Judith Cushman has been President of Seattle-based Judith Cushman & Associates since 1996. Prior to that, she was President of Marshall Consultants/West. JC&A provides added value Retained Search and Consulting Solutions for the communications (Public Relations, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations) field. The consulting services relate to organizational and staffing questions that build on her 25+ years in the field.
Ms. Cushman leads national search efforts ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to agencies and smaller companies. Unique to her firm is a commitment to undertake no more than three major assignments at any one time. That approach allows her to provide in-depth personal service without time constraints. She approaches a search strategically with up-front, in-depth analysis of the company, the position and the candidate profile. She partners with her clients to bring a value-added perspective to the process. The firm focuses on the long term and expects to maintain ongoing relationships with both candidates and clients.
Ms. Cushman is a frequent workshop leader and speaker to communications groups throughout the country about trends affecting the profession, and is often quoted by the media. She pens an occasional e-mail newsletter called The Cushman Report, as time permits. Ms. Cushman launched the first blog by a search professional in the PR field focused on issues impacting senior level professionals. Her newest focus is a personal section talking about the many interests in the arts that she supports. She is embarking on an initiative called, “The Business Member Program” with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Both the blog and this new section called, “The Personal Side of Judy” can be found at http://www.jc-a.com/blog/jcablog.htm
Ms. Cushman was with Marshall Consultants in New York City, the first search firm to specialize in Public Relations. (Mr. Larry Marshall, the founder, is now retired.) In 1981 she was named Executive Vice President concurrent with the opening of the office in Seattle. In August 1985, she was elevated to President of Marshall Consultants/West.
She is a member of: the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the WSA (formerly Washington Software Alliance) and the Washington Biotech & Biomedical Association (WBBA). She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women.
She completed course work for an MS in Public Relations at the School of Public Communications, Boston University, and received a BA in European History from Barnard College in New York City. Her hobbies include leading wine tours, ballet, Tai Chi, boating, flower arranging and gourmet cuisine. She is married, the mother of a grown son and daughter and resides in the Seattle area.
Volunteer Activities
Ms. Cushman recently served on the board of NIRI Seattle in charge of sponsorships and fundraising. She created and implemented a national award winning program that has raised over $55,000.00 for the chapter. She is also currently leading the creation and implementation of a new volunteer recognition program.
Ms. Cushman is an enthusiastic supporter of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, a “Member of the Barre” and is currently working as a volunteer to initiate a new Business Member Program. The program turns the normal fundraising concept “upside-down” and attempts to find new audiences by connecting small companies and their employees with the ballet for modest membership fees.
Ms. Cushman also completed a pro bono assignment with the Pacific Northwest Ballet in the fall of 2004 as a “search coach” helping the Board in the selection of its new artistic director, Peter Boal.
Ms. Cushman is an advocate for the Washington wine industry, having worked with the Washington Wine Commission to find the current Executive Director (and prior incumbents over the last ten years). On an annual basis, Ms. Cushman leads a group of twenty-five plus participants on a three-day tour “by appointment only” to wineries in the state.
For PRSA, she organized a special event for over 100 attendees of the regional Public Relations Society of America conference in 2005. Other volunteer work for PRSA includes chairing a national conference in Seattle for Public Relations Professionals, Tech 2002, and raising $60,000 for the conference. She received a newly instituted (at the time) President’s award for outstanding service. The fundraising for PRSA occurred when the national conference was held in Seattle. That program became a model for all future conferences.
Ms. Cushman takes an active role in her boating club and is in charge of membership. She has been responsible for bringing over fifty new members into the club and is currently developing a comprehensive membership program.
Ms. Cushman was a Class Reunion Vice President for Barnard College, NYC in 2004. It was the largest turnout for a reunion and raised more money than the class had previously raised.
