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Who the heck is Adams Hudson? 

Kenny has been with Hudson Ink, almost since the beginning. Kenny has influenced Hudson Ink’s growth and structure tremendously.
Almost any ideas that I have, I run by Kenny first. If he likes them and they fail, I can always blame him. Yet if he likes them, they usually don’t fail, which keeps him on the “highly sought opinion” list.

Plus, he’s great with staff since he has far less tendency to request a hand-held grenade launcher than I do. He cares about people and senses needs often before they’re expressed. Kenny is uniquely qualified for a unique business.
Hudson Ink is fortunate to have Kenny, who can help staff, direct goals, keep order, and have a sense of humor at the same time. Since he chose the ‘correct’ book as his favorite (narrowly beating Lord of the Rings), I think I’ll keep him around, so don’t get any ideas.

Favorite Movie:  The Shawshank Redemption, anything on Blu-ray

Favorite Book: Contractor Marketing Secrets

Pets: 3 dogs – Murray, Arthur and Rusty; 1 Cat – Jasmine; 2 birds – Vida and Olive; and a pond full of fish

Hobbies:  gardening, taking care of my critters, traveling, music, avid Patriots, Red Sox and Buckeyes fan.

Favorite music:  all kinds of music, especially jazz, blues and standards

What I like about my job:  It’s rewarding that everything we do here is to help contractors.  It’s much more fulfilling than if we provided pencil sharpeners or any other commodity that didn’t actually profit contractors. 

Sharron (correct spelling, and coming from someone with an ‘s’ stuck on their first name, I checked) is our resident calming influence. I imagine that if Hudson Ink caught on fire, she’d be like your 4^th grade teacher conducting a drill commanding an “Orderly straight line children! I’m giving conduct checks!” And we’d head right out the door, without flinching, with Sharron dutifully behind seeing to our safety. And so it is, another “caring professional” who performs beyond the description alone.

Favorite Movie: “My favorite movie is Steel Magnolias. I don’t exactly know why, other than I feel a connection with the characters. To me, some of the best lines ever in a movie.

Favorite Book: “A Time to Kill” by John Grisham. I had a hard time with this one. Many of Grisham’s books are this way, with the unlikely hero caught up in circumstances beyond their control… ultimately winning through clear-headed commitment to do what’s right. I was as in love with the theme as the way he told it.

Pets: I’ve got two. Moe is a Miniature Dachshund and Queenie is a Gray Tabby who allows us to live with her as long as we pay the mortgage, feed her well, and stroke her when SHE feels like it. If she decides to curl up in my husband’s chair, he’s tempted to ‘strike’ rather than ‘stroke’ (!) but she’s so endearing he just moves her slightly aside.

Hobbies: “I enjoy reading, my grandchildren, and making jewelry. This last one gives me all the excuses I’ll ever need for acquiring more, since I can rightfully call it ‘market research’. (Is Adams’ influence showing?)

What I like about my job:  As a marketing advisor here, I have the opportunity to talk with people all over the country. To best serve you, I MUST ask a lot of questions. It’s amazing what we learn, and even more incredible the connections made with those I’d have otherwise not met. That is very rewarding. It’s even more rewarding to help businesses develop a marketing plan that generates increased revenue. To me, this is our truest value.

Paula Snow
Customer Service 

Paula, Paula, Paula. A couple paragraphs won’t get me started. But since I’m rarely at a loss for words (though often the wrong ones) I’ll try.

Paula is fastidious, complete, organized and disciplined. Her ‘ownership’ of newsletter, product, and customers is legendary. I’ll often go to trade events where I think I’m a big shot, and a beaming customer will march toward me, hand outstretched and say, “Where’s Paula?”

Her “Customer Service” skills are natural, though she’s always willing to learn. And once Paula adopts a new procedure or skill – look out – because that’s the way it’ll be until you change it. To say she develops customer service habits for the long haul is a huge understatement.

Paula has been with us since 2004, right after our first move, and has continued to grow ever since. There is no conceivable way to be bored around Paula, who loves to laugh, have fun, and keep things entertaining. 

Favorite movie:   I like all suspense and thriller type (who does not like suspense in their life, right), but my all time favorite HAS to be The Outsiders.  I really enjoy Adam Sandler, though I am still trying to figure out why I like his humor.

Favorite book: whaaa? I don’t read. Honestly, the last time I read a book, I was laying out by the pool, in High School and it was a romance novel. Name of it? Who knows? Actually, I have read the last 2 issues of Reader’s Digest since I do get that delivered to the house.

Pets: 2 dogs (Snoopy and Whitey), 2 cats (Crystal and TomTom), 1 fish (no name). Is a fish really a pet?

Hobbies:  Part time movie buff (#1 Blockbuster fan), card playing, and watching my 2 boys play ball. I also enjoy riding in the car listening to Nickelback blaring on the radio. Does laundry count as a hobby?

