2008 40 Under Forty: Shyla Matthews
Shyla Matthews
Age: 37
Title: Vice President Community Development
Company: MassDevelopment
Company location: Worcester
Residence: Worcester
Career highlights:
I am a member of a team in Central Massachusetts for MassDevelopment. We help stimulate economic development by providing financing for virtually all phases of projects. To get to where I am now, I have spent my career going between public service and private sector experience, which I think is vital in administrating effectively state economic development initiatives.
Community involvement:
Because of my intense interest in public policies, respect for public service and belief that all should be as involved as they possibly can be in our political processes, I dedicate much of my volunteer efforts within the Democratic Party. I serve on the Ward Nine Democratic Committee and am a member of the Worcester Democratic City Committee. I am also a member of the parent’s organizations for my children’s schools and volunteer regularly.
Biggest professional success:
In 1998, I temporarily left commercial real estate and joined a legislative staff to help progress efforts to change the environmental laws with regards to contaminated property in the commonwealth. After the bill was signed into law, I then worked to help progress a new effort now known as the Cultural Facilities Fund. I spend every day implementing the hard won reforms and witnessing the rewards of those efforts.
Dream job:
Caribbean real estate mogul, the dividends of which would allow me to be a stay-at-home mom.
Businessperson you admire most:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She is Germany’s first woman chancellor, let alone the first chancellor from the East since unification. I admire her, not only for those records, but also because of her reliance on competence and consensus building.
If you weren’t doing the job you’re doing now, what would you do?
International lawyer. I am a person who admires diplomatic skills and likes to investigate the nuances of situations.
Favorite movie:
Draw between “Sabrina”, “North by Northwest” and “ARiver Runs Through It” (“Batman The Dark Knight” needs to be included too!).
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