By Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA

In 2024, AMBA launched its Emerging Leaders Rising Star of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding growth, leadership and/or contributions by an emerging professional in the AMBA community. In 2025, AMBA awarded its second recipient, Austin Sykora, manufacturing engineer, Vincent Tool Technologies Corporation, at the annual AMBA Conference.

As a standout participant in the AMBA Emerging Leaders program, Sykora’s career thus far has been marked by technical excellence and industry advocacy. In addition to his outreach to students through career fairs and his efforts to promote manufacturing as a viable, exciting career path, Sykora continues to play a pivotal role in employee development, knowledge transfer and continuous improvement.

As preparations for AMBA Conference 2026 – Ideas Ignite! – and the launch of this year’s award nominations, AMBA is taking a closer look at where this past award recipient is today and how he has continued making a mark on the US mold manufacturing industry. As an added bonus, AMBA also spoke with Kenny Skar, president of Vincent Tool.

Give us a little background information. Austin, how did you get started in the industry, and at Vincent Tool?
I developed an interest in machining and manufacturing early on while still in high school. My father has worked as a machinist and manufacturing engineer throughout his career, which played a significant role in sparking my interest in the industry. [After several] engineering and machining courses, my father connected me with Kenny Skar, with whom he had a mutual respect.

Kenny, you’ve been a longtime AMBA member, and a board member to boot. What do you get out of your AMBA experience? Why is it important to have your up-and-comers involved?
AMBA provides access to a wide network of talented industry professionals who share ideas, challenges and best practices. The conversations extend beyond mold building to include processing, HR and broader business concerns, creating opportunities to collaborate and find practical solutions that help move the industry forward for years to come. Involving younger professionals helps them see the broader, global picture of the mold building industry… As [these industries] continue to grow, it’s important to develop the next generation of leaders, managers and toolmakers who will carry the industry forward.

Austin, when you think about leadership, what qualities do you most admire in those around you? Are there any that you want to work on for yourself?
I admire leaders who are able to draw on both their own experiences and the experiences of others to quickly identify potential solutions to challenges. I also value leaders who can confidently communicate those solutions and align the team around a clear path forward.

Kenny, what have you learned as a leader… and what do you wish you’d known earlier in your career? What would you share with Austin and others like him?
Looking back, I wish I had understood earlier how critical it is for design and engineering to be aligned from the concept stage through final part design before a tool ever reaches the build floor. The more effectively you work as a team – with peers, customers, and internal and external partners – the better the end result.

Okay, so let’s talk about this award. It’s meant to highlight some of the ways the nominee has advanced the industry and impacted their company. Austin, what are you excited about right now at Vincent Tool?
I’m excited about the growth happening within our team. Several team members (myself included) are stepping into new roles and continuing to develop their careers at Vincent Tool. I’m motivated by the opportunity to provide team members with the resources and support they need to succeed in their positions, while continuing to learn and grow myself.

This award is presented at the annual AMBA Conference, but it’s far from the only highlight. For emerging professionals, the conference offers valuable learning and networking. Austin, what key takeaways have you gained from attending?
Some of the most valuable takeaways from past AMBA conferences have come from conversations with others who have experienced similar challenges to those I’m currently facing. For example, there have been meaningful discussions about which tools and resources should be provided to team members learning new skills or stepping into new roles. I’ve also gained valuable insight from talking with individuals who are already in leadership positions and learning about the steps they took to get there.

Austin, How have those connections impacted you, your career and your trajectory in US mold building?
When I first began attending AMBA conferences, I didn’t have much experience building meaningful professional connections. Through continued involvement – especially in the Emerging Leaders sessions – I gained confidence in having conversations with other young professionals and began forming connections with people across the country who share the same passion for machining and mold building. Those relationships have played an important role in my professional growth and career development.

Now that we’re well into the first quarter of the year, the 2026 conference is right around the corner. Austin, For other emerging industry professionals considering attending, what are the benefits? How can they get the most out of the experience?
In my opinion, the greatest benefit of attending the AMBA Conference is the connections you make with other industry professionals who encounter many of the same challenges on a daily basis. Those shared experiences create valuable learning opportunities and reinforce how interconnected the mold building industry truly is.

To get the most out of the conference, I recommend introducing yourself to as many people as possible and asking thoughtful questions about challenges you experience in your day-to-day work. Being willing to share your own best practices while learning from others leads to more meaningful conversations and long-term professional relationships.

Kenny, Why do you think it’s so important to expose emerging professionals to the AMBA Conference?
The mold building industry is truly global and wide-reaching. Attending the AMBA Conference allows emerging professionals to better understand the front-end and back-end of the mold building process, which is valuable beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of any single role. That broader perspective helps individuals better understand how their work fits into the larger manufacturing ecosystem.

To get the most out of the conference, attendees need to step outside their comfort zones and meet new people. While networking comes easily to some and not as easily to others, the AMBA community does an excellent job of welcoming new members. Building relationships – not just attending sessions – often leads to lasting connections, where ideas and conversations continue well beyond the conference itself.

Kenny, you’ve been doing this a long time. For anyone on the fence about attending the conference, what final words would you have for them?
No single person has all the ideas. When team members attend conferences, each individual brings back different perspectives, insights and action items that can be shared across the organization. While it can be challenging to pull staff away from daily operations for a few days, the short-term disruption often results in long-term gains, including improved processes, stronger leadership development and positive organizational change.

Registration and the award nomination period now are open for the AMBA Conference 2026. To nominate an industry professional for AMBA’s Emerging Leaders Rising Star of the Year Award, learn more about the conference or register, visit www.ambaconference.com.