AMBA Welcomes World-Champion Quarterback Joe Theismann to the AMBA Conference 2018

The AMBA is excited to welcome keynote speaker and world-champion quarterback Joe Theismann to the AMBA Conference 2018, Feb. 14 through 16 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As an entrepreneur and former star quarterback for the Washington Redskins, Theismann spent the last two decades working for ESPN on its NFL broadcast and NFL Network.

He joined ESPN in April 1988, reuniting with play-by-play voice Mike Patrick. Theismann joined ESPN after spending two seasons as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports. A 12-year NFL veteran, he played in 163 consecutive games from 1974 through 1985 and holds Redskins’ records for passing yardage (25,206), completions (2.044) and attempts (3,602). A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Theismann led Washington to a 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. He was selected the NFL’s “Man of the Year” in 1982 for his community service and dedication to the health and welfare of children. He also won the league’s 1983 “Most Valuable Player” Award for leading the Redskins to an NFL-recorded 541 points and a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. His career ended abruptly in 1985 after sustaining a broken leg during a nationally televised game against the New York Giants.

In his charismatic and entertaining style, Theismann draws parallels between his successful career as an NFL quarterback and the executive, manager or salesperson with the goal of managing to win! He knows and understands that good management and effective leadership is not a game of follow-the-leader: It is about PEOPLE – listening to them… trusting them… and motivating individuals to take ownership of team goals. By example, Joe Theismann shows that an effective leader cares about and trusts subordinates and demonstrates this by empowering individuals to take risks to perform above levels that have become comfortable.

Scholarship Winners Announced

The national office of the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, Indiana, recently awarded $6,000 in scholarship funds for 2017. Each year, scholarships are awarded to the employees or dependents of employees of AMBA member companies. The program is designed to help facilitate education in moldmaking in the US. The 2017 AMBA National Scholarship Program awarded $1,000 to the following recipients:

• Edmund Balcom, attending Muskegon (Michigan) Community College, Viking Tool & Engineering
• Seth Curtis, attending University of Missouri, Creative Blow Mold Tooling
• Breanna Early, attending University of Michigan-Dearborn, Proper Tooling
• Joseph Romanski, IV, attending Wisconsin’s Morraine Park Technical College, CDM Tool & Manufacturing
• Garrison Willard, attending University of Missouri, Creative Blow Mold Tooling
• James Worst, attending Grand Rapids (Michigan) Community College, Paragon D&E

AMBA congratulates each of these deserving students and wishes them the best in their endeavors. For more information on the AMBA Scholarship Program, visit www.amba.org or call 317.436.3102.

AMBA Unveils New Annual Conference Logo

The American Mold Builders Association held its first convention in 1979 in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Since then, it has had logos reflecting the individual theme but not an official logo reflecting the brand of the event.

This new annual conference logo evokes the importance of networking, camaraderie and the interconnectedness of its membership and attendees at its annual event. The blue and green color palette reflects a sense of trust, loyalty, wisdom and confidence – the pillars upon which the AMBA’s community is built. The new font lends a modern, clean look. With the inception of this new brand logo, the Annual Conference’s goal is to symbolize the future and importance of the annual event for the industry.

“Every year, more than 200 attendees from across the US gather to reflect on their leadership traits, better understand the strengths of their current leadership posts and explore how they can better impact their companies and the lives of the people they lead,” explained Kym Conis, managing director of the AMBA. “This is an important event for the industry, as everyone involved is focused on the future of mold manufacturing and how the industry can improve, year after year. Attendee feedback cites facetime with industry peers as a prime benefit of membership, and the conference is simply the best event to accomplish this.” The AMBA is proud to serve the mold building industry and looks forward to the future growth of the association and the industry overall.

Plant Tour Workshop

Implementing a True Mold Manufacturing Process
Sept. 14 | Melrose Park, Illinois
$89/members and $189/nonmembers
In today’s competitive global marketplace, mold manufacturers are under constant pressure to manage all facets of the operation more efficiently. Through the implementation of total quality programs, just-in-time logistics, enhanced data sharing and instantaneous communications technologies, A-1 Tool Corp., Melrose Park, Illinois, partners with its customers to provide a seamless response to every requirement. As time has become a critical factor in every aspect of the mold building process, A-1 Tool has positioned itself to deliver results by quoting faster, building tooling quicker, producing tooling that delivers more uptime and providing easy accessibility to support customer productivity. A-1 Tool’s strengths – including equipment capacity; on-site mold tryout; strategic work cells; machine and productivity monitoring, combined with ERP and a well-lit, clean and organized facility – contribute to the company’s global reputation for fast turnarounds of large programs. Visit www.amba.org to learn more and to register.

