Gary Matthews is the Executive Director of the Tishomingo County Development Foundation and has been with the Foundation since 2003. Mr. Matthews has over three decades of experience in economic and community development. Gary received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and has done further work at several other universities. Gary served his internship in Economic Impact Analysis under renowned writer and lecturer Dr. Reginald Isaacs of Harvard University. Gary has earned certifications in grantsmanship, grant and loan administration, financial management, financial analysis, industrial incentives, economic development, community development, business and industrial recruitment, leadership development, economic development financing, graphic arts, land use planning, marketing, remote sensing, administration of revolving loan funds, energy conservation auditing, procurement, computer programs, computer troubleshooting, international trade, and others. Gary has received numerous awards including “National Dealmaker of the Year” in 2000.
Gary is a proponent of "life-long learning" and has completed hundreds of credit and non-credit hours of continuing education since completing graduate school.
Working in over a dozen counties and regions, Gary has been involved in the creation of over 11,000 new jobs over the last 30 years. Additionally, Gary has put together and administered approximately $136,000,000 in local government grants and over $600,000,000 in business and industry loans during the same time period. Gary has developed a number of industrial parks and industrial buildings, including two speculative industrial buildings that were committed before they were completed.
Gary began working in Tishomingo County in late 2003. Tishomingo County has rated in the top ten counties in Mississippi in new and expanded projects for three of the past four years. Gary’s economic development philosophy emphasizes teamwork, problem solving for clients, small business development, and the creation of jobs from all economic sectors.
On a personal note, Gary has three daughters and five grandchildren. Gary enjoys pastimes such as reading, rock and fossil hunting, canoeing, hiking, beekeeping, exploring caves, travel, and gardening.