Judith Cushman & Associates

Retained Executive Search in Communications

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 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. 

Ms. Cushman leads national search efforts ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to agencies and smaller companies.  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. Ms. Cushman recently launched the first blog by a search professional in the PR field focused on issues impacting senior level professionals. Subjects include age discrimination, gender related discussions about why only one-third of top positions are held by women and ethics. The blog can be found at www.jc-a.com/blog/jcablog.htm

Prior to Marshall Consultants, Ms. Cushman held posts with the Public Relations Board, Lufthansa German Airlines (in Public Relations) and Mobil Oil Corporation (in Employee Relations).   She is a member of: the National Investor Relations Institute ((NIRI), the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the WSA (formerly Washington Software Alliance), the Washington Biotech & Biomedical Association (WBBA), and  the American Association of University Women.  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 wine touring, ballet, Tai Chi, boating, flower arranging, glass art and gourmet cuisine.  She is married, the mother of a son and daughter and resides in the Seattle area.

 Volunteer Activities

Ms. Cushman takes an active role in the community. 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. Prior fund raising for PRSA occurred when the national conference was held in Seattle. That program became a model for all future conferences.

She is currently helping the National Investor Relations Institute, Seattle Chapter with its sponsorship/fund raising program. The sponsorship program won the Chairman’s Award at the NIRI National Convention in June, 2005. She raised more money than had been raised before. The program is on track in 2005/2006 to exceed the amount raised last year. Recently, she was nominated for a newly created post, the Vice President of Sponsorships.

Ms. Cushman has 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 continues to support the ballet as a “Member of the Barre.”

For over 15 years on behalf of the American Association of University Women, Ms. Cushman has organized the spring luncheon for the local Issaquah chapter.

Ms. Cushman was a Class Reunion Vice President for Barnard College, NYC in 2004. It was the largest turnout for a class and raised more money than the class ever had raised. Ms. Cushman continues to serve on the committee helping other classes adopt these ideas.

JC&A was retained by the Washington Wine Commission to find a new Executive Director. As a result of the expertise developed, Ms. Cushman has led wine tours in the state of WA with the hope of instituting a tour program focusing on affinity groups. She is a member of the Wine Ambassadors group.

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15600 NE 8th St., Suite B1, PMB 178, Bellevue, WA 98008 s (425) 392-8660 Fax (425) 746-8629

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