Heritage - Kenmar Corporation

April 3, 1961– Founded

Ken and Mary Elliott founded Kenmar in 1961. The prospering new venture was named Kenmar to honor the then 13 year marriage of Ken and Mary Elliott. Over the next 35 years, both the marriage and the corporation flourished. Ken and Mary were blessed with eight children and, in time, a wealth of grandchildren. The company continues to be family-owned and managed; the growing organization and all employees are viewed as an extension of the Elliott family.

Kenmar Family

Shareholders

A History of Leadership

Kenmar Leadership

The story of how Kenmar Corporation succeeded in becoming one of the largest manufacturers’ representatives and professional services firms in the Detroit area is a continuing legacy of Ken and Mary Elliott. After establishing a strong family work environment and anticipating today’s best management concepts, they built a team of professionals who shared their vision for the future and maintained their philosophy of family, integrity, reliability and customer service. The basic philosophy enabled the second generation of the Elliott family to continue to create the performance-based relationships that provide a consistant flow of new opportunities for growth and success.

Elliott and Rusk

Elliott attended the university of Detroit as a member of the class of 1944 and graduate in 1947 after distinguishing himself on a football scholarship and after interrupting his education for a stint as a World War II U.S. Navy fighter pilot in the South Pacific. After graduation, he spent several years learning automotive systems and manufacturing processes, and building a network of supplier and vehicle manufacturer contacts. His reputation for performance, integrity and hard work established him as one of the best and most reliable professionals in the business.

One of Elliott’s son-in-law, Aric Rusk, became president of Kenmar in 1992, when Elliott decided to play a reduced role. Rusk, a former marine who served in Vietnam, graduated from Michigan State and Wayne State Universities, and was employed by a major auto company as a lead buyer for six years before joining Kenmar in 1980.

About Kenmar