Go for the Goal

Continuing to highlight members of the exceedingly entrepreneurial and collaborative women of the Zenith Group, we are proud to present Andra Rush, the CEO of the largest woman-owned business in Michigan and leader of one of the largest Native American-owned enterprises in the U.S.

 

Andra Rush,

Founder, Chairwoman and CEO of Rush Group LLC

 

 

 

What: Imagine being acknowledged by a United States president during the State of the Union address?  Follow that up by an induction into The Michigan’s Women’s Hall of Fame.   2014 marks the year that President Barack Obama credited Andra Rush for her innovative job creation and manufacturing ingenuity. Shortly thereafter, Rush was inducted into The Michigan’s Women’s Hall of Fame.

Not one business, but three.  As founder, chairwoman and chief executive officer of Michigan-based Rush Group LLC, Rush is at the helm of three operations: Rush Trucking Corporation (logistics, supply chain and freight transportation solutions), Dakkota Integrated Systems (integrated automotive interiors assembly and sequencing), and Detroit Manufacturing Systems (injection molded interior trim components manufacturing and assembly).

Launched in 1984, Rush’s automotive manufacturing, logistics, supply chain management, and freight transportation company kicked off with a $5,000 loan from her parents and a couple of credit cards. What began with a van and pair of pickup trucks has matured into an enterprise that creates sustainable jobs in underserved communities and employs nearly 4,000 team members.

Overcoming Adversity: As a woman, building a brand in typically male-dominated industries can certainly be a challenge.  But hard work, tenacity, a desire to create sustainable job opportunities for hardworking people, and a willingness to craft effective solutions to exceed their customers’ expectations are paying off.

Encouraging Words from Andra:  “Go after your big, hairy, audacious goals. And believe in the art of the possible. Always.”

This is the second of a series and we are honored to be profiling these exceptional leaders.