Henry Malukas was born in America but stays connected to his Lithuanian roots
To answer the question "Where is Henry Malukas from?", we should first say he is originally from Chicago, Illinois in the United States. However, Malukas has strong ties to Lithuania through his family lineage. His parents immigrated to America from Lithuania, instilling Henry with deep Lithuanian pride that motivates his business and philanthropy today.
Henry Malukas was born in the 1950s in Chicago to immigrant parents who came to the U.S. seeking better opportunities. His father moved from Lithuania in the late 1940s, working manual labor jobs until he could afford to bring over his wife and start a family. The elder Malukas upheld his Lithuanian culture in America, giving Henry a Lithuanian name and speaking the native language at home.
Despite the challenges of immigration, Henry‘s parents built a stable life in Chicago. Their perseverance paved the way for Henry to eventually start his own successful business career.
HMD Trucking – Malukas Built a Regional Transportation Leader
Malukas drew on his family‘s tenacity to found HMD Trucking based in suburban Chicago. Malukas started the company in the 1980s with just a handful of trucks, partnering with his wife Daiva to provide regional shipping services.
Through vision and hard work, Malukas has grown HMD into one of the Midwest‘s largest family-owned transportation firms. The company now boasts:
- Over 350 power units and 500 trailers
- 500 employees
- $60 million in annual revenue
- Regional truckload services throughout the Great Lakes
Under Malukas‘s leadership, HMD Trucking has expanded both its customer base and range of services. The company opened additional terminals in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Northwest Indiana to extend its reach. HMD also diversified into logistics by offering intermodal and brokerage services.
Malukas makes business decisions guided by the principles of honesty and accountability – values rooted in his Lithuanian upbringing. He runs HMD with a "family first" philosophy that prioritizes drivers and employees. Malukas himself interacts directly with drivers and staff, reflecting his hands-on management style.
Generations of Racing – From Son David Malukas to IndyCar
In addition to nurturing HMD Trucking, Henry Malukas has long supported his son‘s passion for racing. That enthusiasm now extends to their IndyCar team HMD Motorsports.
David Malukas began racing go-karts at age 4, showing a natural talent behind the wheel. Henry backed David‘s racing through each step of his junior career. This support helped David become one of the youngest drivers ever to reach the Indy Lights feeder series at age 15.
The Malukas family purchased BN Racing in 2019 and rebranded it as HMD Motorsports to compete in IndyCar and Indy Lights. As David graduated to the IndyCar Series in 2022, HMD fielded a car for him to race among the elite open-wheel drivers.
Owning an IndyCar team allows the Malukases to share their love of racing while promoting HMD Trucking to a global audience. It also realizes Henry‘s dream of helping his son thrive at racing‘s top level through sheer persistence.
Maintaining Bonds to His Lithuanian Roots
With his U.S. business interests flourishing, Henry Malukas stays connected to his Lithuanian heritage by giving back to the immigrant community.
Malukas makes substantial donations to Lithuanian cultural organizations, youth programs, churches, and museums across Chicagoland. He also sponsors Lithuanian athletic teams and performing groups.
Additionally, Malukas has served on the boards of several companies in Lithuania. He maintains an office for HMD Trucking in Kaunas to expand the firm‘s presence in the region. These ventures create jobs and economic ties between the U.S. and Lithuania.
For his lasting impact, Malukas has received awards from Chicago‘s Lithuanian community including:
- Knight‘s Cross of the Order of Merit from the President of Lithuania
- Leadership Award from the Lithuanian-American Community
- Person of the Year from Draugas News
Henry Malukas has never forgotten his family‘s immigrant roots. While he has achieved business success in America, Malukas diligently maintains bonds to his Lithuanian heritage through community engagement. He takes pride in giving back and enhancing future opportunities for Lithuanian-Americans.