Celebrating the Past by Empowering Futures: Why Past MDNA President Kim Khoury Continues to Invest in the Austin D. Lucas Scholarship Fund

For Kim Khoury, past MDNA president, the Austin D. Lucas Scholarship Fund is so much more than a meaningful benefit for MDNA employees. It’s an intricate part of her family history, one that’s woven together with a personal mission for education and a passion for her industry’s legacy.

As a third-generation member of MDNA and now president and owner of Action Machinery Consulting, LLC, Kim has spent her career strengthening both the machinery industry and the people who make it work. 

But her deepest investment may be in the next generation, as shown through her long-standing support of the Austin D. Lucas Scholarship Fund, where she served several years as a trustee—and her creation of multiple named trusts that will continue shaping lives for decades to come.

A Legacy That Started Two Generations Ago

Kim’s connection with the Austin D. Lucas Scholarship Fund began two generations before she ever took her first steps into the machinery dealer industry. Kim’s grandfather was heavily involved in MDNA and very close with Austin Lucas. In fact, it was the family’s close relationship with Austin that spearheaded the idea to create trusts in the first place, launched by a simple question her grandmother asked him:

“What if we want to donate money to the scholarship fund in a friend’s honor?”

 That conversation sparked the idea behind establishing scholarship trusts, and in so doing, the Austin D. Lucas Scholarship Fund created a sustainable way to support students while honoring the people who have helped shape the industry. 

Kim grew up hearing these stories, and when she stepped into leadership herself, the importance of the fund was both personal as well as professional. “There’s a deep history with MDNA and with the fund,” she says. “It’s part of who I am personally and who we are as an industry.”

 Why Trusts Matter—and Why Kim Has Established Several

Kim’s commitment to the fund is more than symbolic. She has established several trusts herself, including trusts through joint ventures with other MDNA dealers. Each has special significance.

Take the Dave Cossack Memorial Trust, for example. When Action Machinery’s vice president, Dave Cossack, passed away in 2011, Kim knew exactly how to honor him: create a trust in his name. Through the years, over 25 scholarships have been awarded through that one simple act. Even more meaningful is the fact that all three of Dave’s children received scholarships from the fund.

“Dave was passionate about education and about this industry,” Kim said. “This trust allowed his children to benefit in a very real way.” Today, those children are thriving—working in fields such as finance, medical sales, and other professional industries. Their success is a lasting tribute to their father’s legacy.

And when Kim sold Action Machinery Company, Inc., she kept the business name alive by creating a trust in its name. “For me, trusts are a way to remember companies and people that have been impactful in our lives,” Kim explained. “The trusts keep those legacies alive and honor the individuals and companies who built our industry.”

 Joint Venture Trusts with Other Dealers

Kim has also helped establish joint venture trusts, a unique model that mirrors the way many dealers collaborate on machinery deals. Essentially, Kim and her industry partner agree to create a trust from the proceeds from a deal they make together.

One such trust was created with Machinery Values, honoring both Kim’s father and her co-founder’s father—two longtime friends and industry partners. “They were partners, and now we’re partners,” Kim said. “It’s a way to honor the past while helping students in the future.”

Another joint trust was created with Tim Cromwell of Ironside Machinery, a colleague and close friend. Their fathers also shared a mentorship relationship, making the trust a meaningful connection across generations. “In this business, we work together all the time,” Kim said. “Why not join forces to make an impact on education, too?”

“Better to Give Than to Receive” — Why Kim Believes So Deeply in the Fund

In addition to her deep personal ties to MDNA members, Kim’s background as a former elementary teacher shapes the way she views the scholarship fund. “In life, it’s better to give than to receive,” she said. “For me, coming from a background in education, helping students just feels natural.”

 But Kim also emphasizes the practical benefits to MDNA member companies:

• It’s a real, tangible benefit for employees.
• It supports students, whether they choose college or trade school.
• It strengthens companies by investing in their extended families.
• It reflects the values of a family-oriented industry.

“On a personal level, the ADLSF makes me happy,” she said. “It truly impacts these kids. Every thank you note reminds you that you’ve helped someone move toward their future.” That’s why Kim has this advice to anyone who might consider establishing a trust: “Do it!”

It’s a simple direction, and one that’s easily achievable considering that a trust doesn’t require a large, upfront donation. The $5,000 trust can be built gradually, funded over time, and—once established—continues awarding scholarships forever. “It eases a family’s burden,” she said. “It gives kids hope, direction, and opportunity. And it creates a legacy your company can be proud of.”

Why the Fund Still Inspires Her Today

Kim continues to champion the fund, not just because of her family’s history, but also because of the future it builds—something she has seen firsthand. During her service as an ADLSF trustee, Kim had the privilege of reading student applications each year. She saw their GPAs, their career goals, their volunteer work, their challenges, their triumphs, and their dreams. “It gives you hope,” she said. “There are wonderful young people associated with the employees who work in our industry. The Austin D. Lucas Scholarship Fund truly is the heart of MDNA.” 

ABOUT THE AUSTIN D. LUCAS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The ADLSF provides financial support to the children of MDNA and AMEA employees pursuing college or trade school. Trusts—established by individuals, families, or companies—create permanent scholarship opportunities that honor the people who built the machinery industry.

To learn more about establishing a trust or contributing to the fund, click here.