Matt McKenna
Partner
Matt is a Partner with Open Prairie and leads the Rural Opportunity Initiative as an Executive in Residence with the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He represents Open Prairie on the Board of Directors for Green Dot Bioplastics and brings more than 35 years of experience in corporate leadership, finance, and public-private partnerships that enhance shareholder value and drive rural investment.
Before joining Open Prairie, Matt served as Senior Advisor to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, where he was instrumental in launching several national initiatives designed to expand capital access for rural America, including the Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund and the Rural Business Investment Opportunity Initiative. For his leadership in these efforts, he was recognized as a Presidential Executive Fellow.
Matt’s private-sector experience includes a 15-year career with PepsiCo, where he served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, and as a Director for PepsiAmericas. Prior to that, he was a Partner at Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, specializing in federal income tax issues.
Beyond his work in government and finance, Matt has served as President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, leading over two million volunteers in building and sustaining vibrant communities nationwide. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Fordham University and an independent member of the Board of Directors for Foot Locker (NYSE: FL), where he serves as the Financial Expert for the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Finance and Strategic Planning Committees.
Education & Affiliations
Matt earned both a Juris Doctorate and Master of Laws from the Georgetown University Law Center and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College.
