by Dee Knopp, Executive Director
Coming off the heels of its annual East Coast Conference, Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc. (DA4S) announces its 2019-2021 President Elect. With more than a dozen years of experience, Kathy April-Rush, Associate Director, North America Supplier Diversity for AbbVie Inc., steps into the role October 1.
Committed to equality and inclusion, DA4S provides a platform within life science and healthcare industries to identify, attract, and develop diverse businesses to drive inclusive procurement practices in corporate, academic, and governmental entities. As president, April-Rush will lead the organization’s strategic and financial planning, be responsible for alliance and partnerships, overseeing and working effectively with the Board of Directors.
Dedicated to supplier diversity, April-Rush has spent the past 13 years helping corporations diversify and develop partnerships with diverse businesses. In her current role, she designed, developed and built the biopharmaceutical company’s first supplier diversity program. She consults with internal stakeholders on diverse supplier sourcing strategies, designs stakeholder training and communications strategies, facilitates mentor protégé program and oversees advocacy and outreach activities.
In addition to DA4S, April-Rush sits on various boards and councils advocating diverse supplier interests, including NMSDC Healthcare Industry Group, and Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council. She is currently chair of DA4S Stakeholders Vertical and immediate past chair for the Supplier Diversity Pharmaceutical Forum. Dedicated to inclusion, April-Rush has received several recognitions, including Program Manager of the Year by DA4S and named twice as a Top 30 Champion for Diversity in Diversity Plus Magazine.
“I am honored to serve as president for DA4S,” says April-Rush. “Facilitating opportunities for diverse suppliers will continue to be our number one priority. I’m honored to have been passed the gavel and look forward to game changing outcomes for DA4S suppliers.”
As a DA4S board member, she has successfully enhanced membership offerings, restructured the organization’s business development infrastructure leading to increased revenue and further restructured the organization’s mentor protégé program. April-Rush also holds a Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt and has an MBA from Dominican University, MBA.
