Five New Directors Join Downtown Detroit Partnership Board

DETROIT, Jan. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) has elected five new members to its board of directors.

Elected at DDP's January board meeting were:

• Andra Rush, founder, president and CEO, Rush Group
• Ted Gillary, executive manager, Detroit Athletic Club
• Dan Gilbert, chairman of Rock Ventures and founder and chairman, Quicken Loans
• Ron Hausmann, general manager, Walbridge heavy-civil construction operations
• Jim Murray, president, AT&T Michigan

"We are excited to welcome Dan, Ted, Ron, Jim and Andra to DDP's strong CEO-driven board," said Cindy Pasky, DDP board chair. "Their deep and diverse business and civic experience and commitment to Detroit will help us build on our successes as we work together to continue the transformation of Downtown Detroit."

Rush is owner of the Rush Group Family of Companies, the largest Native American-owned business in the United States. She is also founder, president and CEO of Rush Trucking Corporation, president and CEO of Dakkota Integrated Systems and president and CEO of Detroit Manufacturing Systems, LLC. Rush's community board leadership includes the Minority Business Roundtable, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Detroit Economic Club, Child Help of Michigan, Current Motor, Michigan Women's Foundation, Chrysler Supplier Advisory Council and the General Motors Global Supplier Council.

Gillary has served as the COO of the Detroit Athletic Club since September 1994. During his tenure, the DAC has become recognized as one of the premier clubs in the United States. It renewed its commitment to its historic Downtown location by investing more than $45 million into its 97-year old clubhouse and property. As the 100^th anniversary of the Madison Avenue location approaches, the DAC is currently working on a facilities master plan for the next 100 years. Gillary also serves as the president of the Detroit Entertainment District Association and is a trustee of the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan.

Gilbert is founder and CEO of Detroit-based Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans. Since 2010 he has moved his family of companies and 7,000 team members to Downtown Detroit and has acquired more than 2.6 million square feet of commercial real estate in the Central Business District. Gilbert is also a principal of Detroit Venture Partners, a capital firm that backs seed and early state technology companies, and is a founding partner in the Detroit-based private equity company, Rockbridge Growth Equity, which invests in growing businesses in financial services, Internet technology and consumer-direct marketing space.

Hausmann is responsible for delivery and completion of all projects at Walbridge's Heavy-Civil Construction operations including the firm's federal government and military operations, relations with the City of Detroit, aviation programs and public infrastructure. He is also in charge of development of Walbridge's long-term strategic business acquisitions and real estate holdings.  He served as the company's president and chief operating officer from 1993-1997 and was responsible for staffing, operations and construction support. He assumed his current position in 1997 and serves on the company's five-member board of directors.

Murray serves as president of AT&T Michigan and is responsible for regulatory, legislative, and external affairs, as well as community and industry relations throughout the state of Michigan. Prior to joining AT&T in 2005 he spent 14 years working in legislative offices including as the deputy chief of staff for the Michigan Speaker of the House.  He is also a board member of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and serves on the organization's executive committee.  In addition, he is a board member with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Detroit Economic Club, the Michigan Economic Development Fund, the Metro Affairs Council, Citizens Research Council, the Michigan Theater and the Michigan AMBER Alert Foundation.  In 2010, Crain's Detroit Business named Murray as one of the magazine's "Most Powerful People" for his efforts on behalf of AT&T and its customers in implementing public policy reforms.

"We look forward to working closely with our new board members on our efforts to make Downtown Detroit a clean, safe and inviting place to live, work and play," said David Blaszkiewicz, DDP president. "Their passion, commitment and world-class experience will help us to move our agenda and fulfill the DDPs mission to transform Downtown Detroit."

About the Downtown Detroit Partnership
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a private/public partnership of corporate and civic leaders that supports advocates and develops programs and initiatives that create a clean, safe, inviting and economically strong Downtown Detroit community. Its public partners are the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Wayne County and the State of Michigan. More information is available at www.downtowndetroit.org.

Contact:
Heather Kazmierczak
313-820-5833

SOURCE Downtown Detroit Partnership