Staff Highlight: Justin Hudson

Justin Hudson recently joined Two Ten as our new Senior Manager, Marketing. In this role, he helps lead marketing initiatives that build awareness and engagement while supporting brand strategy, digital marketing, and audience development. 

We sat down with Justin to hear more about his background, what drew him to Two Ten, and what he is most looking forward to in his new role.   

Q: Can you share a bit about your background and the path that led you to Two Ten? 

A: I’ve worked in marketing and communications for more than 10 years, bringing together strategy, branding, storytelling, digital communications, and design. While studying graphic design at the Maryland Institute College of Art, I was introduced to social design, which expanded my thinking about how marketing and communications could be used to strengthen communities and create meaningful change. 

Joining Two Ten feels like a natural continuation of that journey, bringing my experience to an organization centered on people and community. At the same time, I get to step into a new industry with plenty left to learn. 

Q: What about Two Ten's mission resonated most with you? 

A: What resonates with me is the idea of access. Two Ten connects people with resources, information, financial assistance, professional networks, and opportunities that can support their lives and careers. The organization’s commitment to opportunity, hope, and community closely aligns with my own values and my desire to use my skills to create connections and pathways that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. 

I was also drawn to the organization’s history. Two Ten began in my hometown of Boston with a simple, heart-centered idea: people within an industry taking care of one another. More than 85 years later, that spirit remains central to the organization. Then I had the opportunity to meet the people carrying that mission forward today. Hearing their passion and vision made me even more excited about becoming part of the team. 

Q: As you step into this new role, what are you most excited to learn or experience? 

A: I’m excited to become a student of the footwear industry. I’m coming from education, another space that looks straightforward from the outside but becomes incredibly expansive once you get inside it. I’m quickly discovering footwear is similar. 

There are brands, retailers, manufacturers, designers, suppliers, corporate partners, community leaders, and so many others who make up this ecosystem. I’m excited to understand those different communities, discover where opportunities exist to deepen Two Ten’s impact, and learn from the people who know this industry best. 

I’m equally excited to work alongside my new colleagues and Two Ten’s partners. There’s a tremendous amount of knowledge around me, and right now I’m enjoying asking questions, listening, and absorbing as much of it as I can. 

Q: What does meaningful work look like to you, and how do you see that showing up in this role? 

A: Meaningful work, to me, is work that ultimately makes a difference for people. It requires curiosity, consistency, and a willingness to evolve. Marketing and communications are constantly changing because people are constantly changing, which means we have to keep learning too. 

I like to think there’s a little bit of a scientist in every good marketer. We ask questions, develop hypotheses, test ideas, learn from what happens, and use those insights to continually improve how we connect with people. That spirit of experimentation is one of the things I enjoy most about the work. 

At Two Ten, that means helping more people across the footwear community discover resources and opportunities that can support them, while deepening relationships with those who already believe in the mission. Ultimately, I want our work to strengthen the community around Two Ten and help more people experience the impact of its mission. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by smart, passionate colleagues who I’m already learning from, and I’m excited to turn that learning into action. 

Q: Outside of work, how do you enjoy spending your time? 

A: My favorite role is being a husband and dad. My wife and I have two amazing kids, and getting a front-row seat to who they’re becoming is one of the great joys of my life. As a family, we love getting out and exploring, and food tends to find its way into many of our adventures. My wife and I are always up for discovering a new restaurant, and I love cooking at home and testing new recipes on the family. My New York Times Cooking subscription definitely does not go to waste. 

I’m also an avid reader and naturally curious person. There’s usually a book nearby about behavioral economics, brain science, psychology, or something else that helps me understand people a little better. I enjoy drawing, sketching, and writing, and I volunteer my communications and creative skills with my local church to support its work in the Philadelphia community.  

Q: What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned about the shoe industry so far? 

A: I’m learning that the footwear industry is basically its own multiverse. There are so many brands, disciplines, partners, communities, and career paths behind something we interact with every single day. 

I’m also slowly building my footwear vocabulary. I keep a running list of terms I hear so I can ask my team about them later. One of my favorites so far is “shoe dog.” I had never heard that term in my life. Now I know it’s considered a badge of honor for people who have spent years learning the footwear business. 

Learn more about our scholarship program and upskilling and development programs for the footwear community.