Andra Rush
President and CEO, Detroit Manufacturing Systems
Andra Rush is the founder and chairperson of the Rush Group family of companies, which include Rush Trucking, Dakkota Integrated Systems and Detroit Manufacturing Systems. This consortium of manufacturing, trucking, assembly and distribution is one of the largest Native American-owned businesses in the USA.
Rush started Wayne, Mich.-based Rush Trucking in 1984 with three trucks and has successfully grown the company to include more than 800 tractors and 1,350 trailers, with 485 employees and 400 associates. Rush Trucking services many Fortune 100 companies throughout North America.
Rush serves numerous organizations on boards and commissions, is a part of the minority supplier programs for General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota, and has served on the Supplier Advisory Boards for Chrysler and GM. In 2012, she was appointed to the U.S. Manufacturing Council, which is the principal private-sector advisory committee to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on manufacturing matters. She was also appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to serve as a trustee for Michigan’s Children’s Trust Fund.
In January 2014, Rush was invited to attend the State of the Union Address as a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama. She was highlighted by President Obama in his address as an example of job creation and business ingenuity.