What I like about my job:  I like a lot of things about my job…the small company, office setting, etc., but most of all…I believe in the marketing that we do. I believe in what we preach from Yellow Page designs to Customer Retention. In fact, if I ever own an HVAC or plumbing company, I would have to call upon myself for help and advice.

Jessica is our “Can you please do this perfectly in the next 5 minutes” girl. I recommend this trait highly. Even more significant than her 90 mph writing skills is her demeanor in the process. Calm, collected, and nary a trace of elevated heart-rate. Others in her job would likely drape their desks in an Oxygen tent using a glucose drip as accent. She’s also smart as the blazes. Need a word definition? A synonym? How about, the ‘money quote’ from a reckless interview or the ‘nuggets’ within a lengthy research piece or an obscure factoid only I would need? Go to Jessica: Hudson Ink’s own answer desk. I believe some her contemplative nature will be revealed here…

Fav Book: “My favorite book is Portrait of A Lady by Henry James. I know people think James goes on for two weeks to make a point, but to me, every syllable is worth the trip.”

Fav Movie: “I’m a movie fan; both classics and current, but nobody ever did a movie better than An Affair to Remember (Carey Grant & Deborah Kerr). Talk about ‘unsaid’ language, or the nuance of expression, or how truth finds its own course. It’s all there, convincingly told, flawlessly acted out.

Hobbies: “I keep up with lots of friends, if you could call them a hobby. (Some need more work than others!) But I also love baking, painting, and Twinkie wars. If you don’t know, don’t ask.”

Pets: “I’ve got 2 cats, Maximus and Chaucer. (Maximus from Gladiator and Chaucer from, well, Chaucer.) My Maximus doesn’t yank Romans from horseback, but I’m positive he’s considered it. Neither does Chaucer write poetry, but I know some people he could beat in Scrabble.”

Fav Quotation: “The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” ~ Mark Twain I can’t improve upon that, so I won’t!What I Enjoy About My Job:  Finding just the right word to make an ad or newsletter article transform from paper and ink into leads and sales. Adams would be happy I said that… and to be honest, I am too! This is – to me – the ‘magic’ of writing, and writing well.!

Lissa is a ‘real’ artist, but not temperamental. She’s very creative, but solidly organized. Likewise, she thinks visually, but can actually converse! If you’ve ever hired an artist, usually you get a creative, artistic sort who arrives to work at “10-ish” with their shirt on backwards, speaking to no one in particular about “Colors, balance and texture”. (These colorful people generally leave here with zero balance as they feel the texture of the door on their behind.)

Lissa is a very authentic, delightful person with a range of tastes, made clear by her favorite movies: Grosse Point Blank, The Princess Bride, and The Right Stuff. (We fully believe the Right Stuff to which she is attracted has nothing to do with Naval War Planes.)

Lissa is also widely read, enjoying books by Top Selling author Augusten Burroughs, long-time serial fiction writer Cormac McCarthy (All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men) and humorist/essayist David Sedaris. (Want a laugh? Check this out  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBdymtyXt8Y)

In her words, “I've always loved to create, but I also like solving problems, creating pieces that compel. At Hudson, Ink, I like the thought of helping businesses (in my own small way) succeed, the possibility of creating that one ad, or postcard that inspires in a reader the sense of loyalty or urgency that turns them into paying customers. We do that a lot here, and for that, my job fulfills a much bigger purpose.”

She’s an outdoorsy type as well, preferring to hike, garden, photograph nature. Where she lives, there’s plenty to choose from: Bulldogs, cats, peacocks, ducks, geese, llamas.

But when she comes indoors, she can also find her way around a tool box. For me and her co-workers, we’re also glad she can find every tool a Mac ever offered to make your newsletter, Yellow Page ad, or other custom work nice, neat, organized and effective.

Favorite Movie:  Coming from a large family who loves to cut up and have fun while celebrating the winter holidays, I can’t help but love National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It’s not the holidays unless my brother-in-law starts in with ,“Clark, you go ahead and save that turkey neck for me!” “Okay, Edie” I reply. The chop humor of Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid is a Norman Rockwell image of my family.

Favorite Vacation Place: To me, there’s just nothing like being on the woods or down at the shore. I grew up off the Appalachian Trail so my fascination with the wooded mountains isn’t really a surprise. As for the shore, well, it was part of my family’s cure for the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It never fails to help me forget the trivial things going on and find peace, knowing I'm lucky to be alive – thank the Lord!

Hobbies:  I'm a year-round sports fanatic. I love to watch NASCAR. (I grew up with Dale Earnhardt as my hero!) And it just wouldn’t be fall without college and pro football.  Then I manage to make it through Winter knowing March Madness is coming. Rugby, fishing, camping, and boating bring me close to nature (a favorite place), and fill in the gaps.

Favorite Music:  I like rock, and country. But I wasn’t the biggest fan of Donny and Marie. (Sorry!) My parents turned me onto folk and blue grass. I really just like any good sound with an Americana foundation.

