In 1976, American lawyer and activist Margaret Bush Wilson, first Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), spoke to Savannahians, in the Grand Ballroom of the DeSoto Hilton Hotel. It was on the occasion of the retirement of Wesley Wallace “WW” Law, after twenty five years as President of the Savannah Branch NAACP. According to historian and founder of the Hungry Club Forum of Savannah, Inc. (2006) Diana Harvey Johnson, the versatile and accomplished leader said, “the new challenge for our people is conquering the economic frontier.” Nearly fifty years later, how are we coming in the face of the mammoth growth in our community’s path, in the southeast and the nation, Johnson asked.
Joseph R. Hudson, CEO, Hudson Strategic Group, is one of the legends whose passion, knowledge and skills placed him in rooms across Georgia and the Nation, addressing needs and challenges as well as strategizing to develop policies and procedures to move progressively forward, will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday, May 4, 2024 18th Annual Community Service Appreciation Reception-Luncheon at 11:30 AM in the Banquet Room of the Con-Ed Bldg., located at 714 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Standing theme: “On Becoming the Change that We Want to See: Launching and Assessing Initiatives Collectively for Ourselves and Our Posterity.”
One day in 1966, in the bustling city of Washington, DC, a young and determined man named Joe Hudson embarked on a remarkable journey. With a degree from Howard University, and a heart and soul full of dreams and aspirations, he stepped into the majority bank for his first day as the first Black officer of a white bank in DC. Little did he know that this was the beginning of a legacy that would span over half a century.
In the face of challenges and obstacles, Joe’s resilience and passion for African American business affairs and entrepreneurship never wavered. As the years unfolded, he transformed into a Grand Master Jedi Knight advocate for Black businesses, championing their full community participation. In 1969, Joe’s odyssey continued with his involvement in supporting Black businesses at the Interracial Council for Business Opportunity. He crafted the first case studies on minority small business lending, and in 1970, designed the nation’s first recognized “Minority Business Week.” His expertise and influence continued to grow, as since 1968, he oversaw millions in business loans and contracts for minority businesses. He has personally packaged Black business loans for a vast array of businesses, highlighted by one of the first McDonald’s franchises, an Institutional Catering Company, Trucking Company, Radio Station, Plastics Manufacturing Company, Furniture Company, Catfish Farm, Junior College and many more.
The 1970s marked a significant chapter for Joe as he organized Black businesses into a political and economic force in Atlanta. He played a crucial role in supporting Maynard Jackson’s mayoral campaign, leading to the advent of the City of Atlanta’s Set-aside program, aimed at increasing minority business participation in City of Atlanta purchasing and procurement. His impact extended nationally as he co-founded the Atlanta Regional Purchasing Council, later renamed the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC), which earned the title of Council of the Year during his presidency.
Joe’s political and economic involvements reached new heights as he raised support for electoral campaigns and served on the Executive Committee of the National Minority Supplier Development Corporation. He conducted the first nationally televised minority business purchasing seminar and later became a corporate consultant for Try US Resources, conducting workshops on developing corporate Supplier Diversity programs nationwide.
His concentrated and focused efforts expanded to community development, both nationally and internationally. Joe consulted with cities and communities across the United States, developed strategic plans for major corporations, and assisted in business development in Nigeria. His dedication was acknowledged through a special declaration of Joseph R. Hudson Day by the City of Atlanta and Fulton County governments in 1975.
Amidst his community and international involvement, Joe experienced the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, starting an international consultancy and owning three businesses under the banner of SGG. He chairs the Hudson Strategic Group (HsG), where he and his partners innovate business and community development systems based upon the world-class standards of excellence. Joe’s commitment to African American business affairs and entrepreneurship remains unwavering. He founded BlacIntellec, The Atlanta Black Think Tank, addressing systemic Black economic issues. His legacy, though unrecognized, continues to shape the narrative of Black business and community concerns, a testament to the enduring impact of Joe Hudson, sharing his God-given knowledge and skills for the progress of the community.
You may not know Joe personally, but you have benefited from his work. Joe likes to say, “God sent me to clear the Land (Help define the Idea), Cultivate and prepare the Soil (Articulate the Idea), Plant seeds (Activate the Idea), then Move on to the plot and not linger. If done right, the Idea will blossom and grow, and you will never know Joe was there!” Why? Because he is always working on things to help the greater good, not just the individual!
For more information, email: hungryclubforumsav@earthlink.net or call Diana Harvey Johnson at 912- 667-5525.