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Matthew Knecht
Executive Chief of Staff / Legal Operations leader in nonprofit public defense
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About
Former attorney turned senior operations/Chief of Staff-style leader with ~20 years balancing strategy and day-to-day execution. Led multi-office expansions (e.g., launching a new Detroit office) and built a professionalized finance function with audit-ready controls to free up CEO bandwidth. Also led an emergency COVID-era shift to remote operations while safeguarding safety, morale, and revenue.
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Key Strengths
- Led cross-functional initiatives with CEO-aligned prioritization (CFO/COO/Facilities/IT/HR)
- Built decision-making process that enables strong debate, then unified execution
- Improved executive productivity by insulating CEO from operational problem-solving via structured leadership cadence
- Built and strengthened finance function (staffing, processes, controls) to reduce executive involvement while maintaining integrity
- Implemented robust financial controls and audit-aligned best practices (dual signatures/authorizations, reimbursement controls)
- Balanced strategic planning with day-to-day operations over ~20 years
- Led rapid COVID-19 transition to remote work while protecting staff safety, morale, and revenue streams
- High discretion with sensitive/privileged information grounded in attorney training and zero-disclosure approach
Reference Highlights
- Integral part of leadership team
- Strong mentor who taught management skills
- Key contributor to organizational expansion (Michigan and Texas)
- Helped scale Texas programs from one to three
- Identifies processes needing streamlining and implements efficiencies
- Calm under pressure; relaxed demeanor even when stressed
- Supportive; helped others remain calm
- Subdued, knowledgeable, friendly communication style
- Highly ethical
- Deeply kind
- Great personality fit
- instrumental in growth of New York office
- helped create and implement Michigan and Texas offices
- strong organizational skills
- hard working
- committed to organizational mission
- long tenure/experience
- able to operate under pressure and competing priorities
- open to feedback and works on improvement
- prepared for leadership roles due to tenure
Matthew's references speak for themselves. Let us connect you.
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