December 12, 2024 Trustee Luncheon

In a journalism career covering news from high global finance to neighborhood infrastructure, Tom Hudson is the Vice President of News and Special Correspondent for WLRN.  He hosts and produces the Sunshine Economy and anchors the Florida Roundup in addition to leading the organization's news engagement strategy.

Hudson was most recently the co-anchor and managing editor of Nightly Business Report on Public Television. In that position Hudson reported on topics such as Federal Reserve interest rate policy, agriculture and global trade. Prior to co-anchoring NBR, he was host and managing editor of the nationally syndicated financial television program “First Business.” He overhauled the existing program leading to a 20 percent increase in distribution in his first year with the program.

Tom also reported and anchored market coverage for the groundbreaking web-based financial news service, WebFN. Beginning in 2001, WebFN was among the first live online streaming video outlets. While there he reported regularly from the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade and the CME. Additionally, he created original business news and information programming for the investor channel of a large e-brokerage firm distributed to six large market CBS Radio stations. 

Before his jump to television and broadband, Tom co-anchored morning drive for the former all-news, heritage 50kw WMAQ-AM/Chicago. He spent the better part of a decade in general news as anchor, reporter, manager and talk show host in several markets covering a wide variety of stories and topics.

He has served as a member of the adjunct faculty in the Journalism Department of Columbia College Chicago and has been a frequent guest on other TV and radio programs as well as a guest speaker at universities on communications, journalism and business.

Tom writes a weekly column for the Miami Herald and the McClatchy-Tribune News Service. He appears regularly on KNX-AM/Los Angeles and WBBM-AM/Chicago for commentary on the economy and investment markets.

Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III is a progressive and visionary leader who believes there is no singular path to success. Born and raised in the City of Miami Gardens, he remains committed to pouring into the community that helped groom him into the public figure he is today. Chairman Gilbert is a proud graduate of Florida A&M University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Upon graduating, he enrolled in law school at St. Thomas University School of Law. He later transferred to the University of Miami School of Law where he held a senate position with the Student Bar Association and was a National Board Member of the Black Law Student Association among other accolades. Upon successfully earning his Juris Doctorate with honors, Chairman Gilbert knew his calling was public service.

Chairman Gilbert is a seasoned attorney, licensed to practice law in the State of Florida; the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal District Court. With 20 years of legal experience, Chairman Gilbert’s vast knowledge extends to real estate law, municipal law, constitutional law, civil rights law and employment law.

Throughout his tenure as a practicing attorney, he gained extensive experience working as a public policy maker in areas of education, criminal justice, and urban and economic development. Chairman Gilbert has served as an Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College, teaching courses in criminology, criminal law, constitutional law, street law, drugs and violence, computer crimes and judicial policy.