By Lindsey Munson, editor, The American Mold Builder
David LaGrow Named AMBA’s 2026 Mold Builder of the Year
For 38 years, David LaGrow, president of Maximum Mold, St. Joseph, Michigan, has represented the best of American mold manufacturing – combining entrepreneurial vision, technical expertise and an excitement for strengthening and building future mold builders. Tim Feirick, office manager at Maximum Mold, captured that in LaGrow’s nomination, writing, “LaGrow is what every American mold builder should be… committed to continued and efficient growth within the industry while also passing along his desire to build top-notch quality tooling to the next generation of American mold builders.” As president of Maximum Mold in Benton Harbor, Michigan, LaGrow has built more than a successful business – he’s built a legacy. In recognition of those achievements, LaGrow was named AMBA’s 2026 Mold Builder of the Year – one of the industry’s highest honors.
“To be recognized is an honor all of our team is proud to be part of,” LaGrow said. “Being recognized as a company that promotes the mold building trade to local schools and colleges also helps to promote talented young professionals directly out of school or college to seek a career at Maximum Mold Group.”
LaGrow’s journey in mold manufacturing is built on a foundation that reflects his drive, perseverance and dedication to the industry. From working in multiple tool and die shops early in his career to then starting his mold polishing business out of a small rental space, LaGrow stayed the course, saving enough money to build his business from the ground up. Through his hard work, he expanded Maximum Mold into a successful operation that today includes four companies known for quality tooling, advanced manufacturing and innovation. Over the past 29 years, LaGrow has turned Maximum Mold into a respected mold manufacturer.
At Maximum Mold, LaGrow’s leadership centers on staying competitive through continuous improvement, technological advancement and employee development. Recently, his company implemented flexible clamping solutions to improve CNC machining efficiency while prioritizing ongoing software and technology training to give employees opportunities for growth and education. These investments are just a few ways LaGrow shows his commitment not only to the company’s long-term success but also to providing value-added benefits to his team with the skills, tools and knowledge needed to thrive in this industry’s environment.
LaGrow’s leadership goes beyond his company’s walls. An AMBA member since 2004 and former president of the Southwest Michigan AMBA Chapter, he has supported the organization through leadership, sponsorship and active participation. LaGrow said, “We use partner companies for insurance, shipping and accounting, and get discounts for being part of the organization. The biggest advantage would be the sharing of manufacturing methods by AMBA members – allowing other members into their companies to see how they operate. I enjoy this because there also are roundtable discussions where attending members can make suggestions to the hosting member on how to be more efficient in a particular area.”
His service reflects a broader dedication and perhaps one of the most impactful commitments LaGrow has made is in workforce development. He has been an advocate for regional K-12 Career and Technical Education programs, Lake Michigan College’s apprenticeship initiatives and career fairs that introduce hundreds of students to mold building and advanced manufacturing. By helping connect education and industry, he is actively shaping the future of skilled mold builders, which is key to the industry’s continued success.
Those who know LaGrow best describe him as “a builder” – someone who builds businesses, builds up people and builds the future. AMBA’s Mold Builder of the Year Award honors individuals whose leadership elevates not only their own organizations but the mold industry as a whole. Through Maximum Mold, his leadership within AMBA and his investment in education and workforce development, LaGrow has strengthened mold manufacturing. A $5,000 scholarship grant on behalf of Progressive Components was awarded to LaGrow, and he plans to direct those funds to Lake Michigan College. LaGrow said, “For decades, the college has had a good program for vocational skills in the skilled trades. It has a strong reputation for graduating students across all sectors, including the journeyman mold and machining program.”
In honoring David LaGrow, AMBA celebrates more than a mold builder – it recognizes a leader whose legacy is not defined just by the molds he helped create, but by the industry he helped build.
More information: www.maximummold.com
R&D Leverage Named AMBA’s 2026 Tooling Trailblazer of the Year
AMBA’s Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award recognizes a member company whose educational outreach, recruitment initiatives and workforce development efforts are making a large impact on the future of American mold manufacturing. At this year’s award ceremony, this honor went to R&D Leverage of Lee’s Summit, Missouri – a company building the next generation of mold builders through education and hands-on opportunity.
An Adler Industrial Solutions company, R&D Leverage engineers and manufactures precision injection molds, injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) tooling and delivers precision molds for PET bottle manufacturing. Beyond its technical molding capabilities, R&D stands out as a leader in workforce development by creating opportunities and pathways for students to explore careers in molding, often while still in high school. Through its board involvement and active participation, R&D collaborates closely with the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council Workforce Alliance Committee, an organization dedicated to advancing partnerships between business and education. In these efforts, and with the committee’s support in fostering connections with Lee’s Summit R-7 School District (LSR7), Summit Christian Academy, State Fair Community College, Metropolitan Community College and the University of Central Missouri, R&D helps bridge the gap between education and real-world industry experience, including career presentations, advisory board service, plant tours, job shadowing, internships and youth apprenticeships.
