Press release submitted on behalf of AMBA.
Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has announced the recipients of its 2026 industry awards, which recognize outstanding leadership, workforce development, and innovation across the U.S. mold manufacturing industry. Honorees were celebrated during the AMBA Conference 2026 in Grand Rapids, MI, and include recipients of the 2026 Mold Builder of the Year Award, Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award, and Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award.
The AMBA industry awards program recognizes individuals and organizations that exemplify excellence in mold manufacturing through leadership, education, mentorship, and workforce development. The Mold Builder of the Year Award honors outstanding contributions by an AMBA member dedicated to advancing the industry, while the Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award recognizes companies making a significant impact in education and recruitment outreach. The Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award celebrates up-and-coming professionals demonstrating exceptional growth, leadership, and contributions within the mold manufacturing community.
The 2026 AMBA Mold Builder of the Year Award was presented to David LaGrow, president of Maximum Mold Group in St. Joseph, MI. Recognized for nearly four decades of leadership and advocacy within the U.S. mold manufacturing industry, LaGrow has built a culture centered on strategic partnerships, workforce development, and continuous growth. Under his leadership, Maximum Mold Group expanded through acquisitions and collaborations while helping establish the Berrien Tooling Coalition, a regional partnership of mold, die, and machine shops designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing competitiveness. LaGrow also has remained deeply committed to education and apprenticeship initiatives through partnerships with local schools, colleges, and AMBA chapters.
The 2026 AMBA Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award was presented to R&D Leverage of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, for its exceptional commitment to workforce development and educational outreach. Through partnerships with local school districts, community colleges, and universities, the company has created meaningful career exploration opportunities for students, including apprenticeships, job shadowing programs, and facility tours. The company’s collaboration with the LSR7 school district has contributed to the rapid growth of “market-value assets” earned by graduating students, helping connect young people directly to careers in manufacturing.
The 2026 Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award was presented to Edward Walsh of Westminster Tool. Walsh was recognized for his extraordinary professional growth, servant leadership, and commitment to advancing mold manufacturing innovation. Beginning his career with no prior technical experience, Walsh quickly rose through the ranks to become operations and manufacturing manager while developing expertise across more than 15 technical disciplines. In addition to leading operational improvements and technology initiatives, he actively mentors emerging professionals and supports educational outreach efforts within the industry.
The AMBA awards program is supported by two AMBA partners, including Progressive Components, which provides $5,000 for the 2026 Mold Builder of the Year and another $5,000 to the 2026 Tooling Trailblazer of the Year awards. INCOE Corporation has sponsored the 2026 Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award and has provided $2,000 to be applied to the award winner’s professional development.
To learn more about these awards, please visit AMBA.org.
About the AMBA
The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) is the only organization dedicated to elevating the competitive advantage of U.S. mold builders. AMBA provides workforce development initiatives, networking, benchmarking opportunities and industry promotion. AMBA members receive a variety of additional benefits, including access to cost-reduction programs, visibility to mold buyers and problem-solving resources that give members a competitive advantage. To learn more about AMBA membership and ongoing initiatives, visit www.amba.org.