Tom Hudson

Director of Strategic Services, MCA Connect

I'm a business person who uses ERP as a tool — not an ERP person who dabbles in business. Over 25 years I've gone from writing code and building label verification systems on a manufacturing floor to leading global IT integrations across three continents at Medtronic to now guiding manufacturers through full-scale ERP transformations at MCA Connect (Microsoft's top-tier manufacturing partner). The thread through all of it: get to the root cause, harmonize the people and processes first, then — and only then — bring in the technology. I've also founded two businesses, taught yoga and mindfulness to state agencies, and earned a Six Sigma Black Belt along the way, because I learn things by going deep enough to teach them.

Availability: open

Target roles: Not specified

Work Experience

MCA Connect

Director of Strategic Services (2025-04-01 - Present)

Guiding manufacturers and distributors through full-scale ERP transformations and operational modernization using Dynamics 365, AI agents, manufacturing intelligence, and the Microsoft Cloud
Achieving NPS scores >70 in manufacturing intelligence engagements
Bridging strategic vision to measurable execution across cloud platforms, process excellence, and change programs
One of four pillar owners at MCA Connect, leading the Quality & Risk Management strategic imperative — one of the company's core strategic pillars

MCA Connect

Director of Operational Excellence (2023-07-01 - 2025-04-01)

Spearheaded company-wide QMS implementation, driving a culture of continuous improvement across the organization
Led strategic client engagements from shop-floor to C-Suite focused on business transformation

MCA Connect

Principal Operational Excellence Consultant (2022-07-01 - 2023-07-01)

Facilitated strategic discussions across all levels of client organizations to modernize operations
Applied manufacturing knowledge, operational excellence, and technology best practices to drive measurable client impact

MCA Connect

Senior Operational Excellence Consultant (2021-02-21 - 2022-07-01)

Combined manufacturing expertise with ERP and change management to deliver bottom-line results for clients

Hudson Consulting LLC

Founder (2019-06-01 - Present)

Formulated technology strategies and multi-year financial plans for clients, modernizing IT frameworks
Ensured compliance with ISO13485, 21 CFR Part 820, and NUREG-1556

The Awareness Initiative LLC

Founder (2018-09-01 - 2025-12-31)

Delivered private and group yoga and mindful outdoor experiences combining Hatha asana, Ayurveda, and meditation for diverse audiences
Facilitated nature-based programs for state agencies and organizations to promote wellness and counter screen-time overload

Liberty Vision

Quality Manager (2019-01-01 - 2021-01-01)

Drove requirements gathering, solution selection, and ERP implementation
Developed and executed Quality strategy bringing medical device from product concept to commercialization
Implemented standard operating procedures and process for all quality processes

SG Computers Inc.

Director of IT Client Services (2019-06-01 - 2021-02-21)

Led a global team to define requirements and implement a CRM platform (SalesForce)
Developed processes and procedures for disaster recovery, software validation, and GDPR compliance
Directed remote team on development of a patient/physician mobile application
Applied Theory of Constraints, Lean Sigma, and other methodologies to eliminate non-value-add activities

Medtronic

Senior Manager of Information Technology (2013-10-01 - 2019-09-01)

Directed all IT decisions, processes, and results across Spine & Pain therapies (11 sites globally) within the Restorative Therapies Group
Managed $7M budget and 20+ professionals across US and offshore teams
Upgraded SAP R/3 to Enhancement Pack 8 including full Windows Server and SQL Server upgrades
Led closure of multiple CAPAs, improving product quality and reducing manufacturing risk
Chaired Manufacturing IT Employee Engagement team — increased engagement results by 20%+ in one year; own team scored 92%
Managed IT project portfolio (60+ projects) and staff across four East Coast manufacturing locations
Identified strategic IT initiatives resulting in $200,000 annual IT operation savings
Achieved 40% cost savings on total cost of ownership by leveraging enterprise assets and retiring legacy systems
Trained 300+ IT employees on the Shingo Model and Policy Deployment Boards
Led requirements gathering across CardioVascular business (15+ locations) for device labeling and MES systems

Medtronic

Senior Manager of Information Technology (2012-06-01 - 2013-10-01)

Member of Global IT PMO responsible for SAP/R3 implementation impacting 20+ business units
Led team of subject matter experts across three plants and approximately 3,000 employees
Process-mapped 500+ as-is business processes and performed delta analysis against future state
Indirectly managed 120+ employees; coached and mentored teams toward performance improvements

Medtronic

Senior Manager of Information Technology (2010-06-01 - 2012-06-01)

Globally managed six manufacturing facilities across the US and Mexico — 45 employees, three managers, budgets up to $17M
Managed SAP implementation across two plants in Mexico and two in Orange County, CA
Created a raw materials demand forecasting mechanism that increased prediction accuracy by 50%
Reduced application portfolio by 50% by leveraging enterprise systems across the CardioVascular business unit
Chairman of the IT Talent Development Council, fostering development of 1,500 IT employees
Built a team environment defined by collaboration and knowledge sharing — 95% IT retention

Medtronic

Senior Manager of Information Technology (2010-01-01 - 2010-09-01)

Led and managed IT systems integration for Medtronic's largest acquisition at that time (1,000-employee company across Europe)
Coordinated IT infrastructure connectivity, mail system integration, and policy/procedure implementation at the acquired company

Medtronic

Senior Manager of IT / SAP Center of Excellence (2008-05-01 - 2010-01-01)

Managed global team focused on manufacturing process efficiencies using Lean Sigma
Led process stability for engineering change requests on the global SAP instance
Built the SAP Center of Excellence team to prioritize global SAP changes aligned with business strategy, quality, and cost reduction
Spearheaded SAP deployment in Mexico and Southern California

Medtronic

Manager of IT / Quality & Compliance (2007-05-01 - 2008-05-01)

Directed all IT decisions across the global CardioVascular business (11 facilities) and software validation
Implemented 21 CFR Part 11 and Part 820 in a newly formed division of 10,000+ employees
Reduced application portfolio by 50%, cutting total cost of ownership by millions per year
Developed process and system health assessments for the Quality organization

Medtronic

Manager of Information Technology (2004-05-01 - 2007-05-01)

Managed a team of 10 across all IT processes; member of divisional IT leadership, site senior leadership, and Global IT Operations Committee
Led IT aspects of international product transfers (Ireland to Mexico, US to Mexico, US to Ireland) and M&A activities
Awarded the CIO Award for design and implementation of a global finished goods inventory planning system
Reduced global application portfolio by 20% through a new project management methodology and solution selection policy
Overhauled IT infrastructure: Novell to Windows Server migration, wireless, UPS, generators, dual WAN, disaster recovery

Medtronic

Principal Information Technology Developer (2001-01-01 - 2004-05-01)

Lead developer and business analyst focused on custom software, database administration, and system implementations (Agile PLM, SAP/R3, Prisym labeling)
Used Lean Sigma and Theory of Constraints to develop systems that facilitated a $2.2M reduction in WIP — awarded Star of Excellence
Implemented Agile PLM eliminating 90% of physical paper storage and increasing approval times by 40%
Designed and built a medical device label verification system reducing mislabeling by 95% and saving $100,000
Developed and implemented standard operating procedures for the site IT department

GE TechTeam

Quality Control Manager (1997-09-01 - 1999-12-31)

Managed 40+ employees with responsibility for all external service providers
Used Six Sigma to develop an IVR system saving $750,000+ within six months
Developed procedure manuals for multiple departments to meet ISO:9001 standards

Freecoast LLC

Co-Founder / Board of Directors (2013-08-01 - 2019-01-01)

Human Action Foundation

Co-Founder, Trustee, Secretary (Nonprofit) (2016-05-01 - 2019-09-01)

Skills

Strong

Mentoring & Teaching (33 years)
Process Harmonization & Business Process Mapping (30 years)
Team Building & Retention (30 years)
ERP Strategy & Transformation (30 years)
IT Leadership & Portfolio Management (29 years)
Change Management & Adoption (25 years)
M&A IT Integration (7 years)
Manufacturing Operations (30 years)
Regulatory Compliance (Medical Device) (22 years)
Six Sigma / Lean Sigma / Continuous Improvement (29 years)

Moderate

AI & Microsoft Cloud (Copilot, AI Agents, Azure) (2 years)
CRM / SalesForce Implementation (2 years)
Quality Management Systems (25 years)
Software Development (20 years)
Vendor Management & Contract Negotiation (20 years)

Gaps

Certifications

AI Transformation Leader AB-731, Microsoft
Business Case Builder & Agents Value Envisioning Tool, Microsoft
Certified Martial Arts Instructor, Tracy Kenpo Karate
Certified Yoga Instructor, RYT-200
Chopra Center Certified Primordial Sound Meditation Teacher, Chopra Center for Wellbeing
Copilot Business Value, Microsoft
Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga Certified
Effective Communications and Human Relations, Dale Carnegie Training
ISO13485 - Certified Auditor
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ICGB), Medtronic
Professional Certificate in Business Management (Greater Boston Executive Program), MIT Sloan School of Management
Professional Certificate in Project Management, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, GE
Strategic Decision Making, Stanford University
Wilderness/Remote Location First Aid, SJG Emergency Response Training & Consulting LLC

Education

Master's Degree, Information Technology Management - Franklin Pierce University
Bachelor's Degree, Organizational Management - Daniel Webster College