OUR STORY
leaders
Our leadership is the top in the industry, but our greatest pride is that many of them have risen through the Dakkota ranks, making contributions throughout the organization.
OUR STORY
leaders
Our leadership is the top in the industry, but our greatest pride is that many of them have risen through the Dakkota ranks, making contributions throughout the organization.

Andra Rush
Chairwoman
Andra Rush
Founder, chairwoman of the Rush Group of Companies, including Dakkota Integrated Systems, Rush Trucking Corporation and Rush Supply Chain Management.

Lori Rush Lancaster
Vice Chairwoman
Lori Rush Lancaster
Lori Rush Lancaster is the Vice Chairwoman of Dakkota Integrated Systems, one of the largest women and Native American-owned and led manufacturing companies in the United States.

Aaron Rivers
Chief Executive Officer
Aaron Rivers
Aaron Rivers is the Cheif Executive Officer of Dakkota Integrated Systems. With a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth, he is dedicated to advancing Dakkota’s position as a leading manufacturing company in the automotive space as well as adjacent markets.

Gary Caldwell
Chief Financial Officer
Gary Caldwell
Gary Caldwell is Chief Financial Officer of Dakkota Integrated Systems and is responsible for all monetary and fiscal functional areas, including finance, accounting and information technology.

Matthew Bloom
Executive Director of Information Technology
Matthew Bloom
Matthew is an accomplished information technology professional with over 26 years of experience in software development and systems integration.

Ryan Klunzinger
Executive Director of Advanced Programs
Ryan Klunzinger
Ryan joined Dakkota in 2005 and has held numerous positions from Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, Program Manager, Plant Manager, Director of Program Management, and Director of Operations. He has been part of launching several Greenfield and Brownfield programs and facilities at multiple Dakkota Plants.

Suzanne Hicks
Executive Director of Human Resources
Suzanne Hicks
Suzanne M. Hicks is the Executive Director of Human Resources at Dakkota Integrated Systems. She is a highly accomplished human resources leader with a proven track record of effectively aligning HR programs and policies with business objectives.

Bill Tomcala
Director of Operations
Bill Tomcala
who joined Dakkota Integrated Systems in 2015, is director of operations, and is responsible for material management, industrial engineering, and transportation and logistics, including advanced planning and launch activity.

Jeff Cicala
Director of Operations
Jeff Cicala
Jeff Cicala is the Director of Operations at Dakkota. He is responsible for providing senior leadership in team building, lean thinking, and quality system integration. He is recognized as an operations liaison, converting corporate vision and goals into reality.

Jeff Brooks
Director of Material Planning and Logistics
Jeff Brooks
is responsible for material
management, transportation, and logistics, including advanced planning and launch activity.

Eric Huck
Director of Program Management
Eric Huck
Eric Huck leads the Dakkota Program Management Department and cross-functional teams in execution of internal and external program deliverables including new program planning and…

Nick Hammond
Director of Business Development
Nick Hammond
Nick Hammond is our Director of New Business Development . His responsibilities include leadership of the New Business Development team and Diversity Team along with customer relationship development and identification of new opportunities in automotive and non-automotive markets.

Robert Brimm
Director of Quality and Business Operating Systems
Robert Brimm
Robert Brimm is our Director of Quality and Business Operating Systems. A 30-year veteran of the automotive industry, he has extensive production knowledge of exterior and interior
components with an emphasis on quality and processes.

Tracey Johnson
Director of Commercial Management
Tracey Johnson
Tracey Johnson is our Director of Commercial Management. She joined the company in 2012 after 26 years at Magna International, Inc., Dakkota’s joint venture partner.

Tina Lewis
Director of Human Resources
Tina Lewis
Tina Lewis is the Director of Human Resources at Dakkota Integrated Systems where she is responsible for labor relations.

Chris Lilly
Director of Operations and Continuous Improvement
Chris Lilly
Chris Lilly is Director of Operations and Continuous Improvement. He has been plant manager of three plants and also has extensive experience in operations management.

Steve F. Schultz
Director of Advanced Manufacturing and R&D
Steve F. Schultz
Steve Schultz is a founding Dakkota team member, and the director of advanced manufacturing and research and development.

