Matt George

President/CEO/Author

Matt George:

President, KBBAT Holdings, Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Coach, 3X #1 Bestselling Author, CEO of The Harrington Foundation

As the Former CEO of the Children’s Home of Illinois, a non-profit leader facing some of the state’s most serious social ills, Matt draws from over 30 years of frontline experience to fearlessly act as an agent for change and defender of good against the gnawing grind of social decay, poverty, homelessness, and crime. From running a 35-million-dollar company with over 450 employees, to handling some of the toughest cases in business and social service, Matt is a trustworthy and confident leader who commands a room and loves to see others win.

After graduating in 1992 from the University of Illinois in Program Management, Matt never looked back and was a President/CEO from his first job out of college until his recent transition after 31 years in business. He uses his experience to assess businesses by dissecting financials and analyzing the work culture to find pain points within the business and then providing solutions quickly and efficiently.

Matt also is a popular TV Host, hosting his own weekly half-hour television show, “Business Forward”, and author of the #1 Amazon Bestselling Book “Nonprofit Game Plan: The Proven Strategy for Nonprofit Success”. Matt changes the narrative of poorly run 501c3 charities looking for handouts and uses his unorthodox style and proven results to solidify the case that nonprofits should run like businesses, not charities. His two most recent #1 Bestselling books, Nonprofit Prophet, and Starfish Among Us, are books that continue the narrative of taking care of people and the communities we live in. Matt just finished the largest book tour in history. The tour's mission is clear: to empower nonprofit leaders, social service advocates, and community heroes. The Nonprofit Prophet: Change Lives and Save Lives Tour visited 22 states, 61 cities, 35 nonprofits, and 25 schools, across the country. The tour is officially over and now Matt is bringing his approach and expertise to you and helping you and your business build for the future and achieve your goals. Former Caterpillar Inc. CEO and Chairman of the Board Doug Oberhelman says, “Matt exemplifies leadership in his community and making it a much better place. He’s involved, committed, and is recognized for his many contributions. His ability to lead large complex organizations are well documented and many people look up to him”.

Matt's commitment to the community has earned him Presidential recognition as the finalist of the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award which honors the power of the human spirit to create positive change. Matt also was 2006, Inter Business 40 Leader Under 40, Outstanding citizen in Champaign, Illinois and recognized by the Governor, and Man of the Year for the Leukemia Society. His work also includes the President of the Board of The State Residential Authority for Illinois, recommended and nominated by an Illinois State Senator and approved by the Governor of Illinois.

Kevin Harrington, an original Shark from the hit TV show Shark Tank and inventor of the infomercial, calls Matt “The Nonprofit Prophet and the Nonprofit CEO of our time”. He states that “Matt George is undoubtedly a community leader & organizer with unbreakable resilience, compassion, and a huge heart. His empathetic approach offers a 24/7 open door policy with an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on”.

Living by the motto “Impossible is for the Unwilling” and driven to be “All In, All the Time,” Matt stays true to his calling by embodying his own mission statement that “Everyday there is an opportunity to Change Lives and Save Lives”.

Matt and his wife Laura live in Peoria, Illinois and have five children, Carly, Allie, Lauren, Izzie, and Matthew.