Judge Renée Cardwell Hughes Bio

Renee Cardwell Hughes is a highly experienced executive, attorney, independent Board member, qualified financial expert, arbitrator, and retired judge with more than 15 years on the bench.

Judge Hughes is the CEO of the Hughes Group, whose mission is to help management teams refine, internalize, and execute their corporate mission. In addition to strategic planning and change management, the Hughes Group provides leadership development and executive coaching.

In 2021, Judge Hughes completed an engagement as president and CEO of Opportunities Industrialization Center, Philadelphia, a workforce development nonprofit that impacted the lives of more than 1,500 individuals. Her other leadership roles include CEO of The American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania, the fourth largest market in the $3 billion American Red Cross system.

Judge Hughes received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and her JD from Georgetown University Law Center. She received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Thomas Jefferson University in 2022.

Judge Hughes joined the American Cancer Society Board of Directors in 2025.