Alliance/iWarriors Golf Scramble

Sept. 15 | Mundelein, Illinois
Join Alliance Specialties and Laser Sales and AMBA members at the iWarriors Golf Scramble, Countryside Golf Course, Mundelein, Illinois, and support a great cause! Founded in 2011 by Tim and Kim Bartz, Mold Craft, Inc., iWarriors honors and supports severely injured members of all branches of the Armed Forces by providing them with personalized iPad packages to help them stay in touch with loved ones while undergoing months of surgery, rehabilitation and recovery. Since its inception, iWarriors has raised more than $150,000 in support of more than 250 wounded warriors. Registration includes 18-hole golf scramble, putting green, driving range, lunch, dinner, beer, entertainment and gift. All profits benefit iWarriors. To register and/or sponsor, visit www.alliancelasersales.com/golf.

Educational Outreach Award Champion

In celebration of AMBA members who are dedicated to workforce development, reaching today’s youth, promoting moldmaking careers and engaging young people in manufacturing, AMBA is launching its 2nd annual Educational Outreach Award. This Manufacturing Day, AMBA will award three individuals from AMBA member companies with scholarships in recognition of their efforts. First-, second- and third-place winners of the 2017 AMBA Educational Outreach Award will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, to then be awarded to the educational program of their choice. These educational outreach champions are helping to close the skills gap and mitigate workforce development issues in their communities. To nominate yourself or someone from your organization for this year’s award, visit www.amba.org and fill out the nomination application.

Webinar

How to Navigate the Employee Leave Rules
Sept. 28 | Noon CST
Free/members and $50/nonmembers
In this webinar, presented by Benesch, LLC, major laws governing employee leave will be discussed. The presentation will discuss the interplay between the various leave statutes and navigate participants through the process when an employee advises he/she needs time off work for a protected reason.

Additionally, the webinar will discuss how to navigate employee leave when the employee doesn’t ask. Specific laws governing employee leave will be discussed, including: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (“USERRA”).

Finally, the webinar will provide helpful tips on how to revise or interpret employee policies that may not pass muster under the various employee leave laws. To register, visit www.amba.org.

NEW MEMBERS

Century Die Company
Tim Myers, General Manager
419.332.2693 www.centurydie.com
Century Die is a world-class machining resource and blow mold manufacturer located in Fremont, Ohio. Century Die has been delivering superior molds and associated tooling to industry leaders for more than 65 years. The company provides high-quality engineering, design and metrology services and is committed to providing the best products and the most flexible service available in the industry.

Baumann Tool & Die
Chad LeValley, Plant Manager
616-772-6768 www.baumanntd.com
Baumann Tool and Die is housed in a 13,000-square-foot facility strategically located near Holland, Michigan. This state-of-the-art manufacturing center was specifically designed for lean manufacturing, increased throughput and shortened lead times. The company specializes in mold design and repair, and is known for providing turnkey solutions.

NEW PARTNERS

Alliance Laser Sales
Doug Niggemann, Vice President
847.487.1945 www.alliancelasersales.com
Alliance Laser Sales, Wauconda, Illinois, creates long-lasting successful relationships with its customers by finding solutions to the most difficult problems. The company sells laser welders, laser engravers and other custom laser manufacturing solutions. In addition, it also specializes in laser welding and engraving services. Alliance’s commitment to its customers is what separates it from its competitors.

Alliance Specialties
Kirby Jednachowski, Project Supervisor
847.487.1945 www.alliancespecialties.com
Alliance Specialties, Wauconda, Illinois, strives to help customers achieve successful project solutions by providing complete mold finishing services. These services include mold polishing, laser welding and engraving and preventative mold maintenance, as well as new mold manifolds and hot runner cleaning systems.