents the third generation of the Leitner family to lead the company founded by his grandfather, Karl Leitner. After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Daniel joined Leitner Machine Works in 1987, initially working in manufacturing engineering and operations. He helped lead the company's transition to CNC machining during the 1990s and its transformation into Tennessee Valley Precision Components in 2001. As President and CEO, Daniel oversees TVPC's long-term strategy, capital investment, customer relationships, and continued development as an advanced precision manufacturer.
Chief Financial Officer
Tommy Biddix brings more than 16 years of accounting and finance experience spanning manufacturing and other complex organizations. His background includes cost accounting, FP&A, budgeting and forecasting, job costing, profitability analysis, inventory, fixed assets, internal controls, and ERP implementation. As CFO, Tommy oversees TVPC's accounting, financial planning, treasury, cost management, capital planning, and financial systems. He holds an MBA and MPA from Western Carolina University and degrees in Accounting, History & Political Science from UNC Asheville. He is also Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Project Management certified and a U.S. Army veteran with a deployment to Iraq earning a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Tommy Lee Biddix
James Whitaker
VP of Operations
James Whitaker has more than 25 years of experience in precision manufacturing and plant operations. A graduate of Tennessee Technological University with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology. James began his career as a manufacturing engineer before moving into production and plant leadership. He joined TVPC in 2008 and today oversees machining operations, production planning, maintenance, safety, continuous improvement, and facility operations. James has played a central role in expanding TVPC's CNC capacity and introducing automation and data-driven production management while maintaining the flexibility required for prototype and short-to-medium production work.
Emily Chen
VP of Engineering & Quality
Emily Chen leads TVPC's engineering, process development, quality assurance, and metrology functions. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a doctorate focused on advanced manufacturing systems from NYU. Since joining TVPC in 2012, Emily has helped expand the company's multi-axis machining, CAD/CAM, inspection, and design-for-manufacturability capabilities. Her engineering and quality teams work directly with customers from initial drawing review and prototype development through process validation and repeat production, with particular emphasis on complex components, dimensional control, process capability, and continuous improvement.
VP of Sales & Business Development
Rob Keller has more than 20 years of experience in industrial sales and business development as well as a MBA from Eastern Carolina University, primarily serving OEM and engineered-product manufacturers. He joined TVPC in 2015 after holding regional and national account-management positions with manufacturing suppliers throughout the Southeast. Rob leads TVPC's sales organization, strategic accounts, estimating coordination, and new-business development. Working closely with engineering and operations, he helps customers identify practical manufacturing solutions and has supported TVPC's expansion into automotive, aerospace, energy, industrial-equipment, and specialty-manufacturing markets.
Robert “Rob” Keller
