The Economic Development Advisory Board in partnership with The Alliance Board of Directors has named Matt Gilroy as the new Executive Director of Findlay Hancock County Economic Development. Matt joined the FHCED team in March of 2025 and immediately made a positive impact with his years of experience and expertise.
Former Executive Director Chris Keller left the organization effective April 30, 2026 to pursue an opportunity in the private sector. Keller was an instrumental player on the executive leadership team to set strategic initiatives for The Alliance. Chris began with the organization as a Project Specialist in February 2024 and was promoted to Executive Director December 2024. Her time with Economic Development was a time of growth and continued partnership with investors.
Gilroy is well equipped to lead Economic Development into the future. Matt has served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for FHCED since March of 2025 and has extensive experience in economic development and non-profit management. He formerly served as Executive Director at Fulton County Economic Development for ten years prior to joining FHCED and has more than twenty years of experience leading non-profit organizations in economic development, healthcare and higher education. He is a Certified Economic Development Practitioner through the Ohio Economic Development Institute and is a mentor for current students in this course. He has served as President of the Board for Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development (NORED) and has served on several committees for the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA). He is a current board member of Northwest Ohio Development Assistance Corporation (NODAC), an organization that administers the SBA 504 loan program in Northwest Ohio.
Matt initiated and completed the development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), earned Hancock County a Life Science Ready Community Designation through the Ohio Life Sciences Association and has been instrumental in moving the needle on office processes and communication strategies.
