The Rock River Valley Tooling & Machining Association (RRVTMA), the Stateline’s chapter of the NTMA, has appointed Anthony Busse of Rockford Toolcraft as Director of Membership Engagement, effective immediately.
Busse represents the third generation of his family to serve on the RRVTMA Board, reflecting a longstanding commitment to the regional manufacturing community and the association’s mission to advance workforce development and technical excellence.
A 2020 graduate of the RRVTMA’s Tool & Die Apprenticeship Program, Busse completed his four-year apprenticeship in partnership with Rock Valley College while working full time in the toolroom at Rockford Toolcraft. His career progression reflects a comprehensive understanding of the manufacturing process—from the toolroom floor to executive leadership.
Busse began at Rockford Toolcraft in 2015, working during the summer between his junior and senior year of high school and continuing after school throughout his senior year. From 2016 to 2020, he completed his apprenticeship while accumulating 10,000 hours of on-the-job training. He later transitioned into Rockford Toolcraft’s cost estimating department, where he created strip layouts using SolidWorks and Logopress to support customer quotations. In 2024, he moved into the engineering department, designing metal stamping dies run in-house or sold to customers. In 2025, Busse attended the NTMA Emerging Leaders Conference in Orlando, FL, and later that year was promoted to Vice President of Rockford Toolcraft. He now assists his father, Tom Busse, a RRVTMA Trustee, in leading the company.
As Director of Membership Engagement, Busse will focus on strengthening relationships among RRVTMA members, encouraging participation in association programs, and supporting initiatives that connect manufacturers across the Rock River Valley.
“Anthony’s journey—from apprentice to vice president and now board member—exemplifies the strength of our apprenticeship model and the future of manufacturing leadership in our region,” said Jared Lyford, President of RRVTMA. “His experience across multiple facets of manufacturing will be a tremendous asset to our members, as well as current and future apprentices. Coupling this with the legacy leadership the Busse family has provided for the association, we are excited to have Anthony join the association to help continue our mission.”
The RRVTMA remains dedicated to supporting manufacturers throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin through advocacy, education, and workforce development as part of the broader NTMA network.
