Page 17 - Fall 2023 EDM Today

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To help its members address the internal leadership and training needs, AMBA has focused on the
development of its AMBA Emerging Leaders Network. Run by emerging professionals for others rising
in their organizati ons, this Network has become a key provider of resources to this demographic within
the U.S. mold manufacturing community. From virtual training seminars to in-person peer connecti on
meeti ngs (including its own Leadership Retreat returning in 2024), these opportuniti es provide AMBA
members with access to resources they may otherwise be unable to off er.

stepping into the spotlight mold builder
PERSPECTIVE
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Now in its fourth year, the AMBA Emerging Leaders Network is just
EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine WORKFORCE
starti ng to scratch the surface of what it could accomplish. The example
of AMBA’s recent plant tour workshop at Wepco Plasti cs, Inc. and
"DEVELOPING A
Westminster Tool, Inc. highlights the impact being driven beyond up-and-
coming leadership into the executi ve ranks.
STRATEGY IS
“Pulling off an event where we not only highlighted our workforce
GOING TO BE KEY
development strategies, but used our Emerging Leaders to execute it,
was a powerful message for those in upper management at other AMBA
A COMPETITIVE
companies,” emphasized Emerging Leaders Board Chair Amanda Wiriya, TO MAINTAINING
EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine THE YEARS TO
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EDGE OVER THE
Wepco Plasti cs, Inc. “These tours - and the Network - have demonstrated
that if companies really want to retain employees and build buy-in and
COMPETITION IN
accountability, workforce strategies have to be company-wide eff orts that
are shared and driven by every member of the organizati on.”
COME."

-AMBA Executive

Did You Know?
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AMBA members during a facility tour at Westminster
Tool, Inc. Photo provided by Creati ve Technology.

What makes the Emerging Leaders Network parti cularly powerful is
MEMBERS ANNUAL
that it is not limited to young (under 40) professionals. Because many
managers and supervisors on the shop fl oor came up through the ranks,
they missed opportuniti es for formalized leadership training. Through
CONNECTION
the Network, these professionals can join and connect with peers while LEARNING AND
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EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine DEVELOP EMERGING
impacti ng their own development - no matt er their age or job functi on.
OPPORTUNITIES to
By making use of all of the tools at hand, whether it’s management
training, colleague-based learning, benchmarking through initi ati ves like
LEADERSHIP.
AMBA’s 2023 Wage and Salary Report (available in November 2023) and
more, U.S. mold manufacturers who focus on a multi -pronged strategic
approach to workforce development will reap the greatest success in
2024 and beyond.

This arti cle was compiled by the American Mold Builders Associati on (AMBA) AMBA.ORG
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and is based on the Associati on’s benchmarking eff orts, industry perspecti ves
provided by AMBA executi ves and industry-related learning opportuniti es.

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EDM Today, Fall 2023 Issue