R&D’s collaboration with LSR7 has been impactful. As part of the school district’s “market-value assets” initiative – designed to provide every student who graduates with hands-on, career-focused experience – R&D has helped open doors for students to precision machining, mold design and manufacturing. R&D’s steady involvement, from student engagement to apprenticeships, has been key to that success and, in April 2026, earned the company LSR7’s Business Partner of the Year Award.
An example of R&D’s success is Sarah Morgan, an apprentice whose journey demonstrates exactly why the company was selected for this award. Morgan first encountered R&D during a high school Manufacturing Day tour in 2022, and she was the only student out of 30 to take the opportunity and go further through job shadowing. She began her apprenticeship in January 2023 and has earned recognition as SPE Apprentice of the Year. Building on that momentum, R&D recently had its first Apprentice Signing Day for Gavin Straley. As Jeff Cooper, vice president of operations/human resources, said, “It was an event like signing to play a D1 sport.” The company also has launched a four-week pre-apprenticeship program for another student, with plans to sign him soon, along with many other educational and hands-on opportunities for the
next generation.
R&D’s Tooling Trailblazer honor recognizes more than one apprentice or one program – it highlights a company’s commitment to investing in people. By placing itself in schools, community programs and more, R&D has become a “trailblazer” for how mold manufacturers can recruit, educate and inspire the future of the molding industry.
In recognition of those efforts and taking home this award, Progressive Components’ $5,000 scholarship grant will help R&D continue expanding its educational mission, with those funds directed toward LSR7 and related workforce development initiatives.
More information: www.adlertooling.com
Edward Walsh Named AMBA’s 2026 Emerging Leaders Rising Star
Edward Walsh, operations and manufacturing manager at Westminster Tool, located in Plainfield, Connecticut, has emerged as one of mold manufacturing’s brightest next-generation leaders. At the 2026 AMBA Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Walsh was honored with the AMBA Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award – an inaugural recognition designed to celebrate outstanding growth, leadership and contributions from up-and-coming professionals shaping the industry. Walsh said, “The recognition reinforces to me how special a team I am a part of and how critical it is to find passionate mentors to take you under their wing.”
Nearly a decade ago, Walsh started in manufacturing with no technical know-how; instead, enrolling in a local community college’s advanced manufacturing program. He was hired by Westminster Tool right before graduation. Hannah Belmont, brand and talent manager at Westminster Tool, who nominated Walsh, said, “Within his first year, Edward distinguished himself as one of the fastest technical learners in the company’s history. His aptitude and drive earned him mentorship under company founder Ray Coombs, who recognized Edward’s exceptional leadership potential early on. Edward says that sharing an office with Ray for two years was instrumental in developing his own leadership style later on.”
Today, Walsh oversees troubleshooting, quality assurance and process control. Belmont said, “He has become the single most cross-trained employee in the company, with expertise spanning over 15 technical disciplines, including mold design, CNC milling, toolmaking and additive manufacturing. Walsh’s impact on the organization has been transformative.” Under his leadership, the company transitioned to a fully digital job-tracking system to allow tracking of critical time and budget performance metrics. “With his leadership in manufacturing planning and job processing,” Belmont said, “the company achieved the highest On Time and On Budget performance metrics in its history.”
Walsh’s impact extends beyond operations. Belmont said, “As a graduate of a local community college’s advanced manufacturing program, Walsh returned to that same institution to volunteer in workshops and training sessions.” At Westminster Tool, he mentors two emerging leaders while continuing to develop and enhance his own skills. Walsh describes his leadership style as “humbled and evolving.” In addition, Walsh hosts a bible study group for Westminster Tool employees. Belmont said, “This initiative has helped build a deeper sense of community, trust and support among his peers, positively influencing workplace culture in a meaningful way.”
When asked what advice he would share with other young professionals, Walsh said, “My advice would be to always ask ‘what’s next,’ whether that be what skill to learn next, or what improvement to make, or something completely different. And always, always show your gratitude to people when they give you their time and knowledge to help you grow, and never take their gift for granted.”
Walsh’s plans for the $2,000 INCOE scholarship grant align with that mission. The professional development funding will support his continued growth in mold design engineering and leadership development. In closing, Belmont said, “Walsh represents the very best of what the AMBA Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award stands for: technical excellence, servant leadership, continuous growth and a deep commitment to advancing the future of the mold manufacturing industry.”
More information: www.westminstertool.com