For over 20 years, Hudson & Associates has utilized its business management experience to lead firms in a variety of industries to greater prosperity. A highly successful business development and marketing consulting firm, Hudson & Associates assists clients with strategic planning, business planning and business plan writing, marketing analysis and planning, sales planning, as well as with successful implementation and management of programs. Gary Hudson has served as an officer and/or Director to a series of successful companies, and has consulted some of the world's leading agricultural and horticultural companies.

Raised on a farm, Gary left agriculture to spend the first eleven years of his business career helping build a Central California retail clothier into a highly successful eleven-store chain. He then returned to his roots and utilized his marketing sales and management expertise in the horticultural seed businessWhile serving as Vice President of Goldsmith Seeds, he developed the North American, European, and Japanese markets and expanded the firm into an industry leader.

In 1981, Hudson became the Co-founder and President of Plant Genetics in Davis, California, a pioneer in the biotechnology industry. Responsible for raising nearly $7 million in venture capital, he successfully managed the company’s growth to over thirty-five employees.

In 1984, Hudson & Associates was launched. From day one, the firm’s primary goal has been to assist clients in developing sound strategies for growth and economic viability. Sakata Seed retained Hudson to develop a plan to expand its market presence. Over a seven-year period, Hudson's business development efforts in North America and Europe enabled Sakata to obtain phenomenal results. Another highly successful project was aiding in the formation of a joint venture between Peppergrove Nursery and Yoder Brothers to market the Blooms of Bressingham perennials in North America. A partial list of past and current clients include, Paul Ecke Poinsettias, Yoder, Keithly William Seed, American Horticultural Society, Progeny Advanced Genetics, and Monsanto.

Recognized for his innovative business development strategies, Gary has been invited to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Health Care System, a NASDAQ listed company, and on the founding Board of Coinstar, also a publicly traded company.

Gary currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Valley Forum, the University of California Davis Seed Biotechnology Center, and the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy, where he served as a Past President. He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Collage of Agriculture and Environmental Science. Additionally Gary is currently Co-Chairman of the committee for the creation of The California Center for Urban Horticulture.

Internationally recognized in the horticultural industry, Gary has served as a director of the Professional Plant Grower's Association, the Ohio Florist Association, the Ohio Floriculture Foundation, and the Bedding Plant Foundation. In 1991, he received the PPGA's prestigious International Award and is one of only three recipients of their Award of Excellence. In 1992, he worked with Dr. Marc Cathy, U.S.D.A. to help plan and facilitate eight of the Convocation assembled to determine future research needs for the Green Industry. In 1995, he was elected to the American Academy of Floriculture. In 2006 he was awarded the prestigious Award of Distinction by the University of California at Davis.

Hudson is a frequent speaker on business planning, business development, management as well as selling skills and marketing topics. Recent speaking engagements include The Society of American Florist, (S.A.F.), the Ohio Florists Association, The American Marketing Association, Eurgrow in England, and the Sacramento Valley Forum (for growth companies).

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Selected highlights of notable projects carried out by Hudson & Associates:

Monsanto
Retained to assist a corporate business development team in accessing the market potential and feasibility of delivering genetically enhanced bedding plants to the consumer market.

The Solaris Group, Ortho Products
Developed and implemented a successful marketing program to test the Ortho brand name for use on bedding plants. Program created opportunities for brand expansion, proved opportunities exist for brand identification as a commodity. Concept continues to be marketed in association with a Pacific Northwest retailer.

Progeny Advanced Genetics
Co-authored the company business plan. Aided in raising equity capital and bank financing. Served as general business advisor. Company is profitable and continues to experience record sales growth.

National Health Care Systems
Served as a consultant and then member of the Board of Directors while assisting in the turn around from near bankruptcy of the publicly traded (NASDAQ) firm. Helped firm grow with a 9-fold increase in sales over four years resulting in a merger with a larger HMO, Foundation Health.

Sakata Seed Corporation, Yokohama, Japan
Developed and expanded new research and marketing programs and increased sales to the European seed market and in Japan.

Sakata Seed America, Morgan Hill, California
Served as planning, sales and general management consultant to Sakata Seed America. Responsible for the facilitation of their rapid sales development and growth, including staff and physical properties in North America.

Keithley William Seed
Retained to lead strategic planning, marketing, sales planning and training programs, leading to continued sales expansion and profitability for the company.

Paul Ecke Poinsettias
Performed market analysis. Resulting recommendations provided refinements to the activities of the National Poinsettias Growers Organization, a user's group.

Yoder
Performed international market research analysis for new product lines.

Peppergrove Nursery
Led strategic planning project. Created marketing plans to position the firm for future growth as an international joint venture involving several partner corporations. New products successfully launched.

Clackamas Greenhouse
Retained to lead strategic and marketing planning projects. Following the projects, Clackamas experienced a sales expansion and increased profitability. Longer term effect of successful branding (see The Solaris Group). Most recently helped firm recover from the financial reversal caused by losing largest customer.

American Horticultural Society
Retained to lead strategic planning process, with a goal of positioning the organization for growth.

Manatee Fruit
Assisted large cut flower grower and flower wholesale company with strategic planning process, leading to marketing expansion and increased sales.

Mainland Nursery
Aided large California nursery effect a financial turnaround by reorganizing sales, reducing sales expense, identifying and hiring new sales staff and in improving operations.

Plant Genetics, Inc.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Vice Chairman, Board of Directors
Davis, California • July 1981-1984

Led company from inception to a position where they were able to attract an experienced operations manager. Principle activities included resource accumulation, team building, capital funding and developing market strategies.

Built hi-tech team from three person start-up to over 100 employees, including 65 professional staff with 17 PHD/Project Leaders. Scientific team responsible for 28 patient disclosures during this time. Raised more than $7 million in venture capital and secured over $600 thousand in facilities and equipment leases.

Goldsmith Seed, Inc.
Vice President of Marketing
Gilroy, California • April 1972 - June 1981

Joined company at early stage. Primary duties included the development and implementation of advertising, marketing and sales programs for domestic and international sales. Responsible for an increase in total sales by 12-fold. Increased European sales percentage from 5% to 47%. Part of a management team that built the firm to a world leader in seed production and marketing.

Responsible for acquisition of a Danish seed company and the reorganization of this newly formed company. Acquisition greatly expanded the market share of sales to smaller seed companies in Northern Europe.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORATES

Former member:
Board of Directors - Coinstar, NASDAQ Traded
Board of Directors - National Health Care System, NASDAQ Traded
Board of Directors - Zoogen
Board of Directors - Agaccess

Board of Directors, Bedding Plant Foundation (5 years)

Board of Directors, Ohio Floricultural Foundation (3 years)

Member, Board of Directors & Past President, Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy (On going)

Member Board of Directors, Sacramento Valley Forum

Advisory Council, University of California Davis Seed Biotechnology Center (On going)

Dean’s Advisory Council, Collage of Ag and Environmental Science (On Going)