From the Shop Floor to Customer Solutions: Matt’s Story
Meet Matt Yatsko, a Product Consultant at Cincinnati Incorporated. Learn more about Matt and his career journey at Cincinnati Incorporated.
A Decade of Growth at Cincinnati Incorporated
When Matt Yatsko joined Cincinnati Incorporated in 2015, he had no idea the role would turn into a decade-long career marked by growth, pride, and family legacy. Now, more than ten years later, his journey reflects what happens when opportunity meets commitment, and when a company invests in its people.
He started at CI as a material coordinator and machine shipper, working hands-on in the shop. Over the next seven years, he rotated through multiple trades, gaining experience in material coordination, painting, die making, and maintenance-driven continuous improvement. Rather than expecting him to “hit the ground running,” CI took the time to train, teach, and invest—something he says set Cincinnati apart from every other workplace he’d experienced.
“That investment was huge for me,” he shares. “They didn’t just want output. They wanted development.”
That foundation ultimately opened the door to a new chapter: a transition into Applications Engineering and, eventually, his current role as a Product Consultant. Moving from the shop floor to a customer-facing position was a major shift, but one that felt natural given his deep understanding of the machines behind him.
“When I stand in front of a customer, I own that machine,” he says. “I believe in what we build. That makes it easy to stand behind it.”
A Legacy Rooted in Culture
Interestingly, Matt knew very little about Cincinnati Incorporated before applying—despite the fact that his grandfather had worked there for 35 years. It wasn’t until he mentioned he was job hunting that his grandfather suggested CI and later shared stories about the company’s culture.
“He told me it would feel different—more family-based, more people-oriented. And he was right.”
That legacy brought with it a sense of responsibility. Walking into a company where his grandfather had left such a strong reputation motivated him to carry that forward and, if possible, build upon it.
Pride in Progress and Continuous Improvement
One of his proudest chapters came during his time in continuous improvement. With little prior experience in fabrication or maintenance, Matt was trained to lead initiatives focused on safety, efficiency, and lean manufacturing. From safeguarding large machining centers to streamlining processes still in use today, the work left a lasting impact.
“When you spearhead something like that, you feel ownership,” he explains. “And seeing it continue to grow—that’s incredibly rewarding.”
Customer Connections That Matter
Customer-facing roles brought a new kind of fulfillment. Every visit, he says—good or bad—is an opportunity to help someone and leave them better than you found them.
That mindset shined at FABTECH, where Matt served as the lead press brake operator for three consecutive years (2022–2024). Given autonomy to design demos and create parts that “wow” customers, he took pride in showing how Cincinnati machines could truly improve day-to-day operations.
One interaction stands out above the rest. A skeptical customer, frustrated by past press brake experiences, approached him with alignment issues affecting welded tractor assemblies. The demo parts highlighted—and solved—every challenge the customer described.
“When the parts slid together perfectly, he was in awe,” he recalls. “He flew home with a 12-inch metal part just to show his team. That’s when you know you made an impact.”
What Sets Cincinnati Apart
At FABTECH and beyond, Matt believes Cincinnati stands out for more than just rugged machines—though that reputation certainly precedes them.
“It’s the American-made pride,” he says. “That matters—to me and to our customers.”
That pride was on full display during a recent FABTECH event, when CI participated in a color guard presentation while supporting Folds of Honor. The response was overwhelming, with attendees commenting they’d never seen anything like it.
“It wasn’t just about us,” he adds. “It was about belief—in American manufacturing.”
A Company That Feels Like Family
After ten years, what makes him most proud to work at Cincinnati is the people.
“This is another family,” he says. “There’s not a name here I don’t know.”
With four children and the realities of family life, he’s grateful to work for leaders who consistently emphasize that family comes first—something he says you don’t find everywhere.
That same mentality extends to his team, where collaboration and shared knowledge are the norm. No one hoards information; everyone looks out for one another.
A Partner for Life
If asked why customers should buy from Cincinnati Incorporated, Matt’s answer is simple: partnership.
“We don’t see customers—we see future partners,” he explains. “We don’t want to replace your first machine. We want to add the next one beside it.”
From lifetime support to productivity-focused solutions, CI’s commitment doesn’t end after the sale. It lasts for the life of the machine.
And a Moment to Laugh
Of course, no great career story is complete without a laugh. One of his favorite moments came during a technical explanation of straightening ball screws using a press brake—an uncommon, highly specific process.
Mid-explanation, the customer finished the description for him—perfectly.
“He said, ‘I do that all the time,’” he laughs. “The odds of that? I lost my mind.”
After a decade at Cincinnati Incorporated, moments like that—growth, pride, partnership, and shared understanding—are what continue to make the journey worthwhile.
