New Bedford Economic Development Council Unanimously Selects Morrissey As Permanent Executive Director

New Bedford, Massachusetts – The New Bedford Economic Development Council unanimously voted today to appoint Matthew Morrissey to the position of executive director. Morrissey, who was nominated for the post by a search committee of local business leaders, has been serving as interim executive director of the private, non-profit organization since September.
“In a very short period of time, Matt has impressed all of us,’’ NBEDC Chairman Scott Costa said. “New Bedford is poised for economic growth that creates real jobs and strengthens our neighborhoods. Matt brings a high level of skill and knowledge, and boundless energy to our mission.’’
Search Committee Chairman Jim Mathes, Executive Director of the SouthCoast Mentoring Initiative for Learning, Education and Service, said, “Matt Morrissey has a passion for public service and an unwavering belief in New Bedford’s future. Combine that with his experience in private business development and higher education, and we have just the right person to help our community reach its economic potential.’’
Prior to joining the NBEDC as its interim Executive Director, Morrissey served UMass Dartmouth as an administrator and assistant to the Chancellor focusing on key strategic issues.
“It’s a great privilege to work with many committed individuals in City Hall, the business community and the civic community to sell a city that I love,” Morrissey said. “I think people from outside the city are starting to take notice.”
Morrissey worked several years as a senior consultant at the Public Consulting Group, a Boston-based business and government consulting agency. Prior to joining PCG, he co-founded Mogall Inc., a high-tech peer-to-peer start-up, whose intellectual property was later obtained by PCG and remains a valuable PCG product.
Morrissey served as assistant to the president of the University of Massachusetts five-campus system, handling legislative, economic development and outreach issues. Morrissey graduated from UMass Dartmouth, where he served as the elected student trustee on the UMass System Board of Trustees.
Morrissey has been an active member of numerous non-profit organizations. He was a candidate for mayor in 2005, finishing third in the preliminary election.
Joining Costa and Mathes on the search committee were Mathew Insana, Regional Vice, President Commercial Lending, Sovereign Bank (Treasurer, NBEDC); Randall T. Weeks, Jr., Partridge, Snow & Hahn LLP (Clerk); Elizabeth Isherwood, President, Moore & Isherwood Communications; Craig H. Lindell, President, Aquapoint/AWT; Kevin T. Pelland, Vice President, Citizens-Union Savings Bank and Chair, Downtown New Bedford Inc.; and Paul L. Vigeant, Assistant Chancellor for Economic Development UMass Dartmouth.