Meet the Management

Burton Mills, AMA president, and wife, Patty, live in the house she grew up in on a sprawling, 30-acre farm. And good thing, too. That means plenty of room to roam for a variety of animals including four horses (Rowdy, Tulsa, Gabe and Snoopy), which occupy a good portion of the family’s leisure time. All in all, a peaceful setting for the kids, Gunnar (13), Courtney (12) and Clayton (10).

Burton graduated in 1985 with a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa. He and Patty then moved and worked in Texas, California and Washington before realizing that there's no place like home.

Up until recently, Patty taught special education at the local Jr. High. Now she manages the kids while Burton manages the business.

Burton stays active in his community and serves on the School Board. His favorite aspect of the work he does is that every project is unique. "It's always challenging... new and different every time."

Bob Drollinger, general manager for AMA, has been a tool maker for more than 28 years, 25 of those years with the same company; Quality Tool & Die in Ft. Madison. As a builder and designer of automated machinery, Bob enjoys the challenge of new designs. But that’s at work.

At home, Bob enjoys the challenge of a fish on the line. Together with wife, Jeanne, and children, Tara (23) and Trent (21), Bob heads out on the weekends to see what's biting. And that's a whole lot more sedate than the way he used to spend his time!

For years and years, Bob raced harness horses at country fairs spanning three states. Each family member was involved in this fantastic pastime. Jeanne cheered from the sidelines while Tara and Trent were the grooms (a fancy way of saying they kept the stables clean!). Today, things are calmer at the Drollinger home, sort of. Tara is studying to be a teacher at Cornell College and Trent has followed in his father's footsteps - he works in a machine shop in Virginia.  Jeanne likes to shop which Bob thinks is just great. Right, Bob?