Matt Tackett

Matt Tackett, a native of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, serves as President of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), the oldest and largest regional economic development association in North America. Prior to his appointment to SEDC in June 2022, Tackett served as President and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED), a multi-business economic development membership organization. Appointed to KAED in October 2017, Matt directed KAED through an administrative and programmatic reimagination as the Association created strategic platforms to enhance professional capacity and to assist, analyze, and accelerate economic development in the Commonwealth. Within the KAED portfolio, Matt spearheaded a 100-million-dollar grant-making program, a global marketing platform, research and legislative initiatives, certified educational curriculums, and a COVID recovery and resilience project designed to amplify economic success in the Commonwealth. Under Matt’s leadership, KAED ascended as the nation’s largest state economic development membership association.

Prior to KAED, Matt served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Gas Association, where he created a holistic membership service portfolio which included legislative affairs, workforce development initiatives, and legal services. Matt has served in federal grant programs, the Office of the Governor of Kentucky, and is the owner of a consulting firm which has focused on economic development, public relations, governmental affairs. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He, his wife Ashton, and children Brooks and Olivia currently live in Lexington, Kentucky.