Ohio Department of Insurance Staff Bios

An accomplished public servant, attorney and community leader, Mary Jo Hudson officially took office as the 46th Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance on January 8, 2007. She was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland to join his cabinet on December 21, 2006. Director Hudson is familiar with the Ohio insurance industry and regulatory role of the Department. She has practiced law for eighteen years, most recently with the Columbus offices of Bailey Cavalieri LLC and its predecessor, Arter and Hadden LLP, focusing on insurance regulation and liquidation law, consumer finance and retail law compliance, unclaimed property planning and reporting, commercial lending, state and federal advertising law, and general corporate matters. From 1989 to 1995, Director Hudson worked as an attorney with the Ohio Department of Insurance and as General Council for the Office of the Ohio Insurance Liquidator.

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Appointed to Columbus City Council in 2004 and elected in 2005, Mary Jo served as Chair of the Jobs and Economic Development Committee and focused on efforts that produced good jobs and increased income tax revenue to support basic city services. She also sponsored legislation supporting a strategy for attraction and retention of young talent in Columbus, encouraged regional cooperation for economic growth in Central Ohio, and helped form a coalition to develop and brand the 315 Research + Technology Corridor.

Director Hudson championed investments that leveraged private dollars to encourage the growth of entrepreneurs and new business, and helped the Columbus Chamber of Commerce enhance the technical assistance they provide emerging and minority businesses.

Prior to joining the Ohio Department of Insurance, Director Hudson served on the Boards of The United Way of Central Ohio, The Center for New Directions; The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio; The Human Rights Campaign and Human Rights Campaign Foundation; The Greater Columbus Arts Council; TechColumbus and SciTech.

Director Hudson received her B.A. in Public Administration from Miami University in 1985. She received her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1988, graduating with honors.

Director Hudson resides in Columbus, Ohio.