Kirk Drennan
Director of Information Technology
Kirk Drennan
Kirk Drennan is the Information Technology Director at Dakkota Integrated Systems, a leading provider of automotive interior and exterior systems.

Durant Crum
Diversity Manager
Durant Crum
Durant Crum is Dakkota’s Diversity Manager. Currently, he is driving the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through a wide variety of programs with the organization as well as external advocacy.

Andra Rush
Chairwoman
Founder, chair and CEO of the Rush Group of Companies, including Dakkota Integrated Systems, Rush Trucking Corporation and Rush Supply Chain Management.

Lori Rush Lancaster
Vice Chairwoman
Lori Rush Lancaster is the president of Dakkota Integrated Systems, one of the largest women and Native American-owned and led manufacturing companies in the United States.

Aaron Rivers
Chief Executive Officer
Aaron Rivers is the Cheif Executive Officer of Dakkota Integrated Systems. With a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth, he is dedicated to advancing Dakkota’s position as a leading manufacturing company in the automotive space as well as adjacent markets.

Gary Caldwell
Chief Financial Officer
Gary Caldwell is Chief Financial Officer of Dakkota Integrated Systems and is responsible for all monetary and fiscal functional areas, including finance, accounting and information technology.

Matthew Bloom
Executive Director of Information Technology
Matthew is an accomplished information technology professional with over 26 years of experience in software development and systems integration.

Ryan Klunzinger
Executive Director of Advanced Programs
Ryan joined Dakkota in 2005 and has held numerous positions from Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, Program Manager, Plant Manager, Director of Program Management, and Director of Operations. He has been part of launching several Greenfield and Brownfield programs and facilities at multiple Dakkota Plants.

Suzanne Hicks
Executive Director of Human Resources
Suzanne M. Hicks is the Executive Director of Human Resources at Dakkota Integrated Systems. She is a highly accomplished human resources leader with a proven track record of effectively aligning HR programs and policies with business objectives.

Bill Tomcala
Director of Operations
who joined Dakkota Integrated Systems in 2015, is director of operations, and is responsible for material management, industrial engineering, and transportation and logistics, including advanced planning and launch activity.

Jeff Cicala
Director of Operations
Jeff Cicala is the Director of Operations at Dakkota. He is responsible for providing senior leadership in team building, lean thinking, and quality system integration. He is recognized as an operations liaison, converting corporate vision and goals into reality.

Jeff Brooks
Director of Material Planning and Logistics
is responsible for material management, transportation, and logistics, including advanced planning and launch activity.

Eric Huck
Director of Program Management
Eric Huck leads the Dakkota Program Management Department and cross-functional teams in execution of internal and external program deliverables including new program planning and…

Nick Hammond
Director of Business Development
Nick Hammond is our Director of New Business Development . His responsibilities include leadership of the New Business Development team and Diversity Team along with customer relationship development and identification of new opportunities in automotive and non-automotive markets.

Robert Brimm
Director of Quality and Business Operating Systems
Robert Brimm is our Director of Quality and Business Operating Systems. A 30-year veteran of the automotive industry, he has extensive production knowledge of exterior and interior components with an emphasis on quality and processes.

Tracey Johnson
Director of Commercial Management
Tracey Johnson is our Director of Commercial Management. She joined the company in 2012 after 26 years at Magna International, Inc., Dakkota’s joint venture partner.

Tina Lewis
Director of Human Resources
Tina Lewis is the Director of Human Resources at Dakkota Integrated Systems where she is responsible for labor relations.

Chris Lilly
Director of Operations and Continuous Improvement
Chris Lilly is Director of Continuous Improvement and Operations. He has been plant manager of three plants and also has extensive experience in operations management.

Steve F. Schultz
Director of Advanced Manufacturing and R&D
Steve F. Schultz is a founding Dakkota team member, and the director of advanced manufacturing and research and development.

Kirk Drennan
Director of Information Technology
Kirk Drennan is the Information Technology Director at Dakkota Integrated Systems, a leading provider of automotive interior and exterior systems.

Durant Crum
Diversity Manager
Durant Crum is Dakkota’s Diversity Manager. Currently, he is driving the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through a wide variety of programs with the organization as well as external advocacy.