Michael Matthews

Michael Matthews is the current Legislative Director for Community, Economic, and Workforce Development at the National Association of Counties. Prior to this, they worked as the Government Relations Manager at the Association for Career and Technical Education from April 2019 to August 2021. In this role, they led the lobbying efforts on budget and appropriations issues, WIOA, ESSA, and HEA. Michael also was responsible for analyzing legislative and regulatory proposals to understand how they would affect the membership/industry, maintaining a successful network of bipartisan contacts on Capitol Hill and with partner organizations, representing CTE’s interests in regulatory issues with federal agencies, and developing and implementing legislative proposals and advocacy plans to advance policy priorities of the organization.

Before their time at the Association for Career and Technical Education, Matthews worked as a Legislative Assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives from January 2017 to April 2019. In this role, their portfolio included Natural Resources Committee, Financial Services, Tax, Energy, Telecommunications, Housing, Small Business, Judiciary, Education, Environment, Civil Rights, Elections, Oversight and Reform, Postal, and Census.

Prior to their work in government relations, Matthews worked as the Deputy Finance Director for Anthony Brown for Congress (MD-4) from July 2015 to December 2016.

Michael Matthews has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Salisbury University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Harford Community College. Michael also has a Masters of Science in Public Administration from Wilmington University.

They work with Eryn Hurley - Director, Government Affairs & Federal Fellowship Initiative, Aaliyah Nedd - Associate Legislative Director, Agriculture & Rural Affairs & Immigration Reform Task Force, and Blaire Bryant - Legislative Director, Health & Large Urban County Caucus. Michael Matthews reports to Mark Ritacco, Chief Government Affairs Officer.