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MK
Matthew Knecht
Executive Chief of Staff / Legal Operations leader in nonprofit public defense
Neptune, New JerseyChief Counsel11 years experienceExecutiveLegalNonprofitPublic Sector
ScreenedReferences VerifiedIdentity VerifiedStrongly Recommended
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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.
Experience
Chief CounselNeighborhood Defender Service, Inc.
Chief of Staff / Chief of ManagementNeighborhood Defender Service, Inc.
Managing DirectorNeighborhood Defender Service, Inc.
Managing Attorney, Criminal Defense PracticeNeighborhood Defender Service, Inc.
Education
Albright Collegebachelor, Political Science
Brooklyn Law Schooldoctorate, Juris Doctor (JD)
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
Strongly Recommended
- 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
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