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Telephone: (303) 225-0355
You are welcome to call our main number above or contact one of our senior leaders listed below.
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Email: resumes@rushandcompany.com
If you are a candidate and would like to submit your confidential resume, please use resumes@rushandcompany.com. We will contact you if your qualifications match any of our current job searches.
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Senior Leaders
Rick Rush, President
Rick Rush is President of Rush & Company and has been recruiting in the Textile Industry since 1994. Rick founded Rush & Company in 2003 to serve the Textile and Apparel markets and has grown the business to include recruiting professionals who specialize in the Textiles, Apparel, Home Fashions, and Nonwoven industries.
Finding the best talent in the marketplace, who can take his clients’ businesses to the next level, and helping candidates advance their careers, is Rick’s greatest passion. From his colleagues at Rush & Company to his clients and candidates, his #1 goal every day is to help everyone in his orbit succeed.
Rick graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. Degree in Business and has been a member of the Pinnacle Society, the nation’s premier consortium of top recruiters in the direct placement industry since 1999. Rick lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife Melissa, and enjoys high-octane sports such as kiteboarding, ultra-running, and competing in triathlons.
Melissa Rush, General Manager
Melissa is the General Manager and has been part of the Textile and Interiors industry since 1984. With decades of experience in sales, marketing, production, and planning, she brings extensive real-world experience and connections to her executive searches.
Because she knows the pain of being understaffed, Melissa works for her clients with a sense of urgency and purpose. Her experience allows her to read between the lines of job descriptions to translate what clients really need into a quality search. Melissa loves nothing more than making a good match, and knowing the client and candidate will be successful together.
Melissa earned a B.S. in Textile Technology from the University of Massachusetts and an M.S. in Textile Technology from the Institute of Textile Technology in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has held management and marketing positions with companies such as Johns Manville, Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, Unifi, Inc., and Milliken & Company.
Melissa and her husband live in Charleston, South Carolina. She is an avid runner and a volunteer with the Chispa Project and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Ashley Higginbotham, Senior Executive Recruiter
Ashley is a Senior Executive Recruiter who has more than 16 years of recruiting experience for some of the top brands in the apparel, footwear, bags, luggage, and textile industries. Ashley enjoys making connections and building relationships with clients and candidates. After one conversation, you may feel like you’ve known each other for years.
She loves knowing that she positively impacts candidates by helping them find better situations. Ashley is a patient and engaged listener, which allows her to find candidates who will make an immediate impact and help move the needle for the client.
Ashley earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from James Madison University. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two children, and two dogs. In 2019 Ashley finished her second Half Ironman, and today she continues to train for future adventures.
Kimber McFadden, Vice President, Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles
Kimber McFadden is the Vice President for the Nonwovens and Industrial Textiles division of Rush & Company. Coming from a successful real estate career where she created and managed sales teams for custom home builders, in 2012, Kimber transferred her networking superpowers to the recruiting industry.
Kimber knows time is of the essence when it comes to finding the perfect candidate for a job, so she never wastes it. She is candid and straightforward, which makes her interactions efficient and highly effective. Kimber loves the fulfillment of a great placement for the candidate and the client.
Because she has such strong connections, Kimber is one of Rush & Company’s secret weapons in a niche market. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of South Carolina and loves to spend time on the water and traveling.
Rob Vann, Senior Executive Recruiter
Rob is a Senior Executive Recruiter with 28 years of experience in apparel manufacturing, product development, purchasing and sourcing, global sales, and eCommerce for mass channel, mid-tier, and luxury retailers. He has worked with companies such as VF Corporation, Delta Apparel, and Spanx. Rob is experienced in all areas of branded, private label, and licensed apparel with product experience that ranges from intimate apparel, lounge and sleepwear, ready-to-wear, activewear, layering, and accessories.
Rob is relentless in his pursuit to find the right candidate for the client. He has a natural ability to sincerely gauge company culture and help the client find what they are genuinely looking for in an employee. Because he enjoys building relationships, as well as the hunt, Rob’s clients know they can trust him to go above and beyond with great enthusiasm.
Rob earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Auburn University. He is a master scuba diver and lives with his family in Atlanta.
JP Malham, Executive Recruiter
JP comes to Rush with a background in enterprise-level sales and business development. JP’s super-human ability to create sincere and lasting relationships with people in just one phone call has translated to career success, a spot on the young professionals-to-watch list, and a stream of treasured gifts, including a framed photo of a client’s cat.
JP’s refreshing approach to work and life is to develop genuine relationships and lasting connections with people, believing that the business end of things will fall into place. His natural curiosity combined with an open-minded and fresh approach to the industry make him a true asset for Rush, our clients, and prospects. But beware, just one phone call with JP, and you may find yourself sending him framed photos of your pets too. It really is like that.
JP studied Journalism and Computer Science at the University of Arizona and the University of Advancing Technology. When he’s not working, he enjoys shifting into low gear with his dog and his wife.
Erin Milliken, Executive Recruiter
Erin Milliken uses her Environmental Design education and her passion for learning to help find the right candidates for the right roles. She loves interacting with clients and candidates and finds fulfillment in seeing people take risks and try something new. As a native Midwesterner who has lived in Colorado for over 20 years, Erin is incredibly versatile and easily relates to the people around her. Her natural curiosity makes her a great listener, and our clients and candidates always enjoy her drive, energy, and positive approach to the search.
Erin is a mom to three busy teenagers. When she’s not recruiting, she enjoys spending time with them and other family and friends, being involved with her community & basking in the beauty of Colorado.
Melissa Marino, Office Manager
As the Executive Office Manager for over 10 years, Melissa Marino is the bedrock who keeps the company running. With clients, recruiters and candidates located all over the country, Melissa serves as the central hub that keeps everyone connected across busy schedules and time zones. Organization, clarity and transparency are part of our brand, and Melissa’s superpower is overseeing the small details that make a big difference for everyone.
When she isn’t at work, Melissa’s highest priority is spending time with family.
Ms. Sally, CCOF
Shows up every day – and we know that’s 90% of success- Reminds the team to step away from the desk every now and again and breath (maybe even throw a ball)
- An outstanding listener
- Always brings a great attitude, a wagging tail, sloppy kisses, and unbounding energy
- And understands the importance of a good afternoon nap
To tongue or not to tongue. That, of course, is the question, posed with no apologies to the late great dog disliker and playwright William Shakespeare. Yes, it’s thought that The Bard of Avon was not that into dogs despite enjoying great comedic success with a dog as a character named Crab in his first play, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Things might have been different had he run across Ms. Sally, who could have easily handled a great many roles for him particularly those dealing with rejection as she was twice returned to the shelter from where she was sheltered until she was cast in her current role as a family dog.
Her past credits include some off-Broadway work as a rage-filled troubled youth, playing destructive characters known for ripping things off walls and dismembering TV remotes. Her performances were panned by the critics.
Her big break came when she rediscovered her roots as a mixed Labrador, working in summer stock and regional productions as a Tom Sawyer-like character who spends their day chasing birds, fishing, and swimming in the local Wando River and generally bringing joy to her family and co-workers at Rush & Company.
Picture and Story Credit: The amazing Vincent Musi, photographer and storyteller extraordinaire.