Laurie Hudson

Laurie Hudson

President of Platinum Guild International USA

"GIA should be the backbone and the foundation of our illustrious industry. Through GIA we can raise the education and standard of our industry by an ever evolving curriculum and the talented GIA graduates."

When the worldwide platinum producers wanted to promote platinum jewelry in the United States in 1992, they conducted an exhaustive industry search for the most qualified candidate. With great aplomb, the producers finally appointed Laurie Hudson to spearhead platinum promotional efforts in the United States. She was appointed president of Platinum Guild International USA, located in Newport Beach, California, in May 1992.

Upon graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree, Ms. Hudson worked in the retail field in buying and marketing for Carter Hawley Hale.

She later polished her marketing and public relations skills at a marketing/consulting firm in Long Beach, California. Prior to her position with Platinum Guild International, Ms. Hudson was the marketing and public relations manager for the American Gem Society, a national organization of jewelers and manufacturers. Today, her combined jewelry experience includes more than 20 years of working with jewelry designers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers.

Ms. Hudson has received numerous accolades from the fine jewelry industry. In July 1998, the Women's Jewelry Association bestowed upon her the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. She received WJA's Award for Excellence in Marketing in 1996, and the American Gem Society's Distinguished Service Award in 1995. In 1999, she received both the Designer Advocate Award from the Contemporary Design Group and the prestigious Benne award from the American Jewelry Design Council.

She is a member of numerous organizations, including Fashion Group International, the 24 Karat Club of New York, the 24 Karat Club of Los Angeles, and the Jewelry Information Center. She is a board member of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee. Ms. Hudson is a popular speaker at seminars and has conducted countless television, radio and print interviews on behalf of the jewelry industry and the Platinum Guild.

A Los Angeles native, Ms. Hudson resides in Southern California with her husband David Thaler and 4-year-old daughter, Jessica Rose. She juggles family and long hours of platinum promotion, but manages to successfully combine both work and home life. In fact, Jessica Rose is often featured in PGI's national consumer ad campaign.