Favorite Musicians: Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, James Dee Crowe, Virginia Patterson Hensley, and Earl Scruggs. These singers were pioneers who sought to tell a story about living life to its fullest. And in my opinion, they succeeded.

What I like about my job:  For years I worked with contractors, and I wish I knew then what I know now from working at Hudson, Ink. Fortunately, it’s a new day and I'm planning to make up for lost time by helping our clients grow their business through logical marketing and sales actions that are not offered anywhere else – and most importantly, they work!

Fav Book: My favorite book? I have two actually. The first, To Touch The Top Of The World by Eric Weihenmayer, inspires me to this day. There is something deeply profound about a blind man conquering what so many can see and fail to climb. My second favorite, Moneyball, should be on every baseball fan’s must read list. It’s a vivid picture of how cutting salary costs by listening to a computer can definitely save money, but it simply can’t derive a championship winning team. There is more to the game than peanuts and popcorn, Mr. Bean.

Fav Movie: That’s tough. I have so many. The best way of doing this is to break it down by the numbers: 1) The Bucket List, 2) Top Gun, 3) Eight Men Out,  4) 61*, and
5) Saturday Night Fever. Most people draw back at the mention of Top Gun, but I grew up on it. When I was a kid I lived in Europe for two years, and it was the only movie I wanted to watch. In fact, I at one point believed I was Tom Cruise. And, later in life I believed I was Spiderman…until I tried to climb the wall – and broke my arm. I learned that all the duct tape in the world, wrapped around your fingers and toes, WILL NOT hold you to the wall.

Hobbies: I don’t really have any hobbies. I do fish a lot, maybe even too much. Not a big fan of hunting. I just don’t see it as a challenge. It’s too easy to sit in a tree stand until something walks in front of you. To catch a fish – that takes skill, knowledge, studying and a little bit of luck.

Pets: Yeah, 3 dogs. There’s Callie the Bassett, Buster the Papillon, and Woody the Boxer. Callie reeks of stupidity; she may be the dumbest dog in America. Buster is the perfect lap dog – all he wants is to be a part of what’s going on. Woody protects the house at all costs, and would very much like to crawl inside my body and become one with me.

Fav Quotation: I have two. The first, “We live in the present to reflect on the past, to prepare for the future,” Unknown. The second is, “Forget your mistakes but not what they teach you,” from a chance run-in with police in high school. What? Most people have a story about the cops…At least I learned something from mine. Just because the street sign has your name on it, doesn’t make it yours.

What I Enjoy About My Job:  Well, it’s an interesting mix of responsibilities. I do sales, layout and design support, sales writing and a little bit of everything else. I guess the thing I enjoy most about my job is the variety of responsibilities. Everyday brings something new and potentially paramount to my office.

Debra was bookkeeping for a high-end building contractor (so she knows how you people are!) and looking for an opportunity. But she settled for a job here instead. She is an eager learner, a persistent tracker, and maintains a pleasant aura. However, she will FedEx you a carton of snakes if your bill is overdue. That’s just the way we are around here.

Debra has jumped in to paperless billing, QuickBooks Pro, and the complexities of recurring payments with gusto. She regularly enrolls in seminars on the latest accounting techniques, billing efficiencies, and ways to improve her job, our processes, and your experience.

I believe she is succeeding in all areas. Plus, it’s obvious she prefers books with ‘The’ as the first word in the title. Since I assume she can’t be the only one, my next book will reflect this preference.

Favorite Movie:  A Good Year, Something’s Gotta Give, French Kiss

Favorite Book(s):  The Shack, The Help, The Mark of the Lion trilogy, The Thirteenth Tale, historical fiction

Pets:  Solomon, standard poodle

Hobbies:  reading, bookclub, bunco, lion taming, level 5 whitewater rafting.

Favorite Quotation:  Earth's crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries. - Elizabeth Barrett Browning
What I like about my job:  I like the puzzle of matching costs to payments and of balancing statements.  I also like hiding in my corner office to concentrate on these.

Jeff is our resident web geek, except that he’s not geeky. At all. Personable and warm, Jeff was able to convince me he could create a web traffic stampede, make our website blow smoke rings, and extract the credit card number of anyone who passed by a computer. We’re still working on that last part.

Fortunately Jeff is as skilled at web marketing as he is graphic design, which helps Lissa with some website cosmetics. Jeff is also heavily entrenched in Social Media marketing, building traffic, followers and fans out of thin air.

As Jeff’s web marketing strategies help us, those are translated into turn-key methods that help you. The ones that don’t help us result in a mild electric shock delivered to his keyboard. Tweet that!

We’re happy to see Jeff’s eager, smiling, non-geeky self every morning as he helps builds the digital marketing side for Hudson Ink.

Favorite Movie:  The Pursuit of Happyness

Favorite Book:  Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Hobbies:  Sketching, painting, sculpture, multimedia; anything that helps communicate the message.

Favorite Quotation:  "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss

To contact an individual staff member, Hudson Ink’s email addresses are standardized as “firstname@hudsonink.com.”