NICHOLAS BROWN, CEO

As a dynamic leader in the AVL industry, Nicholas Brown is redefining what it means to build and scale a modern production company. His journey began at Lee University and continued through hands-on experience in touring and technical roles, where he gained both the expertise and entrepreneurial vision to found IPS. What started as a grassroots effort has quickly grown into a nationally recognized company known for its cutting-edge production and integration solutions.

As CEO, Nicholas takes a forward-thinking approach to leadership, driving business development, expansion into new markets, and the evolution of IPS as a premier AVL provider. He is deeply committed to learning from those around him, surrounding himself with talented professionals who push boundaries and bring fresh perspectives. Eager to help shape the future of the industry, Nicholas believes in investing in talent, embracing innovation, and creating a culture where passion and excellence thrive.

Beyond his work at IPS, Nicholas enjoys time on the golf course and making memories with his wife, Emily, and their two children, Lily and Henry.

Nicholas Brown, CEO

Nicholas Brown is redefining what it means to build and scale a modern production company. His journey began through hands-on experience in touring and technical roles, where he gained both the expertise and entrepreneurial vision to found IPS. What started as a grassroots effort has rapidly grown into a dynamic and fast-scaling company known for its commitment to high-quality production and innovative AVL solutions.

As CEO, Nicholas is focused on driving business development, expanding into new markets, and positioning IPS as a leading force in the industry. He believes in surrounding himself with talented professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, and embracing new technology to push boundaries. His leadership is rooted in a long-term vision—building IPS into a company that is widely recognized for its excellence and forward-thinking approach.

Beyond the fast-paced world of production, Nicholas enjoys spending time on the golf course and making memories with his wife, Emily, and their two children, Lily and Henry.

Truett Pumphrey, Production Director of Operations

As Production Director of Operations at IPS, Truett brings a lifetime of experience in the music and live events industry. Growing up around production, he developed a passion for the craft at an early age, traveling with his father, a professional drummer, and helping crews set up for shows. That early exposure led him to a career in touring straight out of high school, where he spent a decade on the road as a backline tech and patch specialist before transitioning into stage management for the next seven years.

In 2021, Truett left touring to join IPS as a Project Manager. His hands-on expertise and leadership quickly propelled him into his current role as Production Director of Operations, where he has spent the last two and a half years overseeing projects, optimizing production workflows, and ensuring seamless execution across IPS’s live events and touring operations.

Truett describes IPS as a place where every team member is committed to excellence, but more importantly, where people lift each other up and support one another in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. The balance of hard work and camaraderie makes his time at the company a unique and special place to be.

When he’s not at work, you can find Truett out on the lake, on the golf course, or grilling up some food at home.

Alexa Simpson, Executive Director of Marketing

As Executive Director of Marketing at IPS, Alexa brings over a decade of expertise in brand strategy, creative direction, and marketing within the production and live events industry. She has built a career developing innovative marketing strategies that elevate brands, drive business growth, and enhance industry presence.

Throughout her career, Alexa has worked extensively within the production world, crafting marketing strategies that connect brands with the unique needs of touring professionals, event organizers, and AVL specialists. She also gained valuable experience at a global corporation, Bridgestone Americas, where she worked directly with Firestone on brand development and activation initiatives. This combination of industry expertise and large-scale, global brand strategy allows her to position IPS as a leader in an evolving market.

At IPS, Alexa oversees all aspects of marketing, from brand development and strategic positioning to content creation and partnership initiatives. She thrives in fast-paced, creative environments where storytelling, technology, and strategy intersect. Alexa is passionate about ensuring IPS stands out in an increasingly competitive industry.

Outside of work, Alexa enjoys being outside–hiking, skiing, spending time with her family, and embracing the balance between adventure and creativity that fuels her professional and personal life.

John Schirmer, Executive Director of Production

With over thirty years of experience in the entertainment industry, John has built a distinguished career spanning production, touring, and executive leadership. Beginning with mixing records for friends and local venues, John’s passion for music quickly evolved into a career that took him around the world. From his first touring role as a monitor engineer in 1996, he went on to hold key positions such as Crew Chief, Front-of-House Engineer, Production Manager, and Tour Manager. His studio work during breaks from the road led to collaborations with world-class artists across multiple genres, earning him two Grammy Awards.

In 2013, John made the transition from touring to executive management, serving as General Manager at Morris Light and Sound before taking on leadership roles at Blackbird Academy, DCR, and PRG. His expertise in building high-performance teams, optimizing operations, and driving business growth has made him a leader in the production industry. In 2024, John joined IPS as Executive Director of Production, drawn to the company’s vision and commitment to operational excellence.

John is passionate about mentoring teams, fostering innovation, and assisting with growth. He describes IPS as a company built on collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity—an environment where every team member is valued and empowered to contribute. He believes IPS fosters true sense of belonging; where employees are not just cogs in a machine but integral parts of a collective that truly stands out.

Beyond his work, John’s time revolves around family, golf, rock climbing, and finding balance in the simple joys of life.

Emily Brown, Director of HR

As one of the earliest members of IPS, Emily has been instrumental in shaping the company from its inception to the thriving organization it is today. Now serving as Director of Human Resources, she brings a unique perspective, having supported IPS in a multitude of ways over the years. This firsthand experience has given her deep insight into the needs of the team, allowing her to foster a culture that is both collaborative and empowering.

Emily has played a key role in the evolution of HR at IPS, transitioning it from an all-encompassing administrative function to a dedicated department that provides meaningful support to the entire team. She takes immense pride in seeing how IPS has grown—not just as a company, but as a brand that continues to push boundaries and overcome challenges. Watching the company’s culture develop into a true family-like environment has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her journey.

Emily views IPS as a place where every individual is valued and has the opportunity to make an impact. She is passionate about creating an environment where employees feel a sense of purpose and enjoy coming to work every day.

Outside of IPS, Emily cherishes time with her family. Whether at home or in the office, her commitment to people remains at the core of everything she does.

Nathan Sprayberry, CTO

Nathan is a founding member of IPS and has played a crucial role in shaping the company’s vision and growth. With a background in live production, technical operations, and system design, he brings hands-on experience to his role. Operational knowledge, combined with a passion for innovation, ultimately led him to help launch IPS—driven by the belief that a strong team could accomplish far more than any individual.

As Chief Technology Officer, Nathan leads IPS’s approach to technology, ensuring that the company stays at the forefront of AVL solutions. His role focuses on asset strategy, vendor relationships, and sales support in a technical capacity, allowing IPS to maximize the impact of its investments while delivering customized, high-quality solutions to clients. From the beginning, IPS has been unafraid to push boundaries, leveraging emerging technologies to create innovative designs—whether that meant installing LED walls in unexpected places or developing solutions that others said couldn’t be done. Nathan prioritizes smart, strategic decisions that result in tailored systems rather than cookie-cutter designs.

Nathan believes that excellence isn’t just about having the latest technology—it’s about truly understanding how to optimize it for each client’s needs. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with his wife.

Caleb Nichols, Chief Financial Officer

As CFO, Caleb has been a driving force behind the company’s growth and success from day one. With a hands-on approach and a deep understanding of both the operational and financial sides of the business, he has played a key role in structuring IPS for long-term success. His ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day financial oversight has helped the company scale rapidly while maintaining stability and adaptability in an ever-evolving industry.

In the early days, Caleb laid the financial groundwork for IPS, ensuring the company had the structure and operational foundation to scale effectively. As IPS has grown, so has his role—evolving from managing day-to-day finances to a more strategic and analytical focus, helping drive long-term financial planning and investments. He takes great pride in having built a financial structure that not only supports IPS today but also positions it for sustained growth in the future.

For Caleb, IPS has always been about shared ambition, perseverance, and a team that refuses to take no for an answer. Even after years of rapid expansion, he believes the company remains a place of grit, determination, and pride—qualities that Caleb believes make it truly special. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid sports fan, with a passion for golf, tennis, NASCAR, football, and basketball.

Wade Russell, Executive Director of Integration

Wade leads the Integration division, where he and his team transform visions into practical, high-quality solutions for clients. With over 25 years of experience in AVL, Wade has been part of projects spanning performance venues, hospitality, corporate environments, and cruise industries. His extensive technical expertise and leadership approach enable him to build and empower a hungry, humble, and innovative team that drives excellence in every project.

Wade was drawn to IPS by its commitment to exceeding expectations and the great people who make up the team. Since joining the company, his role has evolved as the team has expanded, and he has taken on recruiting top talent.

IPS's culture stands out to Wade because of the authenticity and camaraderie among its people—everyone genuinely cares for each other, and success is achieved as a team. Outside of work, Wade enjoys tackling projects around the house, hunting, and making lasting memories with his family.

Justin Toone, Executive Director of Business Development – Global

With a dynamic career spanning multiple industries, Justin brings expertise in business and client development in the global experiences and live events. His journey began with four years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force before transitioning into manufacturing leadership in the auto manufacturing industry. From there, he moved into supply chain sales and management, working with major manufacturers and distributors in high-end consumables, automation, and power transmission—sectors that would later shape his approach to business development in entertainment and production.

In 2017, Justin entered the live events industry, joining SEIBO, a major player in the global auto show space for AVL. When 4Wall acquired SEIBO in 2019, his expertise in forging strategic partnerships and driving market expansion became even more critical. Shortly after, he joined TAIT, where he served as the cruise ship market leader on the global business development team, as well as a focus on theme parks, auto shows and large-scale entertainment projects.

Justin joined IPS in early 2024, drawn by the company’s innovative spirit, local presence in Nashville, and immense potential for growth. At IPS, he has expanded the company’s presence in the cruise line sector.

With a passion for fostering strong relationships and delivering top-tier solutions, Justin continues to boost IPS’s global strategy, ensuring the company remains positioned for significant growth.

Michael Casey, Integration Director of Sales

Michael joined the IPS team with 13 years of experience working in churches and relationship management. Michael understands the challenges in the house of worship technology space, as he started out mixing, running monitors and broadcast. Michael’s passion is helping churches build their dream system, and he loves seeing projects go from start to finish. Michael majored in worship leadership at the University of Mobile in Mobile, Alabama. When he isn’t out visiting a client or talking through new big-picture ideas, Michael’s likely on the golf course or exploring Disney World with his family.

Andy Bosquet, Integration Director of Operations

Andy has a passion for system installations in houses of worship and uses his vast experience to provide IPS clients with accurate equipment recommendations and pricing. From a camera operator to sales and engineering roles, Andy has held just about every position in audio, visual, and lighting design. When he is not working with the installation team or visiting clients, chances are he is swinging a club on a local course or watching a UGA game with his family.

Rob Searcy, Integration Director of Design

With nearly three decades in the industry, Rob brings extensive experience in AVL design, live production, and technical leadership. His career has spanned consulting, system design, project management, and installation, with a focus on churches, theaters, and performing arts venues. Having worked in both touring and integration, Rob has a unique perspective on creating solutions that serve both performers and audiences.

Rob’s journey began as a high school and church intern, where he developed a passion for music, theater, and the technology that supports them. This led him to pursue music and business administration in college while gaining hands-on experience at a local production company and a theme park in Tampa Bay. He went on to spend years in touring and corporate events as a Monitor Engineer, FOH Engineer, and Production Manager, working with a variety of artists and events.

After years on the road, Rob transitioned to serve as a Technical Director for a prominent church in Birmingham, leading production teams and overseeing AVL systems for 16 years. He later returned to touring in a production management role, which is where he first encountered IPS. Drawn to the company’s family-like culture and pursuit of excellence, he saw joining the IPS integration team as a natural next step. With experience in venues ranging from intimate clubs to large arenas, Rob brings great insight to IPS’s integration projects, ensuring thoughtful and impactful design solutions.

Outside of work, Rob maintains strong relationships with the artists he has supported and continues to stay active in live production. When he’s not at IPS, he enjoys saltwater fishing, soaking up the sun, and spending time with his wife, Julia, and their two girls.