Cardea

09/02/2026

Some leaders build companies. Others build the leaders who come after them.

Linda Parker Hudson has spent her career doing both.

A trailblazer who broke barriers at the highest levels of the defense industry, Linda has built a legacy defined not only by transformational leadership, but by her commitment to developing people and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Her impact has been recognized throughout her career, including four citations among Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, her election to the National Academy of Engineering and the Charlotte Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Sunday Times of London called her “the first lady of defense.”

But Linda’s work did not end when she retired from the C-suite. As Cardea’s founder, she continues to serve as a strategic advisor and executive coach, bringing decades of experience to high-performing and high-potential leaders navigating moments of complexity, change and growth.

Her commitment to developing future leaders is also deeply personal. A proud University of Florida alumna, Linda founded the Linda Parker Hudson Leader-in-Residence program at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering to connect students with leaders from industry, government and higher education. Today, she remains deeply engaged with UF and its students, faculty and alumni.

The University of Florida recently captured this next chapter of Linda’s story — one defined by leadership, mentorship, service and an enduring commitment to giving back.
We’re proud to call her our founder, and even prouder that her impact continues to grow.

Linda Parker Hudson is a Distinguished Alumnus, a UF Foundation board member and, among other UF affiliations, a member of UF’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Hall of Fame.

07/30/2026

Behind every high-performing organization and leader is an advisor who brings insight, experience and strategy to the table.

Alan R. Freitag, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, Lt. Col., USAF (ret.), now serves as an executive advisor of strategic communication at Cardea, bringing decades of experience guiding organizations and leaders through change, strengthening stakeholder trust, protecting reputation and communicating with clarity during moments of both opportunity and uncertainty.

Before joining Cardea, Alan helped build a nationally recognized public relations program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte while teaching and mentoring future communication professionals and advancing excellence in education. Earlier in his career, he led public affairs and media relations efforts for the United States Air Force across Europe, the Pentagon and NATO operations, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after more than two decades of service.

A Fulbright Scholar, published author and internationally recognized communication expert, Alan continues to make lasting contributions to the public relations profession through his commitment to helping leaders communicate with clarity, build trust and lead with confidence.

Success grows through leaders like Alan, advisors who combine experience, strategic insight and a commitment to developing organizations, teams and communication strategies that create meaningful, lasting impact.

04/17/2026

Career transitions are some of the most pivotal and often most overlooked moments in a professional journey.

Through ongoing conversations with leaders and individuals navigating change, we have been listening closely. What we have heard is shaping something we look forward to launching very soon.

Stay tuned. Something different is on the way.

03/04/2026

Behind every high-performing leader and organization is an advisor who brings clarity, discipline and strategic insight to the work.

Samantha Knight, vice president of Cardea, accelerates the success of executives, teams and organizations with more than a decade of leading strategic communications initiatives. She delivers strong performance in guiding cross-functional teams and partnering with senior leadership to develop, execute and evaluate integrated marketing and communications plans.

From digital strategy and executive visibility to brand building, stakeholder engagement and corporate communications, Samantha navigates the fast-paced, highly regulated business landscape with confidence, precision and care.

She currently serves as a director at large on the board of PRSA Charlotte, leading member engagement, and previously served on the New Professionals Committee. She has held volunteer leadership roles with Veterans Bridge Home, Make-A-Wish, Charlotte Ballet and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Her work has been recognized through Charlotte’s 10 Under 10 Award and PRSA Charlotte’s New Pro of the Year.

Client success grows with trusted advisors like Samantha — leaders who know how to elevate brands, strengthen engagement and deliver results that matter.

12/18/2025

Happy holidays from Cardea! We wish you a season filled with gratitude, inspiration and hope.

May the year ahead open new doors, inspire bold goals and create opportunities that lead you toward continued growth and success. 🗝️

11/14/2025

Stories hold the power to connect us, inspire us and spark change. At the center of this connection are our libraries, fastening us to our favorite authors and creating a space to continue making memories through the stories that guide us.

It was an honor to sponsor the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation’s annual event, Verse & Vino, in their continued efforts to celebrate storytelling and enrich our community through literacy and connection.

Thank you, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, for continuing to inspire us and generations of readers every day!

10/14/2025

Meet Rella. Our favorite tool to amplify the impact of strategic messaging.

From scheduling posts to understanding the data, this platforms helps us create, engage and grow.

Strategy + great tools = social media magic

10/08/2025

Behind every high-performing leader is a mentor who brings insight, experience and strategy to the table.

Mary Dowd, president and CEO of Cardea, accelerates the success of executives, teams and organizations with nearly 30 years of leadership in strategic business initiatives across Fortune 100 companies.

From executive coaching and leadership development to brand strategy, integrated communications and corporate citizenship, Mary guides senior leaders through complex challenges and high-stakes decisions.

Before leading Cardea, Mary built and scaled communications functions for global organizations including BAE Systems, FORVIS (formerly DHG) and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. She led high-profile media events, community partnerships and executive engagement initiatives, all grounded in delivering results that matter.

Recognized as Charlotte Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO and honored by the Public Relations Society of America, Mary combines deep expertise with a commitment to mentoring leaders who turn vision into momentum.

Client success starts with mentors like Mary — leaders who know how to translate experience into impact.

10/03/2025

Behind every great strategy is clear communication.

Executive communications may not always show up on the balance sheet—but it drives engagement, alignment and trust across your team.

Strong communication = stronger results.

10/01/2025

Work with purpose, enjoy the moment and recharge intentionally.

This summer, our team took time to recharge and invest in our passions. Whether traveling near or far, or simply enjoying moments with family and friends. These snapshots reflect some of the adventures, the laughter and the fresh energy we bring back to the team.

Here’s to balance, well-being and